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I guffawed and pulled her close. “Woman.”
“You know it’s true.”
“It could run in the family.”
She gazed at me closely. “You want to meet them? Your chance is now.”
“Fuck ‘em.”
We’d just about cleared the expansive lobby when I glanced back, and Ron’s eyes were on me. His brows dipped, curiosity etched in his features. I turned and kept walking, stopping only once we’d reached my private elevator.
I tapped in my code, the doors opened, and we moved inside, turning to face the closing doors.
Ding!
A hand shot through the crack, and the doors paused and opened, revealing my father.
He stared at me, and I stared at him, but neither one of us spoke. Beside me, Santari slipped her hand against mine. Our fingers linked, and she squeezed my fingers lightly.
“This is a private elevator,” I said.
I tapped in my sequence, and the doors began to close again.
“Wait!” Ron stuck his arm through and entered the crane, followed by his sons.
I locked my jaw and glared at him.
“I said, this is a private elevator. The public bank of elevators is down the hall on the left. When you exit, make two lefts, and you’ll be there.”
He stared at me in bewilderment, like he’d seen a fuckin’ ghost.
“What is your name?” His voice held notes of maturity and broken huskiness. With his question, his sons glanced from him to me and stared as they, one by one, became curious about our exchange.
Santari’s finger squeezing kept me balanced because, without it, I would’ve snapped by now.
“Can I help you with something?”
The tallest of the sons, who I knew was Christian Valentine from my research, spoke. “Father?”
Ron ignored him, unable to take his eyes off me. “You look exactly like your mother – Jidenna.”
The name hit me like a bullet to my chest, and I lost all my composure.
“Get the fuck off my elevator, Dad.”
Surprised reshaped the look in their eyes, but Ron wasn’t affected by my venom.
“What’s going on?” Xander asked.
“I’d like to know the same,” Elijah added.
“If you want answers, get them from your father. But none of you should ask me a motherfuckin’ thing.”
The elevator doors shut, and we ascended, moving between floors as they wrestled with confusion.
Xander grabbed Ron’s arm. “Dad, is there something you want to tell us?”
We reached the top floor in record time. The doors opened, and I pulled Santari in front of me as we exited.