Chapter Eight #2
“How would you have access to that kind of information? And how did they get my DNA in what system?”
“Another long story, but there is a place company called Argent Tech in Rockwell, Illinois. I contract things out to them on occasion.”
“I’ve heard of them. Technology company specializing in smart tech or something.”
“Yes. Anyway, once he realized he had a match, he started tracking you down. Which,” he admitted, “was damned hard.”
“I’m going to hazard a guess here and say it was because I didn’t use cell phones or debit cards. I have a driver’s license. That’s pretty much it.”
“You’re very astute.” Tonio raised his glass to me before taking a drink of the whiskey he’d been nursing. “Apparently, that was exactly his problem. Once he started, it took him the better part of six months to find you.”
“I remember you saying something like that the first day we met.”
“Yeah, well…” He scrubbed a hand over his neck. “You still have your license, but the rest of your information has basically been classified.”
I blinked. “Come again?” Tonio’s cheeks got the slightest tint to them. I narrowed my gaze at him. “What did you do?”
“If anyone goes looking into your background -- law enforcement, the IRS, FBI, anyone -- all they will get is your name and the last four of your social. Any other information is restricted. It’s the same level of protection Argent gives to me and my family.
I won’t say we’re above the law, but anyone looking into your background will be directed to Giovanni Romano, and Giovanni will tell them it’s none of their Goddamned business who you are and to let you walk. ”
“Right.” I raised an eyebrow. “No one does that.”
“They do when they are as powerful as Argent Tech. The only reason the government hasn’t tried to swallow them is because they’re afraid of Argent.
The three men who own the company have an iron grip on everything.
They have deep pockets and have toppled more than one administration on both state and national levels. ”
I turned my attention to Sully. “Is he fuckin’ serious right now? Surely, he’s not serious.”
Sully grinned. “Sounds like a secret society, but it’s rich men with super large egos.”
“Okay, now that I believe.”
“That explains why Knight couldn’t find anything when he started looking for her,” Sully said. “He was frustrated to no end when he kept hitting roadblock after roadblock.”
“Why would you have him do that for me? I mean, I try to only use my powers for the lighter shades of gray, but a get-out-of-jail-free card? When you knew nothing about me?”
Tonio shrugged. “You’re my daughter. I wasn’t there to protect you when you were a kid, but I can damn well sure protect you now.”
I stared at him for a long time, needing to gauge his feelings. There was definite pain in his eyes, but I didn’t know this man or how good an actor he was. My instinct, however, was telling me he was on the up-and-up.
I sighed. “I didn’t have it all bad. Sure, things got off to a rocky start, but after Mom passed, I had some decent homes. Nothing personal and I never really connected with anyone, but I had a safe place to stay, enough food to eat. I only split when I was sixteen because I could.
“I started out doing real jobs like waitressing, working at a convenience store, that kind of thing. Until I figured out I could hustle or lift anything I needed. I was particular about who I took from, making sure I didn’t take too much or from someone who didn’t deserve it or couldn’t afford to lose it.
But you know as well as I do, there’s always someone in a bar who’s an idiot and needs to lose his ass. ”
Tonio snorted. “Can’t argue that.”
“Anyway, I took what I needed to have a place to sleep and something to eat. I didn’t go overboard or get greedy. Sometimes, when I passed through places like New Orleans, I’d take on seasonal work for cash. It’s a great way to see a city and make decent money too.”
Sully’s hand was heavy on my back. He rubbed up and down in a soothing rasp of his rough hands.
This was all too much. I hadn’t really let myself feel much as I relayed the bare bones of everything to Tonio, but I was feeling the discomfort of emotions I wanted to keep locked away battling to get out.
“Look,” I said after a long moment. “If -- and that’s a big fuckin’ if -- we’re going to try this… father-daughter thing, I need you to understand something.”
Tonio nodded, waiting.
“Promise not to try to be my daddy,” I said firmly. “I never had one growing up and don’t think I need one now. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I don’t need someone swooping in trying to make up for lost time with rules and expectations.”
“What do you need, then?” he asked, and the simple question nearly undid me. No one had ever asked me that before. Not and mean it. I could tell by the look on his face and the intensity of his gaze that Antonio Miles intended to give me everything I needed.
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance and probably missing by a mile. “I don’t know. Maybe just… space to figure this all out? And time.”
“I can give you both,” he said, his formal demeanor returning, though something warmer remained in his eyes. “But I’d like to get to know you, if you’ll allow it.”
“I guess I can manage that.” I glanced at Sully, who gave me an encouraging nod. “But I’m staying here. With him.”
“I understand.” Tonio’s gaze shifted between Sully and me. “As long as you’re safe and happy, that’s what matters.”
I wasn’t sure I believed I could actually have any kind of relationship with Tonio. Trust didn’t come easily to me, but for the first time in my life, I found myself wanting to try.
I cleared my throat, needing to change the subject. “I have a confession to make.”
Tonio raised an eyebrow. “A confession?”
“Yep. You might have a six-figure credit card bill on the way.”
Tonio’s expression remained carefully neutral. “The kitchen remodel for the compound was particularly… generous.”
“I may have gone a little overboard with the spending.” Understatement of the century. I’d dropped over a hundred grand in a single afternoon, buying everything from designer clothes I’d never wear to kitchen appliances I had no idea how to use.
“There a reason for that, or does this all go back to not taking more than you know a person could afford to lose?” His question was gentle, but direct.
Sully remained quiet, his hand still firmly on my back. I glanced at him, and he gave me a small smile of encouragement. He saw through me. Hell, I had no doubt Tonio did too and that made me feel all the worse.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” The apology felt inadequate. “I shouldn’t have abused your credit card. I’ll figure out a way to pay you back.”
“That’s not what I’m asking, Darby.”
Of course, it wasn’t.
“Fine,” I finally said. “I was trying to piss you off. I figured if I emptied your bank account on useless shit, you’d finally get the message and leave me alone.”
“And what message would that be?” Tonio pressed.
I shrugged. “That I’m not worth the fuss.
” I smiled at him. “I am what I am. And I’m a lot of trouble.
So you might as well cut your losses now.
” I didn’t realize how badly I was shaking until Sully moved his hand to clasp my shoulder and pull me closer to him.
His steady warmth anchored me when I hadn’t even realized I’d drifted into choppy waters.
“I figured if I pissed you off enough, you’d walk away. ”
“Before you started to care?” Tonio finished softly.
I nodded, hating the burning behind my eyes. “Maybe. People leave. That’s life. Better to control when and how than to be blindsided.”
“Is that why you left the hotel that first night?” Sully asked quietly. “To control the leaving?”
“Maybe.” I squeezed his thigh, a silent apology. “I never like forming attachments.”
“Hmm.” Tonio stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“This is the part where you might want to rethink not wanting a father in your life,” he said, leaning back in his chair with surprising casualness.
“Because I’m truly, disgustingly, obscenely wealthy.
I couldn’t give a good Goddamn how much money you spend. ”
The statement was so unexpected, so contrary to the emotional tension of the moment, that a laugh burst out of me before I could stop it. A genuine sound of surprise and amusement I felt all the way to my toes.
“Did you just try to bribe me into letting you into my life?” I asked, wiping at my eyes. “Because that’s fucked up.”
“Not a bribe,” he corrected, his lips twitching. “Just pointing out that your little shopping spree didn’t even make a dent. You’ll have to try much harder to change my financial situation.”
“Oh, that sounds like a challenge,” I countered, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly.
“It’s not,” Sully interjected quickly, giving me a knowing look. “Don’t even think about it.”
I rolled my eyes at him but couldn’t keep the smile from my face. “What?”
“For what it’s worth,” Tonio said, his voice growing serious again, “I don’t expect you to become someone you’re not. I’m not looking to control you or change you. I just want a chance to know my daughter.”
“Even if your daughter is a pain in the ass with boundary issues and a talent for causing trouble?” I grinned at him.
“Especially then,” he replied without hesitation. “You wouldn’t be Jennifer’s daughter otherwise.”
The mention of my mother didn’t sting as much this time. Maybe because I was starting to see her through different eyes, not just as the broken woman who’d failed me. Someone who had once been loved, who had created art and inspired passion.
“I’m still staying with Sully,” I said firmly. “And I’m still going to do things my way.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Tonio nodded toward Sully. “Besides, I think we’ve established that he can handle whatever trouble finds you.”
I leaned slightly into Sully’s side, allowing myself the small comfort of his solid presence. “So, what now? Weekly family dinners? Awkward holiday gatherings? Father-daughter dances?”
“How about we start with dinner tomorrow?” Tonio suggested. “No pressure, no expectations. Just food and conversation.”
“I guess I could manage that,” I said cautiously. “As long as we don’t have any fancy shit where I have to watch which fork to use or something. Pizza. We can have pizza.”
“I think that can be arranged.” Tonio stood, straightening his immaculate suit jacket with practiced precision. “Nine o’clock? At my house?”
“We’ll be there.”
Before he left, Tonio hesitated. I knew what he wanted but was afraid of pushing me. So I took pity on the guy. I stood and hugged him. Tonio’s body stiffened, then seemed to relax into me, his arms tightening around me in a comfortable embrace.
“Thank you, Darby.” I barely heard him, but I got it.
Once he was gone, I let out a long breath, deflating against Sully’s side. “Did I just agree to have dinner with Antonio fucking Miles?”
“You did.” Sully’s arm tightened around me. “You okay with that?”
I considered the question seriously, taking inventory of my feelings. A small, fragile curiosity about the man who claimed to be my father, about the family I might have had. “Ask me tomorrow,” I said finally, nestling deeper into Sully’s embrace. “After dinner.”