I parked in front of the mansion then motioned at Leonas to get lost. 揘ow don抰 get caught. You smell like a weed farm.?
Leonas got out of the car and snuck around the house. Dad would see him on the cameras, but I抎 deal with my old man in a bit.
I got out of the car. Anna and Luisa were still inside.
I turned my back on them. I wouldn抰 let her rile me up again. If she wanted to sleep outside in the car, that was her problem.
I headed for the guardhouse. My job was done here, the girls would find the way through the entrance themselves. Anna appeared in front of me and I almost ran her over. She pressed against me and squeezed my ass, completely catching me by surprise. 揥hat the fuck are you doing??
I took a step back, my pulse pounding in my chest. Did she even realize how many security cameras might have recorded this? Dad would kill me.
She rolled her eyes. 揑 only wanted to wish you a good night.?
Her smile was pure trouble.
揋et inside.?
She gave me a wave then headed toward Luisa who waited in the doorway, looking stunned. Why couldn抰 I have watched a goody-two-shoes like her?
Gritting my teeth, I stepped into the guardhouse. As expected, Dad sat in front of the monitors. Luckily his focus was on the monitor that showed Leonas climbing into his window on the second floor. 揑 don抰 suppose you know where the boy spent the evening??Dad said as a way of greeting.
I shrugged. 揌e抯 got trouble written all over himself.?
Dad fixed me with a look. 揧ou抮e early. Wasn抰 the party supposed to go longer? The Clark kid抯 birthday is now.?
揂nna and Luisa preferred to go home. The party was a bore.?
Dad narrowed his eyes at me. 揑s it because Leonas snuck in??
I nodded then reached for my phone in my back pocket. But it wasn抰 there. Instead, I touched silky fabric. I pulled it out and stared at a dark green thong. I knew immediately whose underwear that was. Fuck.
Dad snatched the thong from my hand and frowned. 揥hat抯 this??
揑 know you抳e been single for a while but you should still recognize female underwear.?
My heart was trying to jump out of my chest. Fuck.
Dad rose to his feet, not a hint of amusement on his face. 揝on, whose damn panties are these??He dropped the thong on the table and pointed at the tiny label saying Fleur du Mal. I raised my eyebrows.
揟hat抯 the brand Valentina and her daughter buy.?
I snorted. 揇o I even want to know why you know this? Don抰 tell me you抮e so lonely you抮e stealing underwear??
Dad hit me over the head. I was taller and stronger, and he was the only one who was allowed to do it. 揃ecause I抳e been a bodyguard for the Cavallaros for decades and pay attention to their shopping bags and the stores I drop them off.?
Dad grabbed my shirt. 揌ow did Anna抯 underwear get in your pocket, son??
Dad looked as if he wanted to pummel me with his fists. He had a way to make me feel like a boy and not a twenty-eight-year-old man.
揑t could just as well be Valentina抯。？
Dad shook me, ripping one of the buttons off my shirt. 揟hat抯 not funny.?He released me and ran a hand through his hair. 揑 tried so hard to raise you well but without your mom, I just failed.?
揧ou didn抰 fail, Dad. You had to raise two kids after losing your wife and still work as a bodyguard.?
Dad looked at me with a worried look. 揑 can抰 lose you too, Sonny.?
揧ou won抰 lose me.?
Dad grabbed my face as if I were a little boy. 揑 love you, son, and there抯 only one reason why I would betray my duty, why I would ever consider killing my Capo and that抯 if it was your life on the line.?
揇ad,?I said, prying his hands off. 揝top being dramatic. Nobody抯 going to get killed. I抦 not touching Anna.?
揟ell Dante you can抰 accompany the girl to Paris.?
I grimaced. 揢nfortunately, I can抰 do that.?
Dad closed his eyes and sank down on the chair. 揧ou抮e already in trouble, aren抰 you??
I touched his shoulder. 揇on抰 worry. I have it under control.?
Dad gave me a look that suggested he doubted it.
揧ou have the night shift??
揢ntil five, then Taft takes over.?
揋ood, because I need you to turn a blind eye to me climbing into Anna抯 window. She has something I need back.?
Dad stared. I didn抰 bother explaining, it would only make things worse.
I hurried out into the night and headed around the building, ducking when I passed Dante抯 office. The moment I arrived under Anna抯 window, my fury had rekindled. I couldn抰 believe she抎 stolen my phone and stuffed her damn panties into my pocket.
I used a chair to reach the banisters of the balcony then pulled myself up. Unfortunately, this wasn抰 Anna抯 room but Leonas so I still had to climb awkwardly to the next window. Luckily it was open. Anna always let air in before she went to bed. With a lunge, I swung myself onto the windowsill.