“Who knows?” I questioned.
“Just family,” he said, reaching up and squeezing Casimira’s hand. “No one else can know, or I’ll be finished. Like you said yesterday, if there’s blood in the water, sharks will come looking for their next meal.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I get not wanting to let people know, but I’m family, or at least I thought I was, but now I’m not so sure,” I muttered. “What I can’t wrap my head around is why you’ve been keeping so much from me only to keep stumbling into things left and right.”
“Because I’m a selfish old man who wanted to protect his little girl from everything,” he said and reached out for my hand, but I pulled it back. “I couldn’t tell you who Casimira really is to me because I didn’t want you to be burdened with keeping that secret. Not telling you about Liu was a mistake and absolutely something I should have made you aware of. The only reason I went so far as to adopt him is so he’d be free of his mother. Cutting all ties to her and allowing the boy to be free was worth going through the full adoption even though it was only a year before he was eighteen,” Father shared.
“Who told you,” Casimira asked. “My bet’s on Mathis. He’s never liked us keeping it a secret from you.”
I glanced at her but shook my head. “No, I won’t tell you that, but you’re correct. I’d already been made aware of the real nature of your relationship.”
Daddy pulled her down to sit on his lap before returning his attention to me. “I didn’t build a new family, Astin. We’ve been a family since the day I married your mother. There are two women who I love with all my heart, and it killed us both to lose Natalina. Being the leader of the mafia, I knew I couldn’t be open about my actual relationship with both of them, so we agreed on wife and mistress. In hindsight, I realize I should have told you from the start because if your mother had still been living, we would’ve all done life as a family unit, together, the five of us.”
“Not much we can do about that now. What I want from now on is your word on Mother’s grave you’re not keeping anything else from me,” I said, holding his gaze as I waited for his answer. “Just know that if you lie to me again, and I find out about it, I’ll spill every one of your secrets, kick you out of your position, and take over by force if I need to. That’s how serious I am about all this.”
Daddy then reached out with a hand. “Let’s shake on it then. I vow on Natalina’s grave that I’ll be honest and truthful to you about all things pertaining to my life and the business. In return, I ask that you also do the same. There have been fifteen years where I haven’t been part of your life, and I want to know about every detail of it. So as long as we are honest and truthful to each other, then everything will be well.”
I clasped his hand, and we shook on it. This was more than an agreement between father and daughter—this was an underboss and boss drawing a line in the sand. The first one to cross it lost everything, and we both knew it. The stakes were high, but I needed that reassurance to know I wouldn’t be getting slapped in the face with any more siblings or mystery wives hiding in the shadows.
“So the deal is struck,” I announced. “To show my willingness to hold up the deal, I’ll tell you my biggest secret. With what I know, I can topple this whole empire you have built, and it’s only fair you have something that can put me away in jail for years.”
Daddy looked at me, surprised. “How on earth did you find time to do something that would get you sent to jail?”
“Every girl has to have a hobby, and well… mine is stealing shit,” I paused and took a deep breath, preparing to put myself out there. “Ever hear of the thief, Luna Selene?”
twenty
BothmyfatherandCasimira looked at me, stunned.
“Yeah, so I’m sure you can see why you having that information is equal to me knowing about the two of you,” I explained.
Daddy spluttered, moving Casimira off his lap to stand and pace, only to stop and stare at me. “How?”
“Would you believe me if I told you it was Ryker’s fault?” I asked.
His brows creased then he nodded. “Actually, yes, I could absolutely see that being the case. Obviously, that wasn’t the only reason, or you would have stopped when he left. Instead, if the papers are right, you became more active and increasingly more random.”
“What do you expect would happen when a girl’s best friend up and leaves her with no word? That was a dick move, Dad, and you know it. Why the hell did he have to lie to me and cut off all communication?” I demanded.
Never did I think I’d see my father look embarrassed about anything, but there he was staring down at his feet like he knew he’d done something wrong. “What can I say? I’m a jealous old man, and I didn’t like him having so much time with you. If I couldn’t interact with you, then neither could he. Again, I didn’t think before I acted where you’re involved. I should have just told you he was with me and would need to follow the same rules. Maybe then you two wouldn’t be so at odds.”
“Wait, did you order him not to speak to me or make any contact?” I asked.
Daddy contemplated that question a moment before he answered, “Yes. I told him once I found out the two of you were writing letters that he had to cut off all communication. It was too risky and one reason we only corresponded quarterly.”
I leaned back in the armchair, staring into the fire burning cheerfully in the fireplace.No wonder he’s been so thrown off by my attitude. He was following orders, and I was acting like a spoiled bitch. Does he know Daddy never told me he was working for him?
“Did you tell him he was going to college and then change your mind?” I inquired, trying to figure out where our wires got crossed.
“It was always his father’s wish for him to go to college. I agreed it would be wise for him to do so and held up my end of the deal to ensure he did and graduated with high honors,” he informed.
“But…”
Father let out a heavy sigh. “He did college online while I trained him. He got a degree in cyber security and a minor in criminal justice, along with some pre-law classes to help in the areas we needed. That boy got the finest education and then was mentored personally by me to ensure he had the best outcome being your top security advisor.”
“Wow, Daddy, so you know how that sounds?” I asked. “You took away the one person I had in the world, leaving me with nothing but Glenda. Of course, Luna Selene became more active. What the fuck else was I supposed to do with myself? Honestly, though, it was the best way to use all the training you forced upon me. Lots of real-world applications mixing the two, if I do say so myself.”
“I’m sorry… are you advocating that all our people should become thieves as well?” Casimira asked, her tone shocked.