She blinks as she nods. “Yes, but legally he’s still Tommy’s guardian, if he comes in to?—”
“That’s why my man is here.”
“Yes.” She swallows. “I understand that, but like I said, Mr. Conti is legally Tommy’s guardian. He has authority?—”
I take a small step toward her, forcing her to tilt her head back.
“Mikhail has total authority when it comes to Tommy’s safety. If Mr. Conti or anyone other than myself or my wife comes to the school inquiring about Tommy, Mikhail will handle it.”
“Of course.” She clears her throat. “Understood.”
“Good.” I climb back into my seat. “We can go.”
“You didn’t need to terrify her.” Sienna pokes my shoulder.
“I didn’t.”
“Kaz, you all but growled at her.” Sienna laughs, and I catch the spark in her eyes that makes the tension in my shoulders ease.
“Why does Tommy go to this school and not a private school?” I ask as we inch our way out of this absurd parking lot.
“Public schools have to provide aides for the hearing impaired. Tony didn’t want to spend money on a private school, and Tommy’s mom couldn’t afford it.”
“How fatherly of him.”
“Tony wanted to walk away from Tommy all together, but Uncle Vicente wouldn’t let him.” She digs her phone out from her purse.
“Why wouldn’t he let him walk away? He doesn’t seem to give a shit about him.”
“I like to lie to myself and think it was because I convinced him not to, but the truth is I think Uncle Vicente made him keep Tommy.”
“But why?” I press.
She looks up from her phone. “Tommy’s the last heir that links directly to my father. If Dante’s family inherits that means the Conti line is out.”
“Out of what?”
“From what little I know, there are a few vineyards in Italy and several resorts throughout Europe. At least those are the legal companies. If Dante inherits those things then Vicente would lose the control he’s had back in Italy, and now here.”
“Vicente isn’t a DeAngelo?”
“No. He’s my mother’s brother. Not blood related to the DeAngelo side at all. Dante is, though. His father was my father’s younger brother. Without Tommy, everything will revert to Dante.”
“What about you?”
She laughs. “Me? I’m part of the estate. Vicente traded me to you. I can’t inherit anything.”
Before I can ask anything else, my phone goes off.
“Hey. Sienna’s with me,” I answer the call. “Hold on.”
I lean over to Sergei, telling him I’ve changed my mind on where we’re going next. He gives a solid nod and changes lanes so he can make his turn at the next light.
“Okay, go ahead,” I tell Alexander.
“Hi, Sienna. Sorry, I need him for a quick minute,” Alexander says then launches into the reason for his call in Russian.
She doesn’t seem to mind being left out of the loop. Hell, she’s used to it. Being ignored, being put to the side. Irritation makes my skin itch the longer she scrolls on her phone, being completely fine with being kept in the dark.
