42. Thea
42
Thea
T he prison officer checked my security pass before letting me into a waiting area. I was the only person in here, as it wasn’t the usual visiting slot. Dad’s lawyer had arranged for me to see him. I wasn’t sure if Dad would agree to the visit, but he had, so here I was.
I’d left Dario outside in the parking lot. He’d wanted to come in with me, but my father was a high-risk prisoner, so only his court-appointed lawyer and close relatives could see him.
If Kyril had had his way, he would have flown to Italy with us, but I’d forced him to stay behind. While he’d mostly recovered from the effects of the fire, he needed rest. And besides, Dario was more than capable of acting as my unofficial bodyguard for this flying visit.
I smoothed down my shirt and took a seat. My jeans felt tight. It wouldn’t be long before they no longer fitted me, but for now, my pregnancy wasn’t visible. I didn’t want my father to know I was pregnant. It was my secret.
He didn’t deserve to learn he had a grandchild on the way. Not when he’d done such a shit job of being a father.
Verity hadn’t asked about him, although she was aware he was in prison. Like me, she felt relieved to know he was no longer a threat to us. Marku was still out there, but since Torrance’s sad demise, nobody else had come after me.
Hopefully, the Romanian had given up on taking me as his bride. If he had any sense, he’d be lying low. Europol would no doubt be hunting him and his associates now the DIA had my father under lock and key.
A door opened and my father walked in, his ankles and wrists shackled with chains. To my surprise, his expression brightened when he saw me. I’d expected all kinds of abuse and accusations of treachery, not a happy grin.
“ Ragazza ! You came at last.” A guard stood at the door with a bored expression as Dad shuffled over. Cameras in every corner of the room winked at us, watching our interaction. Listening to our conversations.
“You’re looking…well,” I lied. He’d lost weight and his skin was more gray than tan. Were they not feeding him? Oh dear. I’d be sure to put in an official complaint to the prison. Not.
“I won’t be in here much longer.” He winked at me.
I frowned. Did he expect me to help him escape ? Surely not.
“Your lawyer says you’re looking at a life sentence. Zero chance of an early release.”
“That stupid stronzo doesn’t know his dick from his asshole!” Dad smacked his hands down on the metal table to illustrate his feelings about the lawyer he’d been court-assigned. It didn’t move, thanks to heavy-duty bolts securing it to the floor.
“Unfortunate, but not why I’m here.”
“I know why you’re here, ragazza .” Dad grinned conspiratorially. He really had lost his mind. I could tell.
“You do?”
He leaned in and whispered, “Is Torrance coming for me?”
“You mean your psychotic second?” Dad’s eyes skittered around the room, but the guard wasn’t listening. He was way too busy cleaning out his nails with a short utility knife. Gross.
“Yes. Does he have a plan? I need to get out of here.”
“No, he doesn’t have a plan because he’s dead.”
“Dead? What do you mean, he’s dead?”
“He tried to kidnap me, so he’s dead. The end. Sorry you missed the funeral.” I wasn’t sure there had been a funeral. I doubted Ronan and his clean-up crew bothered with such formalities.
Dad slumped in his chair, chewing his lip. “OK, so he’s gone. Never mind. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”
I stared at him. Torrance, the man who’d been his closest ally for decades, his loyal attack dog, was dead. Yet the event barely registered. I’d always known Dad wasn’t normal, but his reaction to the news of Torrance’s death cemented it. My father was a sociopath. Completely devoid of empathy. A husk of a man.
“Lucian Forsyth is dead, too.” Dad grinned with delight.
“Excellent news! I can take over his routes when I get out.” He tapped his fingers on the table, looking thoughtful. “If you marry that son of his, we could create a powerful alliance against the Russians.”
My jaw dropped. Dad had officially checked out. Did he not realize this conversation was being recorded and would be used against him?
A buzzer sounded and the door behind me opened. “Visiting time is over.”
“That’s it, old man. Have a good life.”
“Wait, what? Get me a new lawyer and come back in a few days!”
“No.”
“Thea! I need you!”
“You reap what you sow, old man,” I muttered as a heavy metal door closed behind me. I heard him screaming as the guards hauled him away. It felt good to know I never had to look at him again. He may have sired me, but he wasn’t my father. Not in any real sense, anyway.
I walked out of the prison. The moment the last door clanked shut behind me, I closed my eyes and inhaled a lungful of fresh air.
The air inside the prison had stunk of boiled cabbage and bleach. A noxious combination. Thank God I wouldn’t ever be going back there.
“How did he take the news?” Dar asked when I reached the car.
“He barely reacted. Too busy making plans for when he gets out of there.” I snorted. “Which won’t be happening.” Thanks to Fausto, the DIA had more than enough evidence to lock my father up for the rest of his life.
“Anyway, it’s done.” I’d needed to see him one last time, to reassure myself that he really was locked up. “Let’s go buy some flowers.”
We wanted to visit Fausto’s grave before we left. Dario had barely had time to grieve his dad. He’d not said anything, but I knew he felt his loss. Unlike my father, Fausto had been a supportive and loving parent.
I climbed into the hire car and turned away from the squat gray prison building. I wouldn’t be coming here again. Dad could rot here for all I cared.