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We’re worlds apart no matter how we’d like the chips to fall,I scoff to myself as I shut the cellar door behind me.Then, why the fuck am I smiling?
As I make my way down the stairs and pop the top of the beer for Patrick, he looks at me funny.
“Cheers,” I say.
Heclinksthe bottle against mine. “Quinn sounds awfully cheerful up there.”
I motion to the cut on my eyebrow. “Likes that I got the shit kicked out of me, I guess.”
He hoots at that and leans back on the bar while taking a sip. “I see the way she looks at you, Arosso.”
It takes a lot to make me flustered, but being called out about something so taboo brings with it a roaring fire up to my throat.
I’m not sure what to say. Do I tell him about my past family again? How my daughter would almost be her age by now—God, even the thought of it makes me want to scratch my own eyes out.
I stay cool, thinking of the poker game.
Don’t tell him that you’re holding onto the queen of spades.
“She’s a kid,” I finally say.
“Far from a kid,” he scoffs. “My daughter is a brilliant young woman—”
At least you’re not blind.
“—And I’m afraid I held her back out of fear.” He looks away.
I take the opportunity to breathe. It’s been twenty years since I had to face a woman’s father like this. I was a twenty-something-year-old kid then—a fucking lifetime ago. Brings me right back.
“How do you mean?” I take a swig.
“Well, the boys she brought home in her high school years… they weren’t, how do I say, up to par.”
“Is anyone ever for Daddy’s girl?” I pull up a chair and take a seat.
“Guess not.” Patrick moseys on over to his own seat a few feet from mine. “They were strapping, I guess. One was a running back for the D1 team. Big guy, full of muscle and good grades. But she walked all over him.” He laughs. “She would blame me—sayIcaused them to be scared, but the truth is… it’s her. It’s always her.”
“She is tough, and persistent,” I admit.
“Yeah.” He looks at the ceiling. “And when you brought her back to me… that’s something I’ll never forget.” The mood shifts. “But…” He leans forward in his chair. “Don’t even give her a second glance.”
I hold his eyes, stuffing down my frustration.
Every part of me wants to duke it out with him like I did with Donny. It’d be easier, if I’m being honest, and I can go for another round.
“Hey.”He taps the beer bottle. “At first, I thought I was going crazy, but your silence is pissing me off. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her run around with a mobster. Ex or current. Understand? I don’t care if you brought me back from the dead.”
I get up abruptly and pace away. Lying isn’t really my thing. Being in disguise on a job is one thing, but Quinn’s father? She’s not just some girl I saved anymore. She’s rapidly becoming more.
Shit.
“Hey!”He gets up, raising his voice. “She’s half your age.”
I spin on him, pointing a finger with the bottle in my hand. “You don’t think I know that?”
“Then what’s with the fucking emotion? Arosso. We have a shit situation to get out of. I can’t be worried you’re trying to scoop up my little girl.” He comes right into my face. “Especially after you delivered her to me.”
I growl and turn away.