Page 34 of Game of Love
“Did you find them?”
“No.” That would always be the answer because I’d blotted out the truly horrific meeting I’d had with my father who was furious that I’d found him. The warning he gave my eighteen-year-old ass to never look for him again was enough to fend me off forever.
I could only hope that my mother would have had more compassion if she’d lived after giving birth to me. The records stated that she’d asked specifically for me to be given the name I had. Cage was not my father’s name. It was her maiden name although she was married to my father. My father, the high flying lawyer who lived somewhere in Chicago with his new family. After meeting him, I understood why she’d wanted to give me her maiden name.
Story for another time.
Giovanni lit up his cigar, took a puff and blew out a ring of smoke.
“Mr. Cage, may I call you Xander?”
“Of course.”
“The first thing you need to know about me and any job in relation to me is that my daughter is the most important thing to me. She’s special to me. I like what you did for her last night.” He leaned his elbow on the edge of the table.
“It seemed like the thing to do,” I answered.
“And you’re probably wondering why I didn’t do it?”
Of all the things that had happened last night that was probably on the lower end of the list of questions I had about this man.
“Each to their own.”
“Yes, quite right. It was to scare her. Jia is very strong-headed. Strong willed. In our world that’s the kind of thing that could get a woman killed. Snooping around, sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, or simply being my daughter. She is my weakness.”
I looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Why would you tell me your weakness?”
“Because you need to know that any other task I give you and any other job I ask you to do will come second to protecting her.”
“You want me to babysit your girl?”
He sneered. “It is not babysitting. It’s prioritizing. She is my priority. If we get attacked or something happens, you drop everything and get her away from danger. Is that understood?”
“Understood.” Understood and it sounded like he was preparing for another attack.
“That’s all for tonight.”
“That’s it?” The eagerness to know about the prints was coming out. Of course, I’d expected a heck of a lot more from this meeting.
“Yes. Your job is twofold. Protecting my daughter I your first priority and everything else next. You can start on duty officially tomorrow morning and watch the hotel and casino like everyone else. Armand will show you the ropes and give you the tour.”
I couldn’t believe it, this really was it. I thought we’d at least talk about the fucking blueprints. Dread filled me as it crossed my mind that I might have to figure out where they were being kept if he didn’t tell me.
I’d have to look for the damn things.
Maybe the tour would be where I got more info, or hopefully to actually see them.
He put out his hand to shake mine. I took it and shook firmly.
“Thank you.”
“I hope your time with us will be a good one.”
And I hoped to get this job over and done with as quickly as possible.
I needed to find out where he was keeping the prints. That was all. As soon as I knew I’d get them and get out of here.
Hopefully tomorrow would be more fruitful.
