Page 47 of Promised Vows

His jaw tensed and released a few times. “He had errands to run for me.” Yeah, his second had an errand all right. He was prowling the premises with a small army to make sure Michael didn’t try anything. One of the reasons I’d been comfortable enough to leave Anna with her father while I greeted those in attendance.

Anna reached out like she was going to touch her brother but then changed her mind, pulling her hand back. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine.” He smiled.

What I wouldn’t give to find a private space to pelt him with questions. The moment I could, I was calling Dimitris and getting eyes on Thomas as well. Maybe he was the one holding the knife behind his back, and Jason, blinded by friendship, couldn’t see it.

If that turned out to be true, I’d let Jason take care of him as would be his right in that situation. It also meant Anna was in danger because Thomas knew their strengths and weaknesses. She could say she was ambivalent towards Jason, but that was a lie. If Jason were in trouble, she’d do anything to help him. It would be easy to exploit that weakness.

“It’s fine,” Jason answered. “Have you met the mayoral candidate?”

“I have.” I flicked my gaze in the direction of the mousey blond man. “I don’t want to muddy your judgment. Meet him and tell me what you think.”

Jason nodded. “All right.”

I turned my full attention to Anna. “Are you okay? Did your visit with your father go okay?”

Shrugging, she replied, “It was fine until Jason showed up. I didn’t realize they’d both be here.”

“I didn’t either.”

“You think they’ll behave?” Her gaze landed on her father and then moved across the room to her brother. “It’s oppressively tense when they’re together.”

Nodding, I replied, “Yeah, it is. I’m glad fists didn’t fly.”

“Me too.”

“Let me introduce you to Jim Dwyer. He’s the one who’s going to be running for mayor. I want your opinion.”

“I can tell you from here he wouldn’t get my vote. He makes my skin crawl.”

“That’s a pretty strong reaction. You haven’t even met him.”

“I don’t have to. If he’s not a predator, he’s a predator in training. He isn’t a good man. Look who he’s associating with. Gabriele Moretti?”

“Me.”

She jerked her gaze to mine, and she took my chin in two of her fingers. “Don’t you ever compare yourself to him ever again, Ari. You couldn’t be further apart. You are a good man.”

No, I wasn’t, but with the fire in her eyes, I’d lose this battle.

“Jason… My father…” She licked her lips as her gaze dipped to the floor. Based on her body language, I’d say she considered them as questionable as I did. “I don’t know about them, but the rest of these men are rats in a sewer and he’s desperate for their money and approval.”

“All right. We will keep looking for a candidate,” I said, chuckling.

A flicker of surprise danced across her face. “Just like that? You’ll accept my opinion?”

When it was that strong? Yeah, I sure would. “I value your opinion. If you say he rubs you the wrong way, then the decision is made.”

Anna leaned into me. “I wish I could figure my father out. I don’t know what to think.”

“You want him to be a good man. Your emotions are conflicted because he’s hurt you. Once you reconcile all that, you’ll figure it out.”

“Ari.” Gabriele’s voice intruded on the moment I was having with Anna.

I turned to him. “Hello, Gabriele. How are you? Is your granddaughter okay?”

“She is. Thank you for asking.” His gaze roamed to Anna. It ran from the tip of her head to her toes and back up. “Who is this fetching beauty?” His voice dipped low like I wasn’t standing right next to her. The muscles between my shoulders tensed.

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