Free Eternal Love (Bend to My Will #11) by Emily Jane Trent Page A

Carl, and would have been happy if he had. This time, Jacob could reach out and squeeze the life right out of the evil bastard.
    But in a fleeting instant, Jacob decided otherwise. He had responsibilities now, and he couldn’t let Carl antagonize him into making a grave error in judgment. Despite his baser instincts, he held back, yet remained ready to react if he needed to.
    Jacob saw Carl as a broken man, a weak man, one with no principles or loyalty. His own despicable actions had rendered him without a family, and whatever he’d suffered, it hadn’t been nearly enough. There was no way to bring Flora back, or to make up for her death.
    “You are one crazy son of a bitch,” Jacob said. “Day after day, drunk out of your mind, you bullied your young wife and son. I haven’t forgotten the abuse. You have a lot of nerve coming here like this.”
    Carl stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets and shifted from one foot to the other. His eyes were bloodshot, and his nervous stance was a giveaway that he needed a drink. The man always needed a drink. He’d been drunk every day of Jacob’s young life, and likely still was.
    Seeing Carl Hahn on the sidewalks of New York, confronting him after all this time, shifted something inside Jacob. For so many years, his vision of his father had been through his eyes as a young boy. The man had been bigger, stronger, and his oppression inescapable.
    The memories had been magnified by the horrible events that had ensued. Now, looking at the deplorable image of a man standing before him, things fell into place. The man’s influence was no longer out of proportion, seeming bigger than life, as it had when Jacob had been so young.
    Current reality was different, and it blew those early memories right out of the water for Jacob. He saw Carl for what he really was: a heartless bastard who got his jollies beating on helpless women and children. But he wasn’t scary anymore. Jacob could easily take him out, physically. It occurred to Jacob that the man was no longer a threat. He had no position in life, no power over his son.
    Huge relief washed over Jacob, and he expelled a heavy breath. “So why the hell are you here?”
    Carl shook his head. “You always did have a temper, Jacob. You see, I used to tell Flora to keep you in line. But she never could. And you see what happened.”
    Jacob seethed with hatred. “You killed her, you evil son of a bitch.”
    Carl laughed. It was a sound that lacked mirth, and was only dark and disconcerting. “No, Jacob. Your mother died of pneumonia.” His eyes narrowed. “It takes balls for you to point the finger at me…you’re the murderer.”
    Jacob dared not move, lest he wring the life out of the bastard standing not more than two feet away from him.
    “You tried to kill me, Jacob. Your own father. You tried to stab me.” Carl smirked. “Do the Rinaldis know you are a murderer at heart? Have you told them?”
    Jacob shouted at his father, “I was a child… you are the monster!”
    “You tried to kill me, Jacob Hahn. You are not a Rinaldi. You’re nothing like them.” Carl took a step closer. “Once a killer…always a killer.”
    Jacob froze. “You’re right, Carl…because I’m tempted to end your miserable life right now.”
    Carl gave him a knowing look. “I’ll tell them, Jacob. I’ll tell them everything.”
    “You think Vico doesn’t know?” Jacob was incredulous. “He saved me from you , from the horrible fate you saw as fitting for your own son.”
    “He can’t save you, Jacob. Even Vico Rinaldi can’t save you from yourself.” Carl moved back, just a step, but it was a sign of retreat from the venomous look in Jacob’s eyes.
    “Vico may know. After all, he raised you.” A look of evil delight came over Carl’s features. “But everyone else doesn’t .”
    “Who would possibly care?”
    “You make me laugh, Jacob. You were always aggressive, uncontrollable. But I had thought you were smart.” Carl huffed.