Page 22 of The Beat of My Heart
“You probably get all kinds of odd requests, don’t you?” I ask before I’m able to censor myself.
He laughs jovially, “You have no idea, miss. This is nothing, trust me.”
“Okay, thanks. Um, let me think. I already have my shirt, but I’ll need a baseball cap, probably a youth-sized one if you can. I’ll also need a men’s shirt, maybe an extra-large? Hmmm, I’m not really sure.” Standing on my tip-toes, I reach as high as I can and ask, “What size do you think someone this tall, maybe a little taller, would wear? He is about, maybe this wide across his shoulders,” I make size estimations using my hands.
Trying desperately to suppress his laughter, he says, “I think an extra-large would be just fine, miss. And a hat to match?”
“Phew, that was easier than I thought it would be. Yes, a hat too. Thank you,” I tell him sincerely.
“Anytime, miss. Have a wonderful day. Do you need help setting up for your first group today?” he asks.
“No, thanks, I have it. They set most of it up last night, now I just have to hope I can explain it so a room full of people can understand me,” I tell him.
“Good luck, miss.”
Chapter 9
-Done, Chris Janson
Trevor
My day has been hell. I’ve be able to focus on nothing except a certain little pixie with a fire engine red suit on today. I found myself watching doors, scanning crowds, checking rooms all day for a glimpse of her, but she was nowhere to be found. To top it off, I never made it to the presentation I wanted to see. I heard a few people talking about it after lunch, and I’m even more pissed that I missed it. I’ve spent the last two hours stalking this woman online and have come up empty. Even hacking the DMV website didn’t turn up anything.How does this woman have no online presence at all?
Sometime around 3 pm, I checked out mentally and went back to my room, hoping there would be a message from Angel. Entering the room, I immediately know something is wrong, something is out of place. That’s when I see him in the corner—the devil himself: Romero Knight, my father.
“What the hell are you doing here, Romero?” I spit, throwing my phone onto the table and standing guard in front of the door connecting me to Angel’s room.Please, God, don’t let her be in there.The last thing I want to do is scare her off before we even begin.
“Romero, tsk tsk. Since when do you call your father by his given name? I’m still Papa, you know?”
“No, you haven’t been Papa for a long time. Not since you killed my mother.”
He sighs heavily, “I didn’t kill her, Mio Figlio.”
“My son? I’m not your son, Romero. I told you we were finished the last time I left your home. We. Are. Through.”
“You are Mio Figlio,” he bellows. “I’ve made mistakes, but you will always be Mio Figlio and don’t you forget it. Our family is in too deep for you to be anything other than that. It is time you came into the business, Trevor. I cannot protect you forever, you must make your move.”
Stepping into his personal space, I realize for the first time how old and tired he looks. This man who was once my hero is now, and forever, my enemy.
“I will never enter your business, Romero. I don’t give a fuck about the consequences; I am not a criminal. I’ve sold my software, I’ve made my money, I don’t need yours—not that I ever did. The trust you set up is still intact, in full, and will never be touched by me. I will not be suckered into your life that way. I have my eyes wide open to you and your crew, and I will never be part of it. So, whatever it is you thought you could accomplish by being here, you’re wrong. You would be smart to leave now.”
There’s a knock at my door that neither of us was expecting. Romero moves faster than I thought him capable.
“This is not over, Mio Figlio, I’ve learned the hard way, this will never be over.” With that, he walks to the door and sweeps it open.
Fuck. Angel stands at the door holding a bag in the air.
“Um,” she starts, looking between my father and myself, the tension so thick it's suffocating. Seeming to sense my distress, she says, “Ah, the concierge delivered this to my room by mistake… I believe it is for you,” she says, staring at me.
Stepping forward to take it, she practically throws it at me and hurries off to her side of the hall. If I wasn’t scared shitless that my father would see through her, I would comment on how fucking adorable she is. Instead, I nod in thanks and escort him out of the room while she slips into hers.
“Do not come to me again, Romero. We are finished, we are no longer family, I am no longer your son. Do what you must, but do so with the knowledge I will never join you.”
“Trevor,” he speaks, but I've already turned on my heel and I enter my room once again.
Hurrying to our shared door, I knock, “Angel?” I question as I try the door handle and am relieved to find it unlocked. I find her sitting on the edge of her bed where she is swinging her legs below her because they don’t reach the floor. Her hands are tucked under her thighs, and her eyes are downcast.
“Sorry, I-I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was getting ready to deliver your stuff for tonight and I heard someone yell. It seemed pretty intense, I just wanted to make sure you were ok,” she whispers—no rambling, no mumbling, just stating facts.
