Page 105 of Vicious Knight

“Nope, I have no plans except spending time with you.” Thorne will have to understand. I already messaged him to let him know I had to spend time with my parents.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

She and Levgen exchange a secret smile.

Mom thinks I have a boyfriend and I’m keeping him secret. Of course she’s right, but Thorne is a secret I can never share with them.

We head to the restaurant, where we catch up on what’s been happening in each other’s lives.

As we speak, I think about my father. My desire to help him is so desperate that I'm tempted to ask Levgen about accessing the Knights’ database. But I know I can’t ask him anything without telling him my reasons why. It would be so inappropriate if I brought up that topic now and it would upset Mom.

Worse of all, I know neither of them will help me. In their eyes everything to do with my father needs to stay buried with the past. Neither of them would want to do anything risky, no matter how small to draw attention to themselves.

I keep going around and around in a circle with my thoughts on the matter. Everything I think of is a no-go. Including Thorne.

Things are weird enough between us without me mentioning my father to him.

Levgen starts talking about the anniversary trip to Dubai he's planning to take Mom on, and I push my thoughts about my father away.

I won’t give up on him. I never will. Hope is still in my heart, even after all these years. Sometimes I just feel like if I keep wishing hard enough something will come up.

Right now I just have to be present in my mind and body. Mom and Levgen flew all this way to be with me. I need to enjoy the time with them to show that I’m grateful they’re here. And that’s what I do.

The meal we consume is so fantastic that Mom and I order another vegetable cannelloni to share between us, while Levgen gets a side of ribs.

“This place was everything back in my day,” Levgen says with a deep chuckle. “I can’t believe the food is the same.”

“This was a great choice. The food here tastes amazing.” Mom gives him a quick kiss.

"I’ll have to come back here,” I say, taking a sip of my soda.

“Yes, maybe someone special could bring you back for dinner,” Mom replies playfully.

“Mom, please.”

“Don’t you Mom, please me. I can tell you’re acting strange.”

I roll my eyes at her. “You haven’t seen me in weeks.”

“I don’t have to. I can tell from the way you sound on the phone, and you’re always busy.”

“Because I’m busy.” I’m not going to fool my mother tonight or any other night. She knows me too well.

“I think it would be wonderful if you had a boyfriend.”

“Just be sure he’s someone worthy of my little girl,” Levgen cuts in.

“I will bear that in mind when I decide to get a boyfriend.” I humor them with a half-truth and my heart shies away when I think of how freaked out they would be if they knew I got myself mixed up with Thorne Ivanov.

Not even just mixed up. I’m officially sleeping with him.

I feel like one of those people who have Stockholm syndrome. The only difference between me and them is that I haven’t been physically kidnapped.

The extra food arrives and we tuck in. Then I receive a text.

It’s nine o’clock at night. There’s only one person who would message me at this hour. My entire body goes rigid.

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