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He shakes his head. “They did so without asking me. Without letting me know. They askedher.Sheagreed. Because Kat, well, she thinks she is a tough cookie.”
“It’s illegal.” I almost don’t believe what he says. “She was a minor.”
“It’s Thailand. The operation wasn’t approved by the higher-ups. And my own boss decided that seven other lives, or dozens, were worth it. They were, in theory. But not when you put a minor at risk. Not when it’smy daughter. But then, again, gray areas.”
Another moment of silence follows, and I almost don’t want to hear what else he has to say.
“She wasn’t hurt. Well—” He looks away, around, like he is following a fly, and it’s awkward because I realize that this tough guy has a hard time talking about it. “She did the job, let’s put it that way. She almost got hurt in the worst way you could think of.”
I think of Olivia, and my stomach turns.
“Came about a minute close to something that could’ve traumatized her for life. If she ever feels like it, she’ll tell you.”
He looks at his hands, then back up at me.
“We left Thailand the next week, moved to Pennsylvania, to the middle of nowhere to stay away from all that, my work, to be exact. I realized that I almost lost the only person I loved because of my dedication to work. It’s never worth it. And then she got in trouble again, because she’s feisty and doesn’t take crap from anyone.”
I feel slightly hurt that she never brought up this wild story.
“The reason I tell you this, Archer, is because Kat is brave, but she’s also reckless. She acts on the spur of the moment, and she refuses to accept defeat. Whether it’s a particular scenario or…”
Or? There’s gotta be a moral to this story.
“Or a person,” he says, his gaze locked with mine.
Ohhh-kay.
“She is tough, Archer. She thinks she can do it all on her own. But listen carefully. If you hurt her. If you make her cry again…”
I stop my brow from arching.
Again.
He looks down. She must’ve told him about our little dramas.
“I only do this—Zion—because of her, you understand,” he goes on, not looking up.
And then it hits me. My girlfriend’s father is being over-protective and is… worried. Wow. It’s endearing in a fucked-up way. And unlike other girlfriends’ fathers in the past, he doesn’t give a damn about my fortune.
“I am asking you a favor. Like a father with a daughter. Don’t mess with Kat.” His voice is calm, and maybe that’s why I don’t feel threatened. Not by him.
“I—”
“You know what I mean. You see a bad-ass pretty girl with a killer portfolio, and you think you can endlessly play games with her. I’m sure she plays along.”
He looks around again like he’s collecting his thoughts. This is awkward. I am having a conversation with the father of a girl who fucks me and fucks with my feelings and is the only one who manages to wrap me around her finger. Yet, he’s worried abouther. Did she say something I need to know?
“She’s never really had a boyfriend,” he finally spits out and turns his gaze to me, his expression serious. “Don’t tell her I said that. I know she has experience.” He slowly wipes his face with his hand. “This is awkward,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry. She’s never let anyone close. She’s young. She’ll learn. She might think this is serious, but she doesn’t know better.”
Ouch.
What shocks me the most is that Mr. Ortiz is slowly losing his emotionless mask.
“In time,” he carries on, “she’ll meet someone who’ll value and love her for who she is. Someone much stronger than her who won’t show it, won’t try to top her. Someone she’ll be able to rely on and trust instead of trying to impress. She has issues with trust, after Thailand and all that jazz. And she sure likes to impress.”
Clearly, Mr. Ortiz is not my fan. “And you don’t think she’s met that person yet…” I smirk but hold his gaze.
Mr. Ortiz sucks his teeth. “You are cocky, Archer. You wear it like a badge of honor. With your achievements, it’s no surprise. But you have a ways to go with women.”
