Chapter 26
As I pace around one of the bedrooms, I can hear Javier and my dad talking downstairs. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but at this point, I don’t care.
I’m tired of every encounter with my dad turning into something hostile. Something about him always seems to get under my skin, and now I have new information to stew on.
He’s basically been acting as a father figure to Javier for years. Sure, he didn’t raise him or live with him, but he said he stepped in when Javier’s dad died. It’s hard to not find that insulting considering he was absent from my life.
My dad trusting Javier more than anyone…anyone, is almost beyond belief to me. I suppose I shouldn’t think he’d trust me, but it doesn’t lessen the sting.
However, the main thing is the way he’s willing to make waves for Javier, but never thought to do the same for me.
A knock at the door yanks me out of my thoughts, and I march over to pull it open.
“He’s gone.”
“Good.”
“So, that was a surprise.”
I turn around and head to the bed where I sit on the edge. “Good ol’ Dad,” I say with a sigh.
Javier takes a few steps inside, leaning against a mahogany dresser. “He’s trying to look out for you.”
“You know, I really don’t wanna hear it. Not from him, and definitely not from you.”
“He doesn’t show emotion. He’s never vulnerable or open, but I’ve spent a lot of time with him, and trust me, he’s different with you. You have to read between the lines.”
“Regardless of your years with him, I had more. He likes you because you’re like him.”
“Oh no. Is that why you like me? Some sort of daddy issue where you’re trying to resolve unresolved conflicts.”
I look up at him and pin him with a glare. “I never said I liked you.”
He grins. “Right.”
“He also doesn’t know your sexuality. That would probably change things.”
Javier sighs. “He’s not wrong about what could happen.
Why do you think I hide that part of me?
These guys take their rules seriously. On top of that, they’re cruel, vicious, and prejudiced people.
They think being gay strips you of masculinity, which means they don’t think you’re capable of being violent.
It’s a very antiquated way of thinking, but the older guys—the bosses, they won’t tolerate it. ”
“My dad is the boss. He could change things. He could say something.”
“And risk his life?”
“He’s risking it for you, isn’t he?”
Javier doesn’t say anything for a while. “But I’m still not going to be in the family. It’s the other families’ reaction that is making this a big deal. You, being a made guy in the mafia and being openly gay is a much bigger issue than your dad wanting to exclusively work with a Latino.”
I shake my head. “I really don’t care to talk about it anymore.”
“You didn’t know I worked for him?”
“I assumed you did work for some family, but not his.”
“Those questions you were asking. The ones about the Bonetti family.”
“Johnny told me my dad was in hiding, and then he’d gone missing. He told me the family they thought was after him, so I wanted to know more because I was concerned, but then I got word that Dad was fine.”
“I was tracking someone. He was getting close to your dad’s location, so I told Cortez so he could leave, and then I killed the man who was going to kill him. I came to see you the next day.”
He says it like he did a normal errand, and even though I’m aware of the things that go on in the criminal underground, I can’t imagine I’ll ever get to the point where I’ll kill someone and mention it so casually. So unaffected.
“When you were hurt,” I mention, curious now. “What was that from?”
“Ah. Just a foot soldier for another family that was causing issues. Your dad needed him gone, so.” He shrugs.
“You do what my dad says,” I say with a humorless laugh. “Guess that’s two of us.”
“He’s my boss.”
I sigh and lie back, my feet still on the floor. “Sorry about your dad,” I say after a few seconds.
“It’s fine,” he replies quickly. “It’s the nature of the game.”
“You got justice?”
“Thanks to your dad.”
I stay silent and then I feel the bed dip next to me as he sits.
“I know this is complicated. You don’t get along with your dad, but I respect the hell out of Cortez. He’s the closest person I have to family and I’d do anything for him. And now I’m fucking his son, which actually makes me feel weirder than fucking a priest.”
I choke out a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m serious,” he says, turning to look at me. “He can’t find out. He’d kill me.”
“You fucked me. You’re not fucking me.”
“Oh right,” he says, eyes narrowing slightly. “A one and done situation.”
I sit up, invading his space. “Or.” His brow quirks slightly. “Maybe I can fuck you. Would that be better? If you felt like something was being done to you.” I repeat his earlier words back to him.
“You’re trying to turn the tables,” he says.
“You think it’s only because I want to be able to fuck the man my father respects and trusts so much?” My hand travels up his thigh. “The man he took under his wing to replace the son he shunned for being gay? You think that’s why?”
Javier’s gaze bounces between my eyes and my mouth. “I know you wanted to fuck me before being aware of all that, but now I think you want to use me as a get-back to your dad, even if he never finds out. You’ll get off on it.”
I brush my hand over his crotch as I move it to his other thigh, dragging my fingers down to his knee. “Just like you got off on making me break my vow as a priest.”
“I wasn’t afraid of God striking me down.”
“You’re more afraid of my father than God?”
“Yes.”
I grin, my hand moving back up to feel his erection growing beneath his pants. Leaning forward, I nuzzle into his neck before placing my lips at his ear. “Does your dick know you’re afraid? Because it doesn’t feel like it.”
He grabs my wrist, but he doesn’t move it away. I smile against his jaw before pulling away and standing up.
“Well, I guess I’m gonna turn in for the night.”
He watches me from the bed, his expression telling me he’s not amused with my antics, but I don’t care. It feels good to be the one with the power.
Once he stands up, he stops next to me, our shoulders touching. “I added something to your bag. You might need it.”
My brows knit briefly, but then he walks out, and just like that he’s taken the power back.
I try not to rush to my suitcase, but my curiosity gets the best of me. I lift it from its place near the window and lay it on the bed. After I unzip it, I pull it open and find the scourge splayed across the top of my clothes.
Goddamn him.