Chapter 25
After Loretta hung up with Vanessa, she chilled outside for almost a whole hour before John finally got led out by some bigwigs. When she saw John’s face all lit up with a happy grin, Loretta smiled too.
They hopped in a cop car and rode back together. As soon as they stepped out, they spotted Wyatt and Cohen coming their way from the villa.
After the cop car was gone, Wyatt got all serious and gave John a hard time. He said, “John, what were you thinking? You used all the company’s cash to buy that old thing. Didn’t you know someone could mess us up and bring down Broderick Group!”
Cohen chimed in. “If you’d bought the Nine Dragons Coblet to give it to someone who could do us some good, that would’ve made sense. But you just gave it away to a museum. You can’t seriously think that a couple of news guys talking about you will make Broderick Group take off, right? That’s just being really green.”
With the two throwing shade at him right off the bat, John’s happy vibes were gone in a flash. He got all serious and shot back. “I didn’t ask either of you for a single cent to get the Nine Dragons Goblet, so it’s kinda weird that you’re all over me
now.
isn’t it?”
“You… We’re family, and we’re just trying to watch your back, Wyatt told John, giving him this look like John was being a total ingrate, and for a second, it seemed like he might pop John one.
Loretta stepped in, linking her arm with John’s, and said, “Dad, don’t let it get to you.”
As soon as Loretta piped up. Wyatt and Cohen switched their focus to her. Cohen gave her the side–eye and said, “Loretta, since you were with your dad, didn’t you try to stop him from making a mess of things? If Broderick Group’s money gets all messed up and we can’t keep going, you’ll be the ones bawling your eyes out.”
“Whether Broderick Group keeps going or not is not Uncle Cohen’s business. Remember, we split the family money, and Dad built Broderick Group from nothing after we did that,” Loretta shot back.
“You…” Cohen was at a loss for words.
“Alright already!” John was beat after sitting on a plane for hours, and then having a super long meeting with the big bosses He just wanted to go home, crash, and not listen to any more complaining from them. Loretta and I are bushed from traveling, so we’re gonna take a rain check on this little get–together. We need some shut–eye.”
“John, don’t you see how serious this is?” Wyatt was furning. Even though John had built the Broderick Group on his own, Wyatt thought of it as a family thing. Spending 600 million on some antique just to hand it over to a museum was nuts, and hearing about it had totally bailed on his chill time.
Wyatt wasn’t the only one steaming. Cohen was just as mad. When the family’s antique business was booming, spending 600 million wasn’t a big deal, but now that it was barely keeping its head above water, they were thinking about teaming up with John in the jewelry game. Since John only had Loretta, they figured that his jewelry business would end up with their boys someday.
But with what John had done, it felt like he was just throwing away the business that was supposed to go to their kids.
Seeing their mad faces, Loretta had to stifle a sneer. Back in her ld life, she and John had put family ties on a pedestal, letting these guys suck them dry. But this time around, whatever was hers and John’s, these folks couldn’t even dream about
Loretta hooked her arm with John’s as they headed inside, with Wyatt and Cohen hot on their heels.
Orice they were in the living room, John turned to Loretta. “Honey, why don’t you go get some rest? I’ll handle this
“Nah, I wanna stick with you, Dad,” Loretta insisted.
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Chapter 25
John wasn’t thrilled about Loretta witnessing the family feud, but since she was so set on it, he didn’t push her to leave.
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Once they all took their seats, John jumped in before his brothers could get a word in. “I know what you’re up to,” he said, all serious. “Let me make it clear: I started Broderick Group from nothing, and it’s going to Loretta down the line, so don’t get any other ideas.”
“John! Loretta’s just a girl. What can she do? You did build Broderick Group, but it has our family name. We can’t let the name change hands,” Wyatt piped up, knowing John’s limits and trying not to cross the line too much.
Loretta let out a little laugh and said, “Uncle Wyatt, how do you know the name will change hands just ‘cause I’ll be in charge of Broderick Group? Even if I get married someday, I’ll find a guy who’s cool with joining our family, and my kids will carry my last name.”
“Hmph!” Wyatt grunted. “In this world, guys who marry into their wife’s family are usually either losers or have sneaky plans. Haven’t you seen those news stories about guys who married in, then hurt their wife and kids to grab their wife’s money? Those stories are all over the place!”
“Wyatt, are you saying Loretta can’t have a happy family?” John was fuming. He couldn’t believe it. Loretta wasn’t even married yet, and here was her own uncle, basically putting a curse on her future. That thought just boiled his blood, and he pointed straight at the door. “There’s nothing more to discuss. Broderick Group is mine. My daughter can do whatever she wants with it. You can show yourself out now.”
“How can you not get it, John?” Cohen shot back, his voice full of anger. “Wyatt’s just keeping it real.”
Cohen’s words made John so mad that he knocked a coffee cup off the table. As the cup broke and coffee went everywhere, John stood up and got right in Cohen’s face, yelling. “Before you start talking about my daughter, maybe you should go deal with your own kid! Loretta always looked out for hers, and what does she do? She steals Loretta’s boyfriend!”
“John, what crazy talk is this? Amy stealing Loretta’s boyfriend? Come on, Amy’s the one who’s been hurt here. She’s the real victim,” Cohen argued,
“Victim? Yeah, right! Why is it that only Amy and Bruno ended up drugged, and no one else? You can’t seriously think Loretta and I were born yesterday, can you?” John was fuming, his voice getting louder.
John, you’re way off base! Amy has always been a good girl; she wouldn’t pull a stunt like that. Plus, she’s looked up to Loretta since they were little. There’s no way she meant to do it Cohen was trying to defend his daughter.
The two were at each other’s throats, their faces turning red as they argued. Wyatt tried to step in and calm things down, but it was like trying to stop a storm. By this point, the 600 million–dollar antique was the last thing on anyone’s mind.
Loretta stood by, watching the situation escalate. She thought about intervening, but then she remembered she wanted her dad to see these people’s true colors, so she held back.
When John finally had enough, he kicked both of them out of the house.
After they were gone, Loretta tried to calm John down. “Dad, don’t stress out. If you get all worked up and sick, it’s me who’s going to be the one worrying about you.”
John was fuming about his brothers‘ actions. He turned to Loretta and said, “Loretta, I used to think keeping the peace with them was what was best for you. But after this mess, I can see them for who they really are. Let’s just concentrate on making our own money and enjoying our own life. What happens to them is none of our business.”
Loretta felt a little bit of relief seeing John come around to her way of thinking. She nodded in agreement. “You’ve got a point, Dad: We should be living our own lives. All they’re interested in is Broderick Group, not us
“Exactly,” John agreed.
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Chapter 26
