Chapter 50
CHAPTER FIFTY
ELENA
The dread in my stomach churned. I should be used to surprises by now.
Orion took me out to a beautiful patio with comfortable outdoor furniture and décor. The breathtaking view of the beach relaxed me, making me think the night sky would look spectacular from here.
He walked over to the outdoor kitchen area and opened the refrigerator that looked high tech. “Would you like some lemonade?”
“Sure.” I hoped the drink would settle the erratic nerves.
What did he need to tell me?
Orion brought over two glasses of lemonade and sat down on the cushioned couch beside me. “What do you know about Reid?”
“He’s the owner of Wild Roots. Great person to work with. He treats his employees with respect. My mom has worked for him for years. Reid is a big reason why she continues to volunteer there after retirement. Why do you ask?”
“Reid is my brother-in-arms, also known as The Raven. He’s retired now from the art. I didn’t know he knew you or your mom until the day of the fire.”
Nerves rippled low in my stomach. Being with Orion had allowed me to see the multiple layers within everything. Nothing was as simple as it seemed to be.
“Is it a coincidence that we know him? Or is there something else behind the scenes?”
“Reid was asked to watch over you and your mom.”
“By whom?” I placed a hand over my stomach as nerves fluttered.
“Your biological father Pablo Toledo, The Condor.”
The statement dropped into my lap like a boulder, and I sucked in a breath from the power of it. My heart stopped beating. My world and everything I knew about my life tipped over, pouring out like water from a bottle.
I didn’t know what to say or ask. Confusion and questions bubbled in my head.
When I finally allowed my body to calm, two questions came out on their own accord. “How is this possible? Why didn’t she say anything to me?”
“I believe she wanted to protect you,” Orion said. “Pablo’s enemies were after him when your mom was pregnant. She thought he’d died. In a way he had. When he escaped, he lived life under the radar. He didn’t want his enemies knowing he had a family. Your mom married Mateo, who didn’t mind that she was pregnant with another man’s baby. He loved you both.”
I needed to talk to my mother. I didn’t know how to respond to all this. She could’ve told me, right? But I knew myself. If she’d told me I’d have wanted to know more details, then investigate, turning over things that could’ve brought on trouble for the family.
I understood this, but still, I wished I’d known earlier.
Silence hung between us for a while, and Orion didn’t interrupt my thoughts as I tried to process all of this.
“Who were Pablo’s enemies? The Trogyn?”
Orion nodded.
When I was born, I was already roped into this dangerous world. I couldn’t know my parents’ exact emotions and concerns, but I knew they loved me. And Pablo—my father—loved me and my mom in his own way.
That was enough, right?
He’d chosen to live beside us, watching over us. That was a sacrifice that deserved gratitude and respect. Had he been happy? Were there lonely moments he’d wished he had a family with him?
Thoughts flowed across my mind, and one came to the forefront. “I think his spirit visited me when I was investigating his case.”
“Tell me,” Orion said.
“Perhaps he wanted to help me uncover the truth that day when I visited Mona at the café. She saw his ghost near me. Now I understand why.”
“He was guiding his daughter.” Orion dropped an arm around me. “He has a treasure box that you should have. It’s in his apartment in Providence. I haven’t been there, but I have a key.”
My eyes flicked to his. “Did you steal the key?”
A smirk curved on his lips. “I wouldn’t do that to my teacher. I’ve always had access to his apartment, but never needed to go there.”
“Okay,” I said. I had so many questions for my mother.
Orion also mentioned that The Condor was happy when he saw the stolen brooch. My father had been watching over me all these years. Part of me was angry that he didn’t come to say hello. But then what would’ve happened to the father I grew up with?
My head hurt just thinking about all the what-ifs.
I got to know The Condor—his character, his intentions, his compassion—because I’d been investigating his case. He wasn’t estranged from me.
I looked up at the sky, wondering if he was there watching over me.
Life was so complicated with all the little details and detours. Of all the people I could fall in love with, I fell for my father’s protégé.
My thoughts ebbed and flowed as I looked out to the sea. “I understand now.”
“Understand what?”
“That someone could easily snap under this kind of pressure. It’s like a massive earthquake that just turned your life inside out. The life you once knew has a completely different landscape now.” I slouched against the cushion.
“But you have an awareness that most people don’t.” He hugged me tighter. “You’re already steps ahead, Sunshine.”
Silence blanketed us as we sat there just appreciating each other’s presence. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but when I looked over, Orion was staring at the sand incontemplation.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked him.
He looked down at me with a warm smile.“Thinking about you. About how you’re absorbing the news.”
I just fell into a deep chasm of myself and was trying to find the energy to crawl back up. But I didn’t want him to worry about me. He had plenty on his mind.
“I’m going to need some time to let things settle, you know?”
“It’s understandable. Your life just completely changed. It’s going to take time to adjust and adapt. I know that you’ll find your solution.” Gray eyes settled onto mine. “Pablo was a fantastic man. I was lucky to have him as my mentor. I believe what he did was done out of love.”
“The investigation showed me his character.” I let out a laugh. “I guess I’m surrounded by thieves—The Roc, The Condor, and The Raven.”
He grinned. “Now there’s also The Robin. That’s you . You’ve learned from me, so I can give you an alias.” He kissed the top of my head. “You’re one of us now.”
I sat up. “I only broke into one house, and I have no intention of breaking into any more. What’s the significance of The Robin?”
“The robin symbolizes change, hope, happiness, renewal, and good luck. You’re all of those things for me.”
“Do you always know the right things to say?” I pinchedhis cheek playfully.
“It’s easy to speak the truth.” He pinched my cheek back. “I’m being honest.”
“Thank you.” I hugged him, appreciating everything he’d done for me.
I wasn’t angry at anyone, just sad that life had to happen this way. The unexpected turns that shocked a person. I never got to meet my biological father, and I wondered what our relationship would’ve been like if we had known each other.
He pulled me into his arms. “Let’s take a walk along the shore. The exercise and the fresh air will make you feel better.”
It would make Orion feel better too. The more I got to know him, the more I realized he was so thoughtful. We walked to an area with three big rocks surrounded by pretty grass. Each rock had abstract etchings on it.
“The rocks are interesting.”
“My mother gave them to me. She said they’re blessed rocks to protect the island.”
By the time we got back from the walk, I felt fifty percent better. Orion had prepared an eclectic selection of fancy food I’d never dared to eat before. Way beyond my budget.
“When did you get all this made?” I asked, since there was no one on the island except us.
“Someone came and set this up while we took a walk around the island.”
“Oh.” I glanced around. “How did they arrive?”
“By boat. I have a team stationed on the shore.”
I saw several boats in the far distance during the walk, but heard nothing close by. But then again, I wasn’t paying attention.
“Come.” He took my hand, leading me to the table with several dishes. “You should try them all.”
I glanced at the fancy plates with gold trimmings and pursed my lips. “I don’t know what these things are. They’re all so pretty, though.” I didn’t want to appear rude, but those portions were tiny.
“This is caviar from the Iranian Beluga. Very expensive.” He gestured to a porcelain bowl.
“Like how expensive?” I’d eaten caviar before, but this looked pricier.
“Two pounds could go over forty thousand dollars.”
My jaw dropped at the obscene price. That amount of money could feed a family of four for the entire year.
“I’d feel bad eating it,” I told him.
He squeezed my hand. “If you try some of everything, I’ll make a huge donation to your chosen charity.”
I blinked at him. “Why?”
“Because I want you to step into my world, see what’s available to you.”
I considered him for a moment. He wanted me to immerse myself into his ritzy lifestyle. I didn’t think I fit. The people in his circle bought things with their black American Express cards. They spoke about food that sounded like a foreign language to me. But the honesty in his eyes made me want to try it.
“Okay. But you have to try my food too.”
“I love your lomo saltado . If you make it, I’ll eat it.”
I walked over to a square plate with pasta topped with mushroom shavings. “What kind of mushroom is this?”
“White truffle.”
I gasped, remembering my interview with a chef once. “The kind that’s a few hundred bucks for a few shavings?”
He nodded, and I rubbed his firm abs. “You’ve got all the fancy food in you.”
After trying a little of everything, including Kobe beef, Orion showed me some incredible drones that were like the size of a dragonfly.
“What are these for?”
“A security prototype my company has been working on.”
He flew it around by tapping on his phone. Then he showedme on the phone what the dragonfly saw with its eyes. The clarity of the videos was amazing, like a real high-definition movie. The images could also zoom in and out.
“You have a lot of companies,” I said.
He smiled. “I have a lot of interests. You being the most interesting one.”
“Here you go again, flattering me.”
“What’s wrong with a man flattering his woman?”
“Absolutely nothing. I just didn’t expect this from you. When we first met, you seemed extremely private and intense.”
“You’ve inspired me to open up.” His eyes gleamed. “I’ll give you the stars tonight.”