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Nods from Prosper and Gianni. When they didn’t add to the conversation, Hal asked the obvious question.
“So, you never said what you’re doing with your daughter? If Valentina shouldn’t be away from her doctors and she can’t board a plane, where are you stashing her while your crew hashes this out?”
Hal looked at Gianni—who looked at Prosper—who looked at Hal.
An awkward silence filled the room.
“Well, that’s where you come in.” Prosper reluctantly grunted
“That’s whereI come inwhere?”
“Valentina is comfortable with you …” Gianni began to explain.
“Your daughter barely knows me.”
“Yet, your voice is the one she responded to when she was in a …state.” Gianni’s voice was low and his expression was pained.
In a state? That’s one word for it,Hal thought as he remembered the terrified woman going through one of the worst PTSD episodes he had ever seen. Yeah, he helped her out of that, but it was not something he wanted to make a habit of. He barely had his own demons under control.
“So, what exactly do you need from me?”
“I’d like you to see to the safety of my daughter while we straighten out this mess,” Gianni told him.
“Like I said, I can button up that security system nice and tight for you, no problem.” Hal’s offer was guarded.
“Thank you. And of course, that would-be part of it, yes,” Gianni told him.
“What’s the other part?”
“I would like you to act as my daughter’s personal security detail.”
WTF?
Hal threw his boss a look that clearly said,you have got to be shitting me,but Prosper only shrugged and scowled in answer.
“Look, I appreciate your vote of confidence. But if you’re asking me to be Valentina’s body guard? With all due respect, Gianni, the answer is absolutely fuckingnot,” Hal said in no uncertain terms. Then because his president had thrown him right under the moving bus, Hal decided to return the favor.
“You good with this, Boss? Because I believe you might have forgotten that conversation we had not too long ago.”
“Conversation?” Gianni asked. “Have I missed something?”
Prosper narrowed his eyes and threw a murderous glare at Hal.
Hal met that glare head on.
Yeah, G, you sure did. You missed the little lecture that your buddy here gave me about eye-fucking your daughter. The one where he told me in no uncertain terms to stay the hell away from her.
Gianni tracked the murderous glare between the two men, then he interrupted the tense silence.
“Your president took some convincing to go along with my request, if that is the kind of conversation you are referring to.” Gianni offered.
Yeah, I fucking bet he did.
“You mind if I have a word with my brother?” Prosper asked, but it wasn’t a question.
Gianni nodded at Prosper. Then he stood up, straightened his tie, and said, “Please take all the time you need. I have a few calls to make.”
“Front room is private and it gets the best reception in the house. We’ll see you out there in a few.” Prosper walked Gianni to the door. Then he closed it hard behind him
