The Mafia's Heir

Chapter 13

"...Dad, this is Daniel and Zachary." I half smiled. "Daniel and I have been married for about a year and some months."

Dad looked at the boys weirdly and I sighed. He probably noticed that I was positioned closer to Zach than I was to Daniel. Or...he probably saw that picture. Couldn't blame him. His daughter returns to him acting all perfect and daddy deprived when she has two handsome men to her disposal. Not that I was planning on playing both guys any longer.

"Have you been treating my daughter right, Daniel?" Dad asked.

"I try to, sir." Daniel smiled at me. I grinned. "I really can't imagine having her so far away from me."

Mom laughed and sent me a glare. I scoffed and took Daniel's hand for good measure. At least I was doing something towards the relationship. It's not like I was depriving the man of my love. I texted him...sometimes. We talked. Occasionally.

"Are we planning on having dinner together or not?" I questioned and refused to step any closer to my father. He didn't deserve my love. Never had.

"Yeah. I wanted to take you guys out to see the lights. I was talking about it with Bernadeth before you came back," Dad said with a slight smile. "It's really nice this time of year."

"It's almost Spring, you guys," Daniel noted. "Anyone know what that means?" I groaned immediately and hoped Zachary was an airhead right now. I hoped dad didn't know either. I hoped Mom would keep her mouth shut and not say anything about it.

"I declare it the week of Cynthia Williams. I'll have drinks and food everyday in my suite. We can go party somewhere and have some fun that night," Zach said. How the heck does he know?

"We have to invite Ryder. I haven't seen him in a good while," Danny agreed.

"Honey, you do know what Spring means, right?" Mom asked Dad.

He made a show of shaking his head and nodding at the same time. Did he not know the birthday of his daughter? The one who missed him dearly and was disappointed when he didn't expect her to come back to him? Ugh, what kind of father was he?

"...How could I forget my daughter's birthday?" he asked and smiled. "Twenty-three, right?"

"Yes, father." I rolled my eyes. "It's not even that close to Spring, so..."

"She's finally old enough to drink!" Zach crowed and laughed. Daniel laughed too and shook his head. I have been old enough to drink for two years! "I thought I would never see this day coming. Finally, we get to drink in public. No more hiding from the cops."

"Zachary, when have you ever hidden from the police?" Daniel asked. "I can't even see you getting in trouble with them."

"Oh...No one needs to know about that." Dad looked at the two men in astonishment and shook his head. I was about to punch both of them in the nose. Mom just stared and I wondered if she was regretting letting me have Zach know everything. That's what you get. Though I still would have told him myself.

"I heard the lights are beautiful all the time," Mom spoke up. "Tia and I barely go out to enjoy them."

"You know why we haven't, Mom," I gave her a look.

"Daniel, I have a question for you." Dad sat at his desk. "Let's say Cynthia does something crazy. Like running from her problems. What would you do?"

"...Where is this coming from?" Daniel asked and glanced at me. I shrugged. I've only just met him again, too. "Cynthia never runs from her problems."

"Is that so..." Dad assessed me and his lips twitched.

"Jacob, what are you getting at?" Mom asked. "If Cynthia had her way, she would be running to her problems head on."

Zach shifted and cleared his throat. I looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back and winked. Heat tickled my nose as I looked away and ducked my head. My phone rang and every head turned my way. I really was going to have to change this ringtone. Everywhere I go, people look at me weirdly and I bet they wonder if I actually have a love life. Mom shot me a look, I rolled my eyes and left the office.

The rumor got too loud 'round town, baby
You were behind my back runnin' 'round.

"Yes," I answered.

"Lily, is that you?"

I froze, recognizing the voice immediately. How?

"No. Who is this?" I demanded.

"Wrong number. I'm sorry."

I hung up and stood there. How was this happening? How the heck did he get my phone number? No one was supposed to know it. Not unless one of the boys gave it out. Then again, they would never let Joshua back in my life. Someone was snitching and I was going to find out. I walked back into the office to this:

"And this happened when?"

"Before she married Daniel."

"I thought I was the only love of her life."

"Think again. You're not the only one she stood up to."

"...I really hate you right now."

"What? It's not my fault I have both the brains and the big--"

"Zachary!"

"What? I was only going to say muscles."

"My daughter is one of a kind."

"She's better than that."

"Guys," I interrupted. "I'm right here. No need to spread my business, Mom."

"I wasn't spreading anything," she denied.

"Yeah, well Joshua called and I want to know who gave him my number."

The room was deadly silent. So silent I could hear someone yelling across the street outside. I looked at Daniel. His face showed no expression, but he seemed to be thinking. Then, Zach. He looked as if he might throw a punch at the nearest thing. He was most likely imagining pounding Joshua's face in.

Mom looked like she had seen a ghost. She looked more scared than I was when I heard his voice. It wasn't her. Dad just looked downright angry with himself. Like he was mad that he hadn't stopped me from answering the phone. There was one thing everyone in the room had in common. They hated Joshua and would do anything to stop him from finding me.

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