VEGASPETE🔞+HER CRUEL BODYGUARD

Chepter 7

PETE POV

I waited anxiously in my room. I didn’t want to barge into Dad’s office too soon. But the longer the wait took, the harder it got to stay put.

A knock sounded and I practically flew toward the door and ripped it open.

Mom stood in the hallway. “Can I come in?”

Her face was unreadable, which made my heart sink. I would probably cry if Paris didn’t work out. It seemed my only chance to live my dreams until marriage would crush them.

I stepped back. “Of course.”

Mom walked in and sank down on my sofa. I sat beside her. “And?” I asked, unable to hold back any longer.

“Your dad had a long conversation with Vegas.”

I nodded, ready to burst.

“Vegas convinced your dad that he can protect you in Paris, so your father and I will allow you to start your fashion design studies—”

I screeched and threw my arms around Mom’s neck. Mom laughed and patted my arm.

“Let me finish,” she pressed out, obviously struggling to breathe because of my tight hug.

I pulled back, my cheeks flushed.

“We’ll allow you to start but how long you’ll be allowed to stay that depends on the overall safety situation and your behavior. If we feel at any time, that your safety is on the line, you’ll return.”

“Of course, Mom. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Mom searched my eyes. “Your father trusts in Vegas’s abilities. He’s a very competent soldier.” She paused. “I, however, don’t know if I like the idea of you alone with him in Paris.”

I swallowed and made a shocked face. “Why? He’s been protecting me for years.”

“Yes, yes,” Mom said slowly. “I’m your mother, but I’m also a woman, and I have eyes.”

I tried to look as unsuspecting as humanly possible.

Mom’s expression made it clear I could drop the act. “That look works on men, not on mothers.”

“Why?”

“Because fathers want to believe their sons are the epitome of innocence and they’d rather preserve it than see it crumple.”

“I don’t want to do anything bad, Mom. I just want to live a little, is that so bad?”

“If you ask most men in our world, yes. If you ask me, it depends.”

I knew I was treading thin ice confiding in Mom about the freedoms I wanted to experience, but Mom was the most understanding person I knew. And despite our world, she was a feminist and wanted equal chances for women and men.

“I want to have some fun before I’ll have to marry Marco.”

“I know Marco is having his fair share of fun and I suspect he won’t hold himself back at the frat parties he’ll attend in the next few years.”

“Definitely not,” I said then told Mom about the strange conversation he and I had a while back.

She touched my arm. “Like Marco has said, discretion is the key. As long as you use protection, I don’t mind you having fun. With your marriage to Marco, you have more freedoms than most boys in our world…” She trailed off. “Freedom of choice doesn’t mean we should choose every option available to us. Some remain unwise.”