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“Your father—”
“Killed her, yes.” His eyes averted to the white cobblestone. “However, he was all I had, so he sent me to live with a relative in Southern Italy.” Gazing out across the massive backyard, he smiled, but it wasn’t a smile of happiness. It was sinister. “He sent some money, but he was too busy with American business, so I supported myself and my aunt.”
“Oh, shit!” My attempt at holding back my reaction failed. Shocked, I wanted to cry for him, but fought back the tears. I didn’t want him to feel embarrassed. “You said both of your parents were deceased.”
He nodded, stiffening his jaw once again.
“May I ask what happened?” Now I was just being nosy.
He gave me breadcrumbs to his life, and I wanted to connect the dots. For all I knew, he might have been lying. The story was elaborate, but so much so, it might have been the truth.
“You know,” he sighed, “I’m wanting that answer as well. I do know he was killed, but he was a great man.”
“But he—”
“Was all I had, and he was taken from me,” he said bitterly.
My heart broke for him. I wanted to hug him. Comforting people was something I always tried to do. With everything that had happened between Chance and me recently, I knew what it was like to find myself in a dark place after a loss. Chance might not have been dead, but he was gone. Alejandro looked sad… empty… a shell.
Without warning to him, I suddenly tossed my arms around him, yanking him firmly against me. The book fell from his hands, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around me. Inhaling his cologne, I closed my eyes, resting my head against his chest.
“Not that I’m complaining, but what’s this for?” His lips pressed to the top of my head as he whispered, “I could get used to this.”
Peeling myself away, I adjusted my robe. “Sorry, I mean, not sorry, but I just felt compelled to hug you.”
As he opened his mouth, his phone rang. Backing away, he dug it out of his pocket, smirking at the screen. Lifting his brows, he placed it to his ear.
Dime.
¿Tienes información para mí?
Sí, pero tengo compañía. Déjame que vaya a un lugar más privado.
Covering the speaker, he smiled. “I have to take this. Please make yourself at home, okay?”
Nodding, I playfully shooed him, matching his expression. With a wink, he returned the phone to his ear as he sped away, muttering in Spanish. The moment he was out of sight, my face dropped.Yep, he’s definitely hiding something.Thanks to three years of Spanish in school, I understood most of that.
* * *
The days rushed by and the topic of his family was never brought up again. In fact, the rest of my time in New York was generally bland. He spent many hours closed off in his office while I watched more shows and movies than I’d like to admit.
At dinner one night, he briefly mentioned he was working on a project and apologized for staying locked away so much. Assuming it was for Ian, I shrugged it off.
When I got back home, I tucked the book away in a bookcase. My home; nothing like the Knight’s Brookline mansion, but cozy, bright, and with just enough space for me. Knowing that Chance was staying with them, I chose to go to my own place.
Tonight, when I entered the club, I had more confidence. I dumped my personal belongings upstairs in the executive offices before work. The pre-shift, routine meeting with the ladies was quick. The new girls understood their positions now. GiGi was still dealing with the monthly torment of womanhood, so I assigned her to help the bartender. I would’ve taken her place once again, but Ian texted me on the way, asking if I could help with another project.
“Mr. Knight will be ready for you in about thirty minutes.” Jade sped by on her way to a table, giving me a heads-up in the process.
“Okay!” I called over my shoulder, carrying drinks to VIP.
* * *
CHANCE
It was my first night back at Euphoria after months away. The atmosphere brought back many memories. Sighing, I stepped through the door to the main showroom, looking around. Nothing had changed, yet everything felt so different.
I had promised Ian and Jenna I wouldn’t drink tonight, but the more anxious I became about Amber, the more I wished I’d not given them my word. They didn’t want me to say or do anything foolish since the wound was still fresh. We’d yet to come face to face since I got home. I’d also assured them I would keep a low profile so as not to ruin her shift.
