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The older man nodded as he shook my hand. “Looking forward to hearing what you have in mind, Bennett,” he said. “Mulvaney Communications is always looking for ways to have a greater impact on the community.”
“Glad to hear it, Sir,” I said.
I watched as the man wandered off to talk to some of the other patrons.
“I have to commend you, Bennett.”
The remark was unexpected and I hated that, despite the fact that I was so pissed at him, a little part of me puffed up at my father’s comment. He’d only ever seen the work I’d done with the foundation in terms of how good it would make the company look. Like the foundation also doing some good in the world would somehow deflect from the fact that my father’s firm was about making already rich people richer.
“Getting all these potential clients in one room… a lot of new business to be had here, Son.”
Disbelief went through me. “Dad,” I said as I shook my head. “I didn’t bring them here to—”
“Arnold!” my father called robustly as he took off to greet the next man who walked through the door. I felt sick to my stomach and automatically reached for my phone to call Xander. If I could just hear his voice, I could keep it together long enough to cement this deal and ensure kids like Lucky had the support they needed after I left New York.
The thought of my new family waiting for me to come home was enough to ease some of the tension in my belly. I already had my phone in my hand, so I turned it over to check for any new, dirty messages my man might have sent me.
But the only messages I saw were from Aiden, along with a few missed calls. Panic went through me, but before I could call him, I heard his voice.
“Bennett!”
I looked up to see Aiden and Lucky near a side door, but there was no sign of Xander.
Why would Aiden have Lucky unless something bad had happened?
“Where is he?” I called out as I hurried towards them. “What’s wrong? Is he okay?” I asked as I grabbed Aiden’s arm.
Please, God, don’t let me lose him. Not now. Not like this.
“He’s okay,” Aiden said quickly.
I nearly buckled at the knees as a tidal wave of relief went through me. “Jesus, don’t fucking do that to me,” I griped. “Where is he?”
“It’s his aunt,” Lucky said.
“Lolly?” I asked, as anxiety curled through me. “Did something happen to her?”
“She’s been in a car accident, B. Some guy phoned Xander about an hour ago to tell him and I guess they took her right into surgery or something. Xander brought Lucky and Bear to my place before heading to the airport.”
“Fuck,” I said. “I have to go. Which airport?”
“La Guardia.”
I hadn’t gotten more than a few steps when my father called my name. I turned to see him striding towards me. His eyes settled on Aiden.
“Mr. Vale, what are you doing here?” my father bit out impatiently.
He’d always ignored my friendship with Aiden, but that was mostly because he never saw us together. He may not have approved of Aiden’s sexuality, but he sure as hell would have been happy enough to invest Aiden’s money for him.
God, I’d been such a fucking fool. Why had I ever thought this man’s opinion mattered?
“He came to give me some news… about Xander.”
“Xander? Xander Reed?”
“Yes.”
My father’s eyes went from disinterested to ice cold, just like that. He hadn’t even spared Lucky a glance.
Like he wasn’t there.
And I knew why. I glanced at Lucky and then stepped forward and grabbed my father’s arm to pull him aside. A look at Aiden showed that he knew what I was doing and he went up to Lucky to make sure the young man didn’t follow and overhear what I was about to say.
“Do you really not see him, Dad?” I asked angrily as I motioned in Lucky’s direction with my chin. “Has your bigotry made you that blind?”
“Son, this is neither the time nor place for you to be bringing one of your… projects,” he said as he took several steps back to put some space with us and pasted a false smile on his face as he tried to hide his obvious distaste. He looked around at the men and women who’d gathered for the foundation meeting.
A feeling of calm washed over me as I stared at the man who’d sired me, but hadn’t ever been my father. The only father I’d ever even come close to having had died fifteen years ago.
“Lucky’s not a project. He’s my son. He’s been mine in my heart from the moment I met him, and just as soon as I can make it happen, he’ll be mine on paper too. Mine and Xander’s.”
