I scrub my hands over my face. I couldn’t have fucked that up more if I tried. She’s right. About everything. But mostly about me being a jackass.
How could I not know that John was the name of her brother? I guess a better question is how would I know the name of her brother? It’s not like I’ve spent any time getting to know her. Not that I should. I have Annie. She’s my girl. She’s my everything. She needs me and I need her. Anyone else is just a complication. And I don’t need any more complications in my life.
And she said it. What we had is over. Done. No more.
It’s the right call. One I should have made before now.
I pick up my phone and dial my cousin’s number.
“Vinny.” Angelo says in greeting.
I roll my eyes. Angelo is the only person who dares to call me that. “I need a favor.”
He scoffs. “Of course, you do. I’m great by the way. I found a new gym that’s super kickass.”
“Why, they have extra wide doors for your fat ass to fit through?”
Angelo laughs. “Uh huh. Good joke from a string bean.”
I’m not slender. Not a bit. But next to Angelo I look like a fucking kid. If I didn’t know him like a brother, I’d swear he had steroids in his baby formula. But he’s just that damn big. Monster genetics. And a lot of gym time.
“I’m the pretty face of the company, remember.” I say. “You’re the big scary Head of Security. If I looked like you then they’d never believe the family was clean.”
Angelo hums his agreement. “True enough. Now what’s this favor?”
“I need you to run someone.”
“Alright. Name?”
“Sasha Clark.”
“She work here?” Angelo asks. I can already hear him typing on his computer.
“Not exactly.”
His typing stops. “Well does she, or not? We already have background checks on every employee.”
“She’s a consultant.”
It’s silent for a second before Angelo whistles. “Sasha? Isn’t that the curvy little sex pot with the PR firm?”
I grit my teeth. “Yes.”
“Interesting.” Angelo drags the word out. “Speaking of pretty girls, how’s my niece?”
I drop my head against the back of my chair and groan. “Annie’s great. Spending the summer getting spoiled by her grandma.”
“Lucky kid. Your momma is the best. So why does that have you sounding so unhappy?”
I shut my eyes. “Annie came bursting into my office the other day.”
“So?”
“So, it was a close fucking call, and I feel like the worst father in the world.”
“Close call, as in…” Angelo lets the question trail off.
“As in, had she been two minutes sooner she’d have gotten an eyeful of something no kid ever wants to see their parent doing.”
I can tell Angelo is trying not to laugh. “Oh man. Tell me you weren’t banging this chick in your office, in the middle of the day, with the door open.”
“Technically we weren’t banging. And the door was shut. It just wasn’t locked.”
Now he’s full out laughing. “Vinny, you’re a fucking moron.”
“Don’t I know it.” I grumble. “A lucky moron.”
“As your security expert, might I suggest locking your door before your next afternoon delight?”
“Shut up.” I groan.
“I’ll get your run on Sasha and send it to your personal email.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Later, Casanova.” Angelo chuckles as he hangs up the phone.
I still have a couple hours before my mom’s due back with Annie, but I turn off my computer anyway. I’ll work from home, so I’ll be there when they return. I know their smiling faces will help to lighten my mood.
Then my phone rings and I sag. My mom doesn’t make a habit out of calling me while she’s with Annie, so I’m assuming there’s been a change of plans.
“Hi, mom.”
“Hi, darling.”
“What’s up?” I ask, knowing my mom will get right to the point.
“Annie’s friend Bethany invited her to go to a movie tonight. It’s one of those musical types. The ones you hate.”
“You hate them, too.” I point out.
Mom huffs. “That may be true, but I don’t make a big fuss about it. Unlike some people we know.”
“She wants to go tonight?” I already feel defeated before she even answers.
“Yes. With a stop off for dinner.”
My initial reaction is to say no. Annie knows how much I hate last minute changes to her schedule. Almost as much as I hate going to those damn singing movies. And I could really use some quality time with her after the day I’ve had. But thinking of my day reminds me of my conversation with Sasha, and how the press conference next week is going to impact Annie’s life. Once it’s out that she’s my daughter, that she’s a Mazzanti, her life is going to get complicated. And dangerous.
“Fine. Under two conditions. You go with them. And you tell Max to bring a second man to escort you both.”
“I’ll tell him as soon as we hang up.” Mom agrees.
My mom might be argumentative, but Annie’s safety is something we both agree upon. Max is their usual bodyguard, and he’s more than capable of handling this on their own, but another guard can’t hurt.
I sigh. “Let me know when you’re on the way home.”
“Will do. Love you, son.”
I set my phone onto my desk and drop my head against the back of my chair. I’ll have to find a time to talk to Annie about all of this soon. Before next Friday. It’s not like Annie doesn’t know about our family history. So that won’t be a surprise. But at school she’s just known as Annie Mazz. I’ve arranged the fake name with the principals at all of her schools. But once my face is out there, it won’t take long for her classmates to figure it out, even with the partial name. As of now, they just think I’m some overprotective rich asshole and that’s why she has a bodyguard. Not that it’s a wrong assumption. It’s just not the whole picture.
Why is it so hard to raise a small human?
Shutting my eyes, I let my thoughts drift to my childhood. It’s so different to be the parent. There are so many things to think of. Safety, food, friends, socializing, manners… I’d be lost without my mom’s help. I don’t know how she did it with me on her own.
