Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
I scoot up beside him. “Good morning,” I say, trying to bring a smile to his face. I don’t succeed.
“Morning,” he says.
“Something bothering you?”
“Yeah, there is something bothering me.” He takes a deep breath. “My father is a crook.”
I shrug. “Well yeah, what real estate people get away with should be criminal, but society has decided to tolerate it for whatever reason.”
He shakes his head. “No, not that. I mean, he’s a legitimate, actual criminal. Like, he should be being arrested for what he’s doing.”
I exhale with relief. He’s finally opening up. “Okay. Go on.”
“I guess I should be more clear.”
“Yeah, that’d help.”
“I was poor growing up, Tabitha. I grew up in Evergreen Valley, because there was no way my parents could afford anywhere else. My Dad busted his ass at a lumber mill at minimum wage. He always wanted more for us, but playing by the rules? Ain’t no way he was even going to pay the bills.”
“So, he became... a real estate developer?”
Fox shakes his head. “Not directly. He somehow gets in contact with the mob. He does low level stuff for them, for whatever interests they have in Evergreen Valley. It’s not much, but they need someone.”
I pat him on the back, giving him a slight massage. “I’m not going to hate someone for just going outside the law a bit to survive, Fox.” If this was why he was protecting me from ever seeing his father, it was all striking me as a bit silly.
“If it was that, yeah, no. We wouldn’t be here. It was that they started to need money laundered, and they viewed my simple father as the perfect avenue to do so.”
And there it was. How Fox’s family came into their money. A low level mob goon didn’t become rich off loyalty alone, after all.
“We went into Smithport a bit to build funds, all until it was time for my Dad to come back home and start building homes to make the more nebulous mob money look legitimate. And of course, my young dumb ass didn’t realize all of this was kinda illegal.”
“What did you think it was?”
He shrugs. “I was young and stupid, and thought my father worked hard and long enough that he finally got a legitimate opportunity. So when he recruited me into this newfound family business? I jumped aboard.”
I sigh. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You need intent to be able to commit a crime.”
“I mean, technically, I don’t think I’ve actually broken any laws. Not yet. But it’s coming. And some of the stuff I’m doing is just... it’s worse than breaking the law, Tabitha. I’m going to be part of the problem that robs Evergreen Valley of its charm, and likely run people from their homes. You think some stubborn old man refusing to sell is going to stop things if someone tries to use some threats at him? All these rich people who want to pretend to be more folksy will go through our business. It’s probably profitable enough on its own merits at this point, but the money to start it all? Filthy.”
I take it all in. It doesn’t really change what I feel about Fox. I always knew he had a dubious profession, and that he wasn’t particularly gungho about it.
“And you wanna know the dumbest thing about all of it?”
“That I still think mob goon is a probably less objectionable profession than real estate developer?”
“That he has the nerve to think I need to marry someone to strengthen the bonds into the mob family. He’s been pushing random daughters of other family big wigs that he thinks I need to be marrying. That’s why I haven’t wanted to bring you home, Tabitha. I don’t think he’d be happy to see someone like you as the woman I love.”
I take another deep breath. “Yeah, I guess I’m not the type of woman most people think of when they think of successful businesses.” I mean, I thought I’m doing fine. I’m never going to make millions doing what I do, but I swear, not everything has to be about making zillions of dollars.
“I don’t think my father would ever do something like hurt you, or ask someone to hurt you. He’s... he’s not that bad of a guy. I don’t want to risk it though. I love you with all of my heart, Tabitha. And I don’t want anyone to ever hurt you. Or to ever even consider the thought. I think if I’m with you, I’m going to have to walk away from all the opportunities my father has given me, and I don’t know what I’ll do then. I only really know how to get stuff built, and do some of that building myself.”
“Fox...” I sigh. “Money comes and goes. You could lose it all tomorrow. But I think of our love. The real, true powerful stuff? That lasts forever. And I want to stand by you no matter what happens.”