By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers #3)(65)

“It’s an honor,” I said.

“Why don’t you and your dad join us for dinner tonight? Dante has booked a table in the hotel’s Michelin Star restaurant and I’m sure they can make room for two more people.”

“I’d prefer to have a quiet dinner with my son tonight, if you don’t mind,” Dad said politely.

He probably just wanted to grill me on every little detail of the last few months, but I actually didn’t mind. I wanted to keep my interactions with Anna limited while we were around her family.

“Of course,” Valentina said immediately.

We split into two cars because one wasn’t enough for all of us and headed to the Four Seasons where Dante and the family would spend the week before we’d all fly back to Chicago. Anna was in a car with her mother, Bea, and my dad, while Leonas, Dante, and I rode in the other car.

“I really missed pissing you off,” Leonas said with a sly grin. Almost sixteen and still as annoying as I remembered.

“Leonas,” Dante said in a sharp tone. “Santino is Anna’s bodyguard and should be treated with the according respect.”

“As if Anna always treats him with respect.”

Dante gave me a questioning look. I shrugged, wishing I could slap Leonas over the head. “Like a teenager, she had her difficult moments but she’s grown up in the last couple of years. I can’t complain.”

An image of Anna waking me up with a very pleasant blowjob this morning came into my mind but I quickly shoved it away.

Leonas shook his head and gave me a condescending look through the rearview mirror. The little shit knew too much.

Dad and I picked a cozy restaurant only a short walking distance from the Four Seasons in case an emergency arose. But with Leonas and Dante there, Valentina, Anna, and Bea were well protected. Even if Leonas could be an annoying brat, he was a good shot and knew how to handle his knife. Still, it felt strange to let Anna out of my sight for the first time in six months. We’d spent so much time together, being apart felt alien.

“How are things between you and Anna?” Dad asked the moment we’d sat down at our table.

“Good.”

“Good how?”

“Have you come to Paris to interrogate me or because you missed me?”

“Both.”

I gave him a doubtful look. Luckily the waitress appeared at that moment with the menu cards. I took one of them with a quick merci before I scanned the wine selection.

“You didn’t even look at her.”

I raised my head. “Excuse me?”

“You didn’t even look at the waitress.”

“Of course. And I even said thanks.”

Dad nodded toward the woman who was now serving another table. “Look at her. She’s attractive. The son I remember would have checked her out.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m still that son. You make it sound as if I jumped every woman I saw. I can assure you that wasn’t the case. Maybe you should consider dipping your toes into the dating pond again if my dating life concerns you so much.”

“That’s not a joking matter.”

“Dad, if you’re worried about me, stop seeing things that aren’t there. You’ll only act suspicious and that, in turn, will make the Cavallaros suspicious and really get me in trouble.”

Dad sighed. I patted his shoulder. “Stop worrying so much. Get a life and live a little. I’ll be fine.”

It wasn’t that I was unaware of the danger I was in. If Anna let something slip, I was dead. But Anna was clever. I trusted her to protect our secret. Not just because of me, but also because she wanted to avoid the backlash too.





Santino was even more nervous about my family’s visit than me. Maybe he worried about me letting something slip but I’d learned from an early age to put on a mask in public. Now I only used that talent to put on a mask for my family. That didn’t mean I didn’t feel guilty because I did, especially when I looked Mom and Dad in the eyes. But I had no other choice if I wanted to stay in Paris and protect Santino.

Maybe the lingering guilt was why I was glad when my family’s visit in Paris was over and we all flew to Chicago. It felt strange being back home when so much had changed. The last few months in Paris had been freeing, exhilarating, and I’d started to take this newfound freedom for granted. Back in Chicago with its limitations, I realized the freedom I’d gotten drunk on would be taken from me in a few years. What Santino and I had in Paris was doomed.

I joined Dad in his office a couple of days after we’d all arrived in Chicago.

Mom was already there as well, standing next to Dad by the window, and it looked as if they’d been arguing. “I’d like to discuss your future with you,” Dad said calmly.

I’d always assumed Mom and Dad would allow me to return to Paris for my second semester. They’d never said the opposite, but Dad’s words made me doubt it, and I was terrified. I didn’t want to stay in Chicago, not yet. I wanted to live a little more, enjoy more time with Santino. He and I had barely seen each other in two weeks. We hadn’t shared a single kiss, much less more. My body yearned for his closeness.

“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “I thought Santino and I would be returning to Paris after Bea’s birthday in August?”