“Of course, Diego.”
“Diego, do you know my father?” I asked before I lost my nerve. I might not love my father, but I didn’t want any secrets or lies between Diego and me.
“Yes, but we’ll talk when you get here, mi corazón.” Vasco ended the call before I pressed Diego for more information. The damn bastard was a big pain in the ass.
He looked through the rearview mirror and said, “Just so you know, your father got what he deserved. It’s only because of you that Diego will let that fuck live.” I pressed my fingers to my lips, trying to process the anger dripping from Vasco’s words.
The moment we pulled into Duke’s Operations Services, where Diego was waiting for me, I hopped out of the vehicle and jumped into his open arms. “I missed you, too, mi amor. Now, let’s go inside because there is much to discuss.”
We entered the building and after he helped me out of my winter coat, he led me straight to his office. “Please sit overhere.” It was the seat in front of his desk. He didn’t sit, no. He took off his suit jacket and stood before me, looking magnificent in a white, well-pressed shirt with his gun clearly visible tucked on his hip.
He ran his fingers through his hair before he stopped and sat on the edge of his desk in front of me with his legs spread out. “Liza, my Elizabeth,” he sighed so hard, his shoulders sank.
I fidgeted, picking at the imaginary lint on my pants. Growing impatient with the nervous silence between us, I blurted out my frustration, “Just tell me the truth, damn it.” He was freaking me out.
His head jerked slightly back, and then he nodded. “I testified against your father and sent him to prison five years ago.”
“Did you?” I closed my eyes and thought about the case and the fact that I refused to go to the trial. I could have met him years ago. A sigh escaped me.
“I’m sorry. He had it coming.”
“I’m sure he did.”
“You believe me?”
“I knew my father, and I knew the piece of crap he was back then. He went away for attempted murder.”
“He still is a piece of shit. That’s why he’s doing life now.”
“What? I didn’t know he got life now.”
“I’m sorry, but yes. He killed one of the guards at the prison. Hell, I’m surprised he doesn’t get fried.” I pressed my mouth and then stood up, needing some air. I paced the room several times, looking for answers. Who was the man I called my father?
“Talk to me, my love.” I turned back to him and noticed the large neon sign outside in the parking lot.
The sign piqued my curiosity, and I wanted to know more about the man I was diving head over heels for. “Who is Duke?”
He smiled at me and said, “That was the former owner’s nickname back when he started the company. He hired me a long time ago when I had nothing and took me in as one of his own.” The pride rolled off his every word. This Duke meant something to him.
“Will I ever meet him?”
He pulled me into his arms with his hands resting on the small of my back. “No, you won’t. He retired half a decade ago and died last year.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I whispered, brushing my hand along his jaw. He cuffed my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my palm.
“Thank you. He gave me the keys to the empire and taught me how to be strong when I had nothing but the clothes on my back. It wouldn’t have been the life I’d chosen for myself, but now that I have you, I know I’d do it all over again.”
I snuggled my face into his chest, allowing myself to be wrapped up in his love and strength, but then he gently pulled me back by my biceps and looked me in the eyes. “So I know you’re avoiding this conversation about your father, but you haven’t yelled or hit me for lying to you.”
I sighed. “I understand why you didn’t tell me. I already knew the kind of man my father was before he went to prison, so he’s better where he is.”
A wry chuckle left his throat. “My heart and soul, I’m not any better than him.”
I shook my head because he was nothing like my father. From the moment I met Diego, I knew they were nothing alike. “No, but you’re better to me. My father didn’t care whathappened to me. I was a burden to him, a waste of space and hopefully a bargaining chip one day. Both of my parents abandoned me. Although something has been bugging me and I need to ask. Were you ever planning on telling me?”
He gently tapped my nose. “I wanted to tell you that time we mentioned him, but you asked me not to talk about him, so I stopped.”
“Oh, well. I’d like to keep it that way. My life has been much better without him.”
