Page 146 of Diego

That earns me a longer look.

“I was not going to lie to her,” I say. “I was not going to pretend there is room to negotiate something that is not negotiable. The baby will have security. If Blair is with the baby, Blair has security. There is no version of this where I gamble with my child because surveillance makes her uncomfortable.”

“You are right.”

“I know I am right.” I turn away again, irritated by how little that helps. “That is the problem.”

Mario lets the silence sit for a moment before he speaks. “You wish there to be another answer?”

“I know there isn’t one.” I look back at him and lean against the edge of the desk. “She asked what happens if she refuses the security and refuses to stay away from the baby.”

Mario’s face changes almost imperceptibly. “She has to know she would never win that legal battle.”

“She does. I think she just wanted to see what I would say.”

“And what did you say?”

“I didn’t.”

That seems to surprise him.

“I told her those were her choices and not to let it come down to that.” I fold my arms and stare at the carpet for a second.

“She needs time,” Mario says.

“That's what she asked for.”

“Then that's what you'll give her,” he says, as if a command.

That irritates me enough that I straighten. “I will.”

Mario holds up one hand before I can get any more annoyed. “I am not questioning you. I am reminding you that your instinct is going to be to fix this quickly because you do not like where you left things with her.”

He knows me too well.

I look away.

“That does not mean she is going to refuse,” he continues. “She heard something last night that changed the way she understands her future. Let her be angry about it.”

“I can handle her being angry.”

Mario gives me a look.

I sigh. “Fine. I can survive her being angry.”

“Is she stupid?” he asks.

“No,” I say defensively.

“Then she will make the right decision,” he says simply.

I almost tell him to get out of my office, but the truth is I am glad he came in. I have spent the entire morning arguing with myself about the conversation, replaying every word and trying to find the point where I could have made it easier without lying.

Mario leans forward slightly. “You cannot change what being a Conti means for that child, Diego. You can decide how Blair experiences being brought into it.”

I meet his eyes. “I already fucked up the introduction.”

“You were never going to make her happy about security.”