Giorgio (Vigilance #1) - Silvia Violet Page 0,77
keep the two parts of my life separate.”
Well, now I knew Giorgio hadn’t been kidding when he’d said there was wealth and power behind his agency. “Okay.” I could understand that. “But why did you hide who you were from me?”
“I was away in the military when you were born, and when I returned, I knew I would keep doing the same kind of work, which would put me in danger. I didn’t want to endanger a child. I never wanted you to experience anything like what happened to you tonight.”
“So you thought it would be better for me to think my father had walked away and never looked back?” My mom had told me my father had left. She’d always refused to give me more details, and I’d decided he wasn’t worth knowing if he didn’t want me. If he believed he could protect me now, why hadn’t he believed that when I was a kid?
“I did, but now…”
“We both did,” my mother said.
“You were wrong.” Tears stung my eyes.
“I’m sorry.” He looked devastated, but that was far from enough. We could have had years together. I could have grown up knowing my father.
“This is why Giorgio said we couldn’t be together after he’d taken care of Alan, isn’t it? He said he couldn’t tell me the reason because it would break a friend’s confidence. You’re that friend, and this was the secret you didn’t want revealed. You told Giorgio but not me.”
“Giorgio needed to know so he would understand why I needed him to take this job.”
“Because normally he’d never do something as mundane as being a bodyguard for a bratty boy.”
I had to give it to him that he didn’t rise to my bait. He kept his voice even and calm. “We don’t normally take bodyguard jobs, but your case turned out to be far from mundane. You needed our protection, and the organization Alan was associated with is exactly the kind of situation we eliminate.”
“Fine, but you didn’t want to be a part of my life, yet you want to stop me from being with the man I love.”
His eyes widened. “Love? You… You’re in love with Giorgio?”
“What?” My mother said, eyes wide. “Giorgio is gay?”
I huffed. “Yes, and I’m in love with him.” I glared at my father. “Don’t act like that is so ridiculous. He’s a good man.”
“He is.” My father let out a long exhale. “I think I fucked up.”
My mom narrowed her eyes. “It sounds like it.”
“I need to make a phone call.” As he reached for his phone, someone knocked on my door.
I moved to get out of bed, but he held up a hand.
“Stay here. Let me see who it is.”
31
Giorgio
I paced back and forth in the living room of my tiny apartment. I could’ve afforded something bigger, but I liked the security of money in the bank more than I liked splurging. My car had been the only thing I’d splurged on so far, and it had been a tax-deductible business expense. As far as the IRS was concerned, I was an independent private investigator.
Lane would likely be horrified to see how few possessions I had, but I’d gotten used to owning little in the military. I’d never really adjusted to civilian life. That was just another way Lane and I were opposites. But it didn’t matter. I loved him anyway.
I loved him.
X had nearly lost it when he’d seen me kissing and holding Lane, but he’d managed not to say anything in the moment. He’d sent me to consult with the Marchesis on our clean up strategy and solicit Devil’s help in our interrogation of the men I’d wounded.
X had called me as soon as his doctor had examined Lane and let me know Lane would be fine. Then he told me he didn’t want me to see his son again. It was bad enough I’d convinced him to let Lane assist us, but he wasn’t about to let me bring his son further into my life.
“Get to know him,” I told X, even though I was furious. “It’s worth the risk.” And maybe if he did, he’d see that Lane was an adult who needed to make his own decisions.
“After what happened tonight, how can you dare to say that to me?”
“No matter if you reveal yourself to him or not, his safety isn’t guaranteed. What if Sandra hadn’t come to you? What if Alan had gotten to him before you knew what was going on.”
“I can’t…