Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 143 -

James.

The moment that Neal called me and informed me of what happened to Becca, I had about lost my mind. While I was sitting there shaking hands with people trying to get them to help me figure out who was after Becca, she had been attacked by people that Neal and Allegra had issues with.

I knew who they were.

Xavier was the youngest of three brothers, a pain in the ass that I had run across more than once in the business world. He was ruthless when he wanted something and a bit of a playboy who loved to show off his money. Patrick, the middle child, died when he was younger, and I didn't know back then that Neil was the one who had killed him. But after he explained it to me that situation kind of made sense, why they'd also be pisssed off at not only what he did, but what his father did too.

The oldest brother, though, he was the one you had to worry about.

Andre was a man who didn't replace remorse in anything that he did. He didn't care if he hurt you, he didn't care who he killed, and as long as he came out on top, he was perfectly happy. Andrea as far as I knew, I'd been in and out of prison more times than I could count.

He was a dangerous man and even though he had been wanted by the US for numerous amounts of things, with the help of friends in high places he was able to escape back to Russia where he was known to wander around Europe partaking in shady dealings.

Knowing that those two brothers were the ones who were after Becca in order to get to Neil made my blood run cold. She was in more danger than she had ever been. And if they got a hold of her?

Even if Neal came forward, they'd kill her. They wouldn't think twice about it. Unless, by some miracle, Xavier seemed to take a liking to her, which wouldn't surprise me, honestly, with his playboy nature.

Sitting at my desk, I held my head in my hands, trying to figure out what I was going to do. I needed to make my way there, and even with my uncle, having given me the resources I needed to make it happen, I wasn't sure where exactly to start first.

I couldn't just leave. Ronaldo was causing more issues than needed to be, and even though my uncle was keeping him at bay and away from me, it didn't stop him from causing a rift with the people that were here.

Those who are loyal to my uncle were torn between choosing Ronaldo and myself. They had dealt with Ronaldo for a long time, and he was directly blood related to my uncle. He was his son. So for my uncle to disregard his own son for the actions he had taken over the past few years and especially lately, and give it to his nephew instead, was very unheard of.

It wasn't like I had asked for this. I just wanted to be able to live a normal life with Becca and the children and be able to start over. I didn't want to be brought into all of this yet. My uncle and a lot of my family were looking up to me to ensure that the future of this family continues on.

Majority of people weren't stupid. If my cousin took over, he would run this family and the businesses into the ground. He was too greedy, too ambitious. He didn't look at the bigger picture of things and whereas my uncle was an ambitious man, he was smart about the moves that he made, something that his son very much lacked.

With a knock at my office door, I drew my attention away from my inner thoughts, and looking up, I saw my uncle step foot into the office with a smile upon his face. "Uncle, I wasn't expecting you. Is everything okay?"

Giving a small chuckle, he nodded his head. "Everything will be fine eventually. I just wanted to see if you were okay. I heard about the incident that happened over there, and with the resources, we can go ahead and have them moved here." "I know uncle, and I appreciate your help in this. I'm still trying to get used to everything. Of course, people are looking to me more now. I am grateful that you have named me your heir, and I won't let you down. I just think that once I get her and the children here, things should get better."

He slid his hands into his front pockets and nodded his head. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and he was a man of little words. But right now, I was seeing a softer side of him that I hadn't expected to see.

"Family is everything, James, and that is something that your father never taught you. My younger brother was not the brightest. He wanted his freedom away from the family, and some of the things he did when he was younger were the reasons why he was shunned. I'm sorry that I didn't get to you soon enough so you could live the life you were meant to have."

This was the first time my uncle had ever truly said that he was sorry, at least to me. And the way that he was looking at me right now, I could see the sincerity in his gaze. I hadn't been expecting it, but I was appreciating it because, for the first time in a long time, someone apologized for the way that I had grown up.

It wasn't my fault I didn't have the guidance that I needed back then. I had to learn how to be a man on my own. I had to learn how to take care of myself, my wife and my child because, at the end of the day, nobody was going to do it for us. "I appreciate that, Uncle, but I don't regret what happened to me. It made me who I am today," I explained, giving him a small smile.

He didn't seem surprised that was what my answer was going to be, and in fact, he smiled nodding his head in agreement. "That is why I chose you, James. It wasn't just to throw stones at my son. It was because you have proven in the short time you were here that you are the right man to take on what I started."

I didn't think that I had done much to prove myself. However, my uncle was so adamant that I had, which surprised me. "All I did was what you asked me to do. I did my job to be part of the family."

"Yes, and that is exactly what I want," he chuckled. "A man who will do what needs to be done to protect and support his family. Enough with that though I want you to tell me what you know about what's going on with your woman." Taking a moment to try and figure out where I was to start, I sighed and held my hands up in an unsure gesture as I looked down at the photos that lay scattered on my desk.

"From what I know, the Michaelson brothers are the ones that are after her."

"Xavier and Andre?" he gasped in an almost shocked sort of way. "Why would they want her?"

Letting out a sarcastic sort of laugh, I shook my head, letting my eyes meet his again. "Because of Neal and Allegra. Turns out their father was 'The Hammer,' and Neal killed Patrick, the middle brother, when he was younger. They want revenge, and they think using Becca is the way to get what they want."

My uncle seemed to let all the information soak in as he slowly paced around the room, lost deep in thought. "We have to get her and the children out of there then. They won't stop until they get what they want, and if they are out for blood, your family isn't safe."

It was odd hearing someone else call Becca and the children my family. Yes, the children were, but Becca was her own woman, and there was no telling what she would do when she found out I was still alive and had been vacant in her life. "I know, but it's making it happen that I'm replaceing the issue."

Turning to face me, he narrowed his gaze, shaking his head. "There isn't an issue, James. Charter a flight and go there to get them. You can deal with her issues once they get here." "What about Ronaldo? I can't exactly leave right now with him acting the way he is."

Reminding him of the issues his son was creating made him halt in his steps. He knew I had a point, whether he wanted to believe it or not. Ronaldo was a loose cannon, and if I left, there was no telling what he would try to pull. "Very well. Call this Neal person,and figure out if there is a way he can get her here. I don't care what you have to do, but those children are the future of this family. So if she doesn't want to come, then they at least need to." I was shocked at what he was suggesting. "Becca would never allow that."

The look he gave me made my heart race and my blood run cold. "Then don't give her a choice, James. You know how important this is, and with how high the stakes are around here right now. You having your family here is going to strengthen your claim on all of this. So, make it happen."

There was no room for discussion, and as I watched my uncle leave the room, closing the door behind him, I evaluated my situation. There was no changing the choice that had to be made, and as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Neal's number, I could only imagine what his reaction would be. There was going to be one hell of a showdown once this all kicked off.

I could only hope that they would be moved to safety before it went down.