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“Unless I absolutely hate where you take me, I guess we’ll go for one hundred and one,” he replied easily, and I let out a sigh of relief. I halfway expected him to say that was all he was going to give me.
“You’ll love it, whatever we do,” I told him. “And stop trying to play it cool. You already want infinite dates with me.” He didn’t deny it.
“Vivian.” My stomach dipped when his hand found my thigh. “I’m not the only one.”
“I’m sure you’re not. There are probably thousands of people who would love to have me for infinity.”
I couldn’t see his eyes behind the sunglasses, but I didn’t need to know he’d just rolled them. “You wantmefor infinity,” he clarified, as if I didn’t already know what he meant.
“Guess we’ll have to see about that.”
Chapter Thirty
Daniel
Present
“Agent Alvarez.Thank you for meeting me.” I thrust my hand out to Donato’s contact in the FBI, assessing as we shook. He had a few years on me, the lines around his mouth indicating he was very likely a smoker. The ones around his eyes were deep set, evidence of the things he’d seen that no amount of booze, painkillers, or time could erase.
“You certainly got my attention with your phone call.” He unbuttoned his black suit coat and slipped his hands into his pockets.
“Mind if we walk?” I’d chosen Rockefeller Park instead of a restaurant or the apartment because I needed the air. And Vivian loved it here. Somehow she gave me strength even when we were apart.
“I could use the fresh air.” He lifted a shoulder. “Well, outside air,” he amended.
I was supposed to crack a smile, but couldn’t find it in me. Instead, I wandered along the Hudson, hands in my suit pockets mirroring the agent. I took in my surroundings as I walked. A ferry glided across the water. Buildings stretched high above, kissing the sky. Fall wind caressed the trees, leaves raining to the grass. A couple jogged past, their pace in step as they weaved around us.
Agent Alvarez waited for me to speak, seemingly content to match my strides for as long as I wanted. I reminded myself that Donato trusted him, so I’d have to as well. This decision was easy, and yet I was stalling. I could make up a reason for why I’d phoned him and then go get Vivian. Pretend it was out of my hands.
Except that wasn’t who I was. It wasn’t the man she expected me to be. And with all the shit with Vinny, maybe this was another way to protect her.
“Donato didn’t murder my father,” I said evenly without slowing my steps. I turned to face Agent Alvarez, our eyes meeting. “I did.”
I had to give the man credit. Only one brow slightly lifted in surprise before his expression turned neutral. “Daniel, before you say anything else, I want to be sure you know the penalty for this can be life without parole.”
“Did you know my father spent all of my mother’s money? That he treated her like shit, and she never once complained?” I looked out at the river, picturing my mother’s smile. “She passed away when I was young. Then there was no one to protect me from him.”
These were things I didn’t discuss, but he needed motive, and I was going to give him plenty.
“None of that means you killed him,” he pointed out.
I ignored him and went on. “Did you also know that when I was fifteen he sold me out to Francisco Angelone?”
I waited for him to answer with a level stare. He shook his head. “No. I wasn’t aware.”
“He always looked out for number one. And the fucker never stopped until the day he died.”
“A lot of people hate their father without killing him.”
My brow creased. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the guy was trying to give me a way out. “Get out your recorder or a notepad. This is my confession.” I looked at him directly in the eyes. “I killed my father.”
Agent Alvarez made no move; we just kept walking as I detailed what happened that day as I’d rehearsed it in my head a thousand times. The last thing I needed to do was say too much.
Finally, the man stopped. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tapped one out, offering it to me. I declined, and he lit up. He took a long drag and tilted his head toward the sky, blowing out a long stream of smoke.
“He protects you. And you’d do anything to protect him.” We weren’t talking about my father anymore.
“Do you have kids, Agent Alvarez?” I leaned against the railing that ran along the path, and he joined me.
