Page 196 of Vexatious Queen

“Is everything okay,” I asked, and Eddie turned. He smiled, but it looked forced.

“Yeah. Everything will be fine,” Eddie said, walking across the room to grab his suit jacket.

“Dad, you don’t have to protect me. If something is going on, I’d like to help,” I said, as he straightened the black jacket.

He looked dashing and dangerous as he came toward me, fixing his collar and doing up the button on the front.

“Always so strong,” he said, laying his hands on my shoulders. “So beautiful. You’re right, you’re old enough to know what is going on. We do need to speak, but not tonight. The house is full of guests, and dinner will be served soon. We don’t want a repeat of Thanksgiving,” he said and smiled, but the worry in his eyes bothered me.

“Are you in danger?”

“No.”

“Are my guys? Am I? Please just tell me that,” I begged, searching his face for clues.

Eddie shook his head.

“No, it is nothing like that. Tomorrow morning, we will have breakfast, and I will share my information.” He cupped my cheek. “If I thought there was a threat I needed to tell you about, I would immediately. I promise.”

I believed him. But my brain jumped to the worst-case scenario. Apparently, patience was not a virtue I possessed.

“Okay,” I said.

“Excellent. Now that you’re here, you can escort me to my party. Help me make an entrance.”

He held his hand out, and I was tempted to ask one more time. Instead, we walked out of the office. He closed and locked the door and then gave me the crook of his arm like Nash had earlier.

“Dad, I know this is a horrible question, but…how old are you?”

He chuckled. “Why do I look old?”

“No, but I just realized that I don’t actually know your age. That’s terrible of me, isn’t it?”

“Nonsense, we have had many other things to discuss and worry about. I’m turning forty,” he said.

I stopped walking and jerked him to a halt. He looked me over before his eyes locked on my face.

“What is it, what’s wrong?”

“I…I know this is going to sound dumb, but…I just assumed you were older than that.”

Eddie laughed, making me blush.

“Now, I’m scared to ask if I look older than forty.

“No, not at all. I mean, it makes sense. Mum would be thirty-nine, but I guess…you’re just so accomplished. You have this whole life thing figured out.”

“I have very little figured out, believe it or not. But as far as the businesses, you must remember that I was working to prove myself to Vadin before I could even drive. I’ve been doing this for a very long time. When my father and mother passed away in a car accident, I inherited everything my father had built.” I could see the pain of talking about this in his eyes. “I mean, everything we had built. By that time, the Genovese Empire was quite large, but I had made deals of my own all around the world.”

“And you did all of that to marry Mum?”

Eddie nodded.

“I did, and then Vadin changed his mind.” His voice held longing that hurt to hear. He cleared his throat. “Sorry, I don’t mean to get so emotional. Today is a celebration.”

“You’re right. I’m the one who should be sorry for bringing up sad stuff. Forty is a milestone birthday,” I said, and smiled at him.

We reached the top of the stairs and paused.