Did he need more like either of them in his life?
The answer was easy—hell no.
“What should I tell Judy?”
“I’ll send you a few names to give her. Done.” As calm returned, he added, “And thank you for bringing the matter to me. I won’t betray your confidence to Judy. It’s important for her to have people she feels she can turn to.”
“We love her. We love you too. Anything you need. You know that, Dom.”
“Okay. Tell Jeisa I said hello.”
“I will. And you really don’t want to know what Alethea found in Italy?”
“I really don’t want to know. And if I ever do want to, I’ll ask her.”
“Sounds good. Hey, let’s lighten the mood. I heard the funniest joke this morning. Want to hear it?”
Dominic ended the call without hesitation and pocketed his phone. He rubbed his chin and sighed. He’d have to say something to Abby about this. She wouldn’t like that Judy was keeping secrets from them.
When it came to parenting, he and his wife often disagreed on how they saw situations. He’d learned, though, to discuss their differences in private and show only a united front to their daughter. In most cases, Dominic deferred to Abby when it came to doling out consequences.
Despite being ten, Judy would always be his little princess.
Proof that the world was capable of good.
His little angel had convinced one of his security team, Alethea, to conduct a covert operation they both knew he wouldn’t approve of.
And when Alethea had failed to produce results . . . had Judy let that stop her? No. Instead, she’d contacted one of the world’s most talented hackers and enlisted his help.
Dominic smiled.
That’s my little girl.
CHAPTER TWO
MAURICIO
A major life crossroads—I found myself at one again.
This time, however, my path forward was less clear.
Returning to Paris had been a mistake. The city was full of fun, wild memories for me, but none that fit with the man I’d become. It was also frustrating as hell that the friend who had asked me for help was completely ghosting me.
“Felix didn’t make our meeting,” I said into my phone, not even attempting to hide my irritation. My brother Sebastian no longer needed to be coddled. He was in a much better place than he’d been in a long time. Heather and her daughter, Ava, had given him his second wind. “He’s not answering texts or calls. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here.”
“Have you checked the hospitals?” Sebastian asked. His thoughts naturally went to the worst-case scenario. I understood why, but it didn’t fit this situation.
“My guess is that he is somewhere sleeping off a hangover. His father might be right about him not having what it takes to assume any role at their family’s company.”
“Have you spoken to his father?”
“Since arriving? No. Over the years—plenty. He doesn’t think Felix is responsible enough, so he gave him a small project with which he could prove himself without doing any real damage. Felix said he wanted to wow his father . . . bring in a client that would impress him . . . which is why I’m here. I lined up contacts to introduce him to.”
“You and Felix used to be tight. I’m sure he’ll resurface.”
“My feelings aren’t hurt, Sebastian. I’m pissed. If I don’t hear from him soon, I’ll be flying home tonight.”
“There’s no need to rush back. I have everything under control.”
The sun was setting just behind the Musée d’Orsay across the river. Someone else might have been impressed by the sight, but it did nothing for me. For the first time in my life I felt adrift, and it was unsettling.
Sebastian continued, “You always loved Europe. There was a time when we could hardly get you to come back to the States.”
Those days felt like another lifetime. Paris had been one of my favorite cities to party in. Back then, my family hadn’t been wealthy, but I had been young and unencumbered by responsibility. My plans had been to backpack across Europe for a summer, but a woman, whose name I’d long since forgotten, had invited me to a party. That night I’d met Felix and his friends.
My brothers called me the pretty boy of our family. Broad shoulders. Flat abs. A dick big enough to make even a man look twice in a public shower. None of it was a curse.
Paris had been my playground, and I’d had a sinfully good time in it. Back then, Felix and I had had a lot in common. Women. Parties. Travel. Young and wild, we had felt like there was nothing we couldn’t do.
The fun had come to an abrupt stop, though, when Sebastian’s first wife died in a car accident. She’d been pregnant, and the loss of both had sent him into a dark place he’d only recently surfaced from. My father had called me home, and I’d gone without hesitation because I knew, had our roles been reversed, Sebastian would have dropped everything for me.
Family first.
The years that followed had been tough for everyone. I’d stepped in when I needed to and stepped back when Sebastian was able to take the lead. Working had been cathartic for my brother, and building financial security for the family had become nearly an obsession for him. Together we’d turned my father’s small chain of stores into the multibillion-dollar Romano Superstores. In general, if the job entailed tearing down, threatening, or bulldozing through, Sebastian handled it. If an issue could best be handled with diplomacy, finesse, and charm . . . I took the lead.
I could smooth over almost any situation Sebastian’s single-mindedness landed our company in. Since remarrying, Sebastian had become much more levelheaded and no longer required constant damage control. Suddenly he was partnering up with our competition instead of demolishing them.
Romano Superstores was a ship that didn’t require two captains. If running the family company was important to me, I could have justified my right to stay at the helm. We’d built it up together. Had I not stepped in each time Sebastian had faltered, we might have lost everything—but I was proud to see my brother standing tall again. I wanted only good things for him.
I just wasn’t sure what that meant as far as my role now.
I’d hoped returning to Europe would bring me the answers I’d been seeking. Sadly, all I’d learned was that Felix was still . . . Felix, and I wasn’t the playboy I’d once been. I had no desire to hit the clubs or pick up any of the beautiful women I’d exchanged looks with.
So what did I want?
“Gian and Christof are jealous you’re in Paris without them.” Sebastian’s comment pulled my attention back to our conversation. “Gian wants to know why you couldn’t have waited until he was on school break.”
“I’m sure.” I smiled. Both of my younger brothers could afford to travel if they wanted to, but neither had done much of it. For Christof, the comment had likely been a joke. He was a numbers guy. Laid back and steady, like our father. Travel and excitement weren’t his thing. Gian, on the other hand, might have actually wanted to come with me. I hadn’t asked him, though, because I didn’t want him to miss a class. I couldn’t have been prouder of him for doing as well as he was at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.