Page 23 of Stolen Tutor

My father steps outside onto the front porch and scowls at Vittorio. “Lucy, come on in, girl.”

I rush up the stairs, and he throws his arms around me in a big hug. It’s tight and somehow feels wrong. Still, I accept it; after all, we haven’t really seen each other in years except for the zoo scene.

He loosens his grip and then takes me inside the house. “I’m so glad you’re away from those animals.” From the outside of the house, you’d never know that it’s been updated in any way, but this place looks way more modern and cooler than I had imagined.

“I don’t want to talk about them. How are you, Dad? This place is insane. You’d never know that it was remodeled from the outside.”

“Good. As the chief, I’m always busy, but I’m glad we could have some time together.” He doesn’t mention anything about his house or why he only maintains the inside which is weird. The furnishings are expensive and the electronics are way more than I had growing up. I don’t mention it because I’ve grown past the sour childhood and am trying to forgive the hurt.

Still, there’s an awkward silence between us as he tries to find something to discuss, but it doesn’t take long for him to bring up Niccolò again. “So have you learned anything about his businesses?”

I roll my eyes because I’m starting to feel that he was only excited to see me dig up dirt on my boss. “Of course not. It’s not like I’m allowed to be in his office or his meetings.”

“Oh, so he’s just using you as his personal whore.”

I’m about to call Vittorio right now. “What? No. I’m there to tutor Anna and it has been going well.”

“You think he hired you because she needs a tutor? Are you that gullible?” His temper kicks into high gear and then I remember why my mother got a divorce. Closing my eyes, I picture the scene of my childhood. Her face was swollen and bloody. She never pressed charges, but that was the last time I saw him.

“No, I’m more like a nanny, but I love the little girl.” It’s the truth, and that’s all I’m going to admit.

“God, he has you wrapped around his finger.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not in a relationship of any kind with Mr. Leone.” A lie, but that’s none of his business and it would only make him angry, anyway. Besides, he’s really working my nerves now.

“You called him Niccolò this morning.”

“Well, that’s because Anna calls him Uncle Niccolò, so I slip up and then correct myself. Although he doesn’t say anything about it.” Damn, I came up with that quickly.

“That’s because he wants you to get at me.” I fucking know that, but why is the bigger question? I look around his living room and think that there’s more to Vittorio’s words. My father might not quite be on the right side of the law after all, but I won’t accuse him of that.

“Why is that? What do they have against you? As the police chief, you’d think they’d want to stay under your radar and not antagonize you.”

“Are you trying to antagonize me?”

I flinch backward, nearly falling off the sofa. “No, I’m just trying to figure it all out. I get you don’t like them, which is fair. As law enforcement, cleaning up the streets of criminals is natural. Did you toss some of their people in jail or something?”

“Multiple times.”

“That explains it. Now can we talk about something else?” I hate that he’s trying to get me to hate Niccolò because I’m struggling with my addiction to the man. It’s beginning to be painful to keep my distance even if we’re just down the hall from each other.

“What is going to happen to your job at the school? Are you going back soon?”

“I should be returning when Anna does.” He gives me a suspicious look but quickly masks it.

“Are you hungry?” he asks me after the tension remains high for another five minutes.

“Yes, I was so excited to visit you that I’d forgotten to eat today.”

“What can you whip up?” My brows arch up, thinking I’m the guest in the house and also the daughter he hasn’t seen in an extremely long time.

“I’m a terrible cook and haven’t made anything fancy in forever.”

“I don’t cook for women, so you’ll have to figure it out. My budget doesn’t allow for going out on the town often.” And your daughter being here isn’t a reason to go out to dinner? I walk to the kitchen and make a quick breakfast with eggs and sausage.

We dine in the kitchen and he says, “Wow, you can cook. I remember your mother was a skilled cook. It was one thing I missed when we got divorced.”

“I miss her.” She died in an accident after a night out with friends. Their designated driver was drunk and crashed. Thankfully, they didn’t hit another car, but the only one to survive was the driver who went to jail for it. It was about the same time my father contacted me for the first time in years and it helped me cope with the loss. I think it’s the reason I began to forgive him for the abandonment. Now, I’m regretting it.

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