Chapter 5 - The Most Dangerous Man in Nashville Said Please
The next morning, Maria quit.
She stood in my office holding an envelope.
“What is this?”
“My resignation.”
“No.”
She stared at me.
“Excuse me?”
“I don't accept it.”
“You don't get to decide.”
“I own the house.”
“You don't own me.”
That stopped me.
Maria folded her arms.
“My daughter was kidnapped because of your life.”
“I know.”
“She could have died.”
“I know.”
“And you expect me to keep bringing her here?”
“No.”
Maria blinked.
I placed my father's ledger on the desk.
“I'm ending it.”
“Ending what?”
“Everything that brought Caleb to this house.”
She stared.
“You can't just walk away from your world.”
“I built most of it. I can dismantle it.”
Daniel stood near the window.
“It's already started.”
Maria looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“Legitimate businesses are being separated. Illegal operations are being shut down.”
Maria turned back to me.
“Why?”
I didn't answer immediately.
Then I picked up my father's letter.
“Because Sophia was right.”
“About what?”
“I was sad.”
Maria's expression softened.
“And apparently extremely ugly.”
She laughed before she could stop herself.
I stared at her.
“You find that funny?”
“A little.”
“Your daughter painted a cat on my chin.”
“It was supposed to be a tiger.”
“That makes it worse.”
For the first time, we both laughed.
Then Maria's smile disappeared.
“This isn't funny, Ethan.”
It was the first time she'd used my name.
“I know.”
“What happens when people realize you're leaving?”
“They'll come after what I built.”
“And you?”
“Probably.”
“And Sophia?”
“No one gets near her again.”
Maria shook her head.
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
I looked directly at her.
“But I can remove the reason they would try.”
She studied me.
“You're really doing this?”
“Yes.”
“For Sophia?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
Maria frowned.
“Then why?”
“Because she showed me what I'd become.”
I slid the resignation envelope back across the desk.
“You can leave. I'll make sure you're protected.”
She picked it up.
“Thank you.”
She turned toward the door.
“Maria.”
She stopped.
I had commanded hundreds of men.
Threatened powerful people.
Negotiated deals worth millions.
But the next word was somehow harder.
“Please.”
She turned.
“Please what?”
“Don't take Sophia out of my life completely.”
Maria stared at me.
“You're asking?”
“Yes.”
“You don't ask.”
“I'm learning.”
She walked back.
“What exactly are you asking for?”
“I don't know.”
That answer surprised both of us.
Maria smiled faintly.
“Start with dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Sophia likes spaghetti.”
“I have chefs.”
“She won't eat fancy spaghetti.”
“What is fancy spaghetti?”
May you like
“You'll find out.”
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