31. Remington
REMINGTON
I allowed myself to glance back once as I followed my father out of the ballroom.
Marjorie was leading Henri out onto the patio.
I wanted to believe he could hold his own with her, but she was a formidable woman when she wanted to be.
At least I knew he was physically safe, unless she thought he intended to harm me.
I didn’t think she’d question his intent. If he’d wanted to harm me, he’d had plenty of chances he hadn’t taken. When he’d talked about his dream the night I played the cello for him, I was sure he’d imagined me in the role of his fairy-tale hero.
“I assume you looked into this young man’s past,” my father said once we’d entered his office.
“Of course.”
“And just how young is he?”
My stepmother had been seventeen the first time they’d gotten together, so I wasn’t sure he had any business asking me that.
“He’s twenty-three. I have thoroughly examined his background, and he has proven his loyalty.
We’ve spent a lot of time together. He’s overheard things and has shown he can keep his mouth shut. ”
“That’s good to hear. Tell me more about him.”
“Like I said, I met him when I was out doing some reconnaissance. I took him home, and we enjoyed each other’s company. I’m not sure why you’re so interested. It’s a fling, a fun one, but?—”
My father glared at me. “Are you really that blind?”
“I swear to you he’s not spying on us.”
My father waved his hand. “That’s not what I mean, son. That boy’s in love with you, and based on the looks you were giving him, I think you’re smitten as well.”
“We enjoy each other, Pop, but that’s… that’s all it is.”
“Don’t throw away a chance for something more. Don’t be a fool like I was.”
“How did you balance it all? How did you give yourself over to loving Marjorie while also running the business?”
Pop was about to answer when Lance knocked loudly on the door, then opened it before being summoned.
“I think you’ve forgotten your manners, Lancelot.” My father’s voice held an edge of ice. He could still make us feel like we were six years old and had just snuck a cookie when we’d been told to wait until after dinner.
Tony sat on Lance’s shoulder and he looked back and forth between the two of them as if he knew Lancelot had fucked up.
“I’m sorry, Pop. I was just excited.”
“Try again,” my father ordered.
“Yes, sir.” Lancelot stepped back and closed the door. A second later we heard a soft knock.
“Come in,” my father called. Lance opened the door and stepped inside. “Good evening, Pop. Remington.”
I nodded at him, biting my lip to keep from grinning at his overdone politeness.
“I have some important news,” Lancelot said.
“News about the Landrys?” Pop asked.
“Yes. I just had a very interesting meeting with a former employee of theirs.”
My father sneered. “The Landrys let former employees walk away without securing their loyalty?”
“Apparently they do.”
Pop shook his head. “Idiots. What did you learn?”
“He verified everything Clark told Niall. It looks like he’s truly turned on his family.” Relief ran through me. Confirmation that Clark wasn’t playing us was the one thing we’d wanted before the takedown.
Pop’s face screwed up in disgust. “Sniveling weakling. The world will be better without him, but was it necessary to interrupt my conversation with your brother?”
“Yes, sir. Niall also called. The gunrunners have moved up the timetable. This is all going down tonight, so we need to organize quickly.”
It was just like Lance to make such an important announcement so casually. “You couldn’t have said that first?”
Lance just shrugged.
“Gather the others,” Pop said, glancing from one of us to the other. “I’ll make our excuses to Constance and arrange for a car to take Henri home.”
“You brought him?” Lancelot asked, raising his brows and looking me up and down. You never bring dates to these things.
“I did tonight.”
He grinned. “You like him.”
“Obviously, or I wouldn’t be spending time with him.”
“No. You really like him.”
“See?” my father said. “Even Lance noticed.”
“I’ll go talk to Henri,” I said, needing to get away from them both.
My father shook his head. “There’s no need. I’ll handle everything.”
I didn’t like that at all, but if I made a big deal out of it, they’d know for sure there was a hell of a lot more between me and Henri than I was ready to admit.