“Father,” he said.
“Can we meet for dinner?” I asked. “A late one?”
He was quiet for a moment before answering. “Just us? No kidnapping or anything?”
“Just us,” I promised, hating that he had to question my intentions at all. I wasn’t this man. I’d never wanted to hurt my boy, but here I was, begging him to trust me after my sins against him and his new family.
“Right now?”
“Yes, if you’re available.”
“Uh, yeah. I can meet you. Where?”
“The Loon,” I said, mentioning a neutral ground in the city for anyone cutting a business deal.
“OK. I’ll be there soon.”
“See you soon, son.” I disconnected the call, got into my car, and drove away.
I did all I could to keep Indigo out of my head on the way to the restaurant. She had a way of creeping back in, though, despite my best efforts.
Once at The Loon, I got out, tossed my keys to the valet, and went inside.
Immediately, I was led to our usual table, reserved for the kings, and sat down.
“Will you have anyone joining you this evening, Mr. Valentino?” Sarah, the hostess, asked.
“My son. Vincenzo will be here shortly. See to it that he is brought straight to me.”
She inclined her head and left me.
I drummed my fingers on the tabletop and looked around. It was fairly busy in here tonight, which would explain why so many people were in the waiting area, desperate to get in to taste the food here. While the food was good, it was the place itself that mattered. It had been a neutral ground for many decades, and some of the worst in the world’s history had sat at its tables.
Monsters. Elite. Even Everett Church dined here from time to time, but I suspected he would no longer be a patron, considering he was on the run.
It wasn’t long before I spotted Vincenzo being led to me. I stood to greet him with a hug, which he thankfully returned, before we sat.
“You look well,” I commented, finally getting to see him for the first time in weeks without the strobing club lights. He was certainly bigger. Stronger. Healthy.
“Thanks,” he said, eyeing me. “Are you well, Father?”
“I am not,” I said, smiling at how perceptive he was. He was so much like his mother. “I suspect we are both unwell.”
He nodded. “How is B?”
“She is good. Sassy as ever. Does she put you and the kings through your paces?”
He grunted. “Too often. She’s a bit of hellfire, if you know what I mean.”
“I do.” I nodded. “But she is a good woman, and I am proud of you for having picked her.”
He was quiet for a moment as he stared down at his hands. “When can I have her back? Is she coming back to me?” He looked up at me, his dark eyes glimmering.
“She is,” I said gently. “I do not foresee Matteo keeping her.”
“Is he planning to kill her or the babies?”
“No, son. He is not.”
