Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 79 -

Весса.

After everything that had happened with James, I let myself succumb to the lust that took over on very often occasions. I loved him, but loving him wasn't good for me. At least, I wasn't sure if it was. I wanted him to stay, but I was so far past having the effort in this anymore.

I just wanted to sleep. Curl up in my bed, and hide away from the world.

There was no point in exhausting myself mentally, emotionally, and physically by fighting for a relationship that just could not work. At least, not right now. Perhaps when everything was said and done with my schoolwork and Tally had the baby, and James had figured out whatever else he had going on... then he could work towards something more.

Maybe anyway... who knew what the future would hold?

Laying In bed naked, I stared at the ceiling, trying to move around all the vivid thoughts I had. James and I had once again done what we usually did, and with as many questions as I had, I wanted to know what the truth was. I needed answers. As the bathroom door opened, and he stepped out in nothing but his underwear, walking toward me with a smile, I couldn't help but wonder what he was going to tell me. What was so important he had to speak to me in person about it? "You are absolutely stunning," he praised as he crawled onto the bed next to me, his lips brushing against my cheek as he let his hand slide over my stomach. "How is it that a woman like you has captivated a man like me?"

I couldn't help but look at him with a questioning gaze. "Was that supposed to be a negative comment? That a woman like I can capture the attention of a man like you."

"I didn't mean it like that," he laughed. As I rolled my eyes, a smirk crossed my lips. I knew he hadn't meant it like that, even though he had said it like that. I wasn't the kind of woman to take something completely out of context and throw a fit about it, though.

"What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked as he stopped in his tracks, opening and closing his mouth. His mood changed quickly.

"We don't have to do this right now."

"No, I think we do." Watching him closely, his expression turned to one of irritation as he looked off, sighing heavily. His chest rose and fell as he hesitated to tell me what it was he originally wanted to tell me.

"I've done a lot of bad things in my life, Becca. One of them was doing shady things to build my empire. Illegal things that caused people to get hurt."

It's no secret James was far from innocent. Hearing whispers growing up about how the family was built on things better left unspoken.

It wasn't my business, though. Who was I to judge?

"Okay." I whispered. "I knew you did some things... it was obvious. Why not explain that to me though? To help me better understand."

"You knew?"

The sideways glance he gave me caused me to giggle. "Uh, yeah. Come on now, I wasn't born yesterday." Groaning, he ran his hand over his face before letting his shoulders sag in defeat.

"I made deals with a Russian leader named Sergie years and years ago when I was just a young man trying to build an empire. My business with him led me to do very shady deals, mix with the wrong people, and make a lot of enemies. Now that I'm older, I tried to pull away from the business dealings I did before, but now I have created an enemy of Sergie."

My breath caught as I tried to comprehend what he was saying.

He was getting mixed up with the Russians? "Do you mean like the mafia?"

Slowly, he nodded his head, and my heart all but sank into the pit of my stomach. "Yes, I mean the mafia. Because I'm refusing to resign new deals, they are making threats that could potentially risk the safety of the people around me."

I finally understood how dire the situation really was. The Russians were well known within the country, and they're not somebody you messed with, and the fact he was refusing their leader was worse.

"Am I in danger?" I whispered, barely able to get the words out.

"No, you're not in danger."

Glancing at him quickly with wide eyes, I stared in shock. "How do you know that, though? How can you know that I'm not in danger?"

"Because I wouldn't allow them to get anywhere near you."

I sat up quickly on the bed, my naked body calling for clothing as I suddenly felt too bare. As if the entire world could see me. "James, you're not making any sense. You literally just told me that the mafia is after you, and you're saying I'm not in danger because you wouldn't let danger come to me. You do realize we live thousands of miles apart."

"I will do what I need to protect you regardless of the distance."

"Oh, yeah, 'cause that's possible." Jumping from the bed, I grabbed my robe and wrapped it around me. "I had a feeling what you did wasn't great, but like... I didn't think this."

"Becca, you're safe-"

Spinning around to face him, I shook my head in disbelief. "It's fine. I'm going to make a cup of tea. Would you like one?"

"No. Go make your tea and then come back up here. I want to spend the rest of my few hours with you before I leave in the morning."

"You're leaving in the morning?" I asked, slightly shocked. "When were you planning on telling me this?"

"I'm sorry, Becca. I do have to leave in the morning. I need to get Tally back down there to get her to the doctor. She's refusing to go to the doctor here because she doesn't want to implicate Chad."

I could clearly see his priorities, and he was her father, so I respected that and didn't argue. Nodding my head, I gave him a small smile and continued out the door. I had little time to think of what I would do, but obviously, I had a decision to make.

**********

The next morning came quickly, and I prepared for what was to come as it did.

James had tried more than once while I was helping Tally get ready to force me to take money from him, but of course, I wouldn't. I didn't want him reimbursing me for anything. I did what I did for her because I had a good heart. Nothing more, nothing less.

Dressed in my loose sundress, I slid all my sandals and went downstairs to where James and Tally were currently talking in the kitchen. As soon as I came in, the conversations died, and both stared at me. "Good morning." "Morning," Tally replied with a bright and cheerful smile as James came up to me, his lips pressing against the side of my head as I stood there smiling. What was I supposed to do... respond like everything was okay? "Are you guys ready to go?" I asked cheerfully as I pulled away from him.

"Yeah, the car is actually downstairs. We were just waiting for you to come down before we leave."

"Well, let's not keep them waiting, shall we?"

One by one, we headed out the front door, into the elevator, and down toward the parking lot. It was quiet for the most part, and Tally finally had a small smile back on her face. I guess the idea of going home to your million-dollar mansion was better than staying up here at school.

From what I had gathered, Tally had decided that she would take time off school and perhaps look at online courses simply because she was going to be a mother now and needed to focus on that.

I didn't blame her one bit. Had I been in her situation, I would have done the same.

I hoped she would take this opportunity and all the things that had happened to her and grow up a little bit, taking responsibility for how she acts and what she's doing. After all, she was about to bring another life into this world.

It was a scary thought, but as we stepped out of the elevator, I saw how James and her smiled and laughed with each other. With his help, I did not doubt she would do fine. He was her father, and no matter the wrong she did, he loved her. It's what made this all so hard.

I was ending this, and he had no idea that I was.

I never judged him for the things he had done in his past, even though there was a chance my life was in danger now because of it. The problem lay with his inability to manage what he had going on and how he acted towards me.

I had given him chance after chance, and while I loved him, I couldn't keep allowing this to bring me down. I couldn't allow myself to continue like this, knowing he wouldn't be able to give me everything he had.

He had other priorities to worry about, and I wasn't one of them.

No matter what he tried to say.

As the driver opened the door, I watched Tally climb into the car's back seat while James turned back towards me. "So, make time to come down during fall break."

"What?" I asked, confused with a curious glance. "Fall break?"

"Yeah, I want you to come down. We can spend some time together, and have fun."

As enticing as that was, and normal me would jump at the opportunity, I couldn't. "James, that is not a good idea."

He frowned at me while narrowing his gaze. "What's wrong?"

"I don't think we should continue the way we are."

"No, you're not doing this. We are better. I apologized to you," he replied, shaking his head.

"You don't have time for me, James. Honestly, you don't. Not to mention the distance causes a lot of issues. You were right before... there is no way for this to work. As much as I want to believe otherwise, I can't." "Becca-" He stepped forward.

"No, James. Please... just go. Take care of yourself, and we can maybe talk in the future."

There were no other words that needed to be said. Turning around, I made my way back towards the apartment's main doorway and refused to look back at him. If I did... I wouldn't be able to say goodbye.