“Except it’s not…” Diane says softly. “It’s not a story, is it, Tobias?”
“No,” I tip back the rest of my wine, emptying my glass, “it’s not.”
Diane turns to Cecelia, her expression blank as she gazes into the flames.
“What—”
“Mom, don’t, okay? Just,” she sighs, “Don’t.”
“I can’t help it!”
“Well, you’re going to have to trust me. I’m not yours to protect anymore.”
“That’s…bullshit, kid. I’ll always be your mother.”
“This isn’t that, and you know it.” Cecelia stands and glances my way. “I’m tired. It’s late.” She walks around the fire to kiss her mother’s cheek before palming Tim’s shoulder. “We can talk more tomorrow morning.”
Diane nods, barely registering her goodbye as I speak up in an attempt to ease her mind.
“Nine people are guarding us, watching this house, two of them safeguard Cecelia at all times, some are combing the streets of this town for any possible threat. There are two drones in the air right now scanning every square foot of this land and the land around it.”
“Jesus Christ,” Diane sighs.
“You’re safe here. But if you feel more comfortable leaving, I’ll understand.” I scrape my top lip with my teeth, dreading my next confession. “And when you get home, I’ll have the birds who’ve been watching you two for years finally introduce themselves.”
Both of them whip their head in my direction, and I shrug. “I’m sorry, it was necessary.”
Diane’s eyes shine with a mix of shock and awe. “All this time, you’ve been protecting me?”
“I promised Roman I would protect his daughter, and that includes protecting you. And I have good reason to be equally invested in your well-being.”
She gazes up at me. “I knew when I met you that you were special, but this is some major overachieving, don’t you think?” It’s her first joke of the day, and I’m grateful for it.
“I’ll protect her with everything I’ve got.”
“Apparently, she’ll do the same for you. By the way, she gets her badass gene from me.” Another smile, another joke, and I’m pretty sure the wine is responsible.
“Of course, she does.”
“Tobias—” she starts again, her eyes softening substantially.
“No more tears, Diane, and no apologies. Okay?”
She nods. “I’ll try.”
“Goodnight.”
They give me a goodnight in unison as I walk into the darkened house, the only light on coming from the bedroom. I have no idea what I’m in for, but I slow my gait slightly as I make my way across the living room.
What in the actual fuck, King? Grow a set.
Speeding up my walk, I find her in the bedroom, staring down at her comforter as if it’s fascinating. I circle her waist and nuzzle her from behind. “I know it was a lot.”
She steps out of my hold, reeling on me, her eyes shooting blue daggers.
“What?”
“You met my mother, one of a thousand omissions you casually left out. Or how about this one, ‘hey, you know I’m the mastermind behind a secret society of vigilantes, but the President is a fucking part of it.’”
“I didn’t—”