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“Did you know this before you gave me your life savings?”

His father’s question forced Cas to confront a problem he hadn’t had to face. Would he still have had savings if he could have freed Beatriz from her obligations?

“I wasn’t seeing her then.” Cas breathed easier, seeing the tension drain from his father’s face.

“I’d like to meet her. What’s her name?”

“You’ve already met her. Beatriz. Beatriz Gomez.”

“Ah. Your mother’s going to say I told you so. She went back and found Beatriz in the wedding photos.”

“When you get to know her better, you’ll love her.”

“If you do, so will I. Does Hunter know about you and Beatriz?”

“Anna asked Beatriz to stay over at the apartment, Hunter asked me. We both refused, then changed our minds. We’ve been flatmates for a month.”

“Did you meet her through Anna?”

“I’ve known her for about five years. We’ve met at work functions over the years.”

“If Hunter knows about Beatriz, this isn’t about telling me first. What did you want to say, son?”

“I’d forgotten your patterns. Living here, I decided that you’d withdrawn, that Nick had hurt you. Not the money, but shaken your confidence in yourself.”

“In some ways, you’re our most perceptive child.” His father sank back into his chair. “He attacked my sons, he attacked me to get to you, to get to Hunter. I feared he was intent on driving a wedge between you and Hunter, and I was powerless to stop him. It’s not a nice feeling being powerless, especially as I’m a mini demigod here at home.”

Cas chuckled at the dad joke.

“I should have known better. You and Hunter breathe the same air. Sometimes, I’d swear, your hearts beat to the same rhythm. Lucky Beatriz wasn’t on the scene because you’d have torn yourself apart trying to rescue all of us. I love that about you.”

“I’ve been doing some study ...” Cas heard the front doorbell and knew his private chat with his father was nearing its end. “On property management and development. To go with my basic business degree. I planned to offer to come in alongside you, take some of the burden.”

“That’s a sacrifice I couldn’t accept.” His father was adamant. “Plus, you’d be crap at it.”

“Lucky I changed my mind then.” He met his father’s gaze. “I thought you were disappointed in me.”

“Never.”

“Not even about Monique?”

“I cried,” his father said. “Your mother and I cried together because we could see what she wanted. We could see the future we’d dreamed of for you slipping away. That was our disappointment. Never you. I love you, son. I loved you from the moment I knew of your existence. You, of all our children, have your jaddatee’s gentle soul—a precious treasure. You also have her passion and her courage.”

Tears stung the back of Cas’s eyes. “Hunt told me I was wrong.”

“I must thank him.”

“Might as well get the rest of it out. I thought I had to be a self-made man, like you.”

“You think I got here without help? Unbeknownst to me, your mother managed to get some valuable jewellery out of Saud. She worked full-time. You kids were so damn good. I didn’t have the worries other parents had, and in my time of strife, you were all here.”

“That makes it easier.” Cas could hear steps in the corridor. “I’m here to ask for your support instead.”

“What can I do?”

An imperious knock sounded at the door.

“Sounds like Mum.”