Page 71 of Prodigal

Jorge was on screen, awaiting orders.

“Jorge?” Gideon left André’s side and walked over to a sulking Ennis.

“Here, boss.”

“Do it.” He issued the order and held up the iPad so Ennis could witness the moment Jorge put two bullets in Toby’s head.

Ennis’s body rocked. Gideon thought he was gonna fall to his knees, but he didn’t. “You—You bastard.”

“Let that be a lesson. You hurt him, I hurt you.”

His father haddouble-crossed him in the end.

André could say it didn’t matter to him what Ennis did, but he would be lying. He didn’t know what he expected from the man who’d contributed to his creation, but for Ennis to look him dead in the eye and say one thing, then turn right around and do something else? After being the one responsible for André even being in his current position?

André had no respect for him.

None.

Ennis Canto could kick rocks.

Gideon had done something. André didn’t ask at the time, maybe he was being a coward, but he knew that right before they got into the vehicle and headed for the airport, Gideon had done something. Maybe it had to do with the secret lover Gideon had revealed. Maybe Gideon had followed through on his threat and had the man killed. André didn’t know. But this was an entirely different playing field, where he was still familiarizing himself with the rules. A game where players would just as soon slit your throat while smiling at you.

He would have to toughen up if he wanted to remain in that world.

Gideon’s world.

They were on Gideon’s private jet now, headed back home. André was curled up on the bed in the bedroom at the back of the plane while Gideon and his team discussed business outside. André hadn’t spoken since they left the barn behind. They’d left Ennis as well.

Gideon had instructed the drivers to pull off, leaving Ennis standing alone on the sidewalk, ashen and visibly shaken. Samir didn’t like it, André knew that much. But Gideon’s coldness? André knew it was on his behalf. Funny how Gideon went harder for him than who was supposed to be his own flesh and blood. Gideon proved himself over and over. Before he met Ennis, André had a million questions for the man his mother said was his father.

Now?

He understood that saying about being careful what you wished for. He didn’t want anything to do with Ennis. For a moment, before they left Gideon’s penthouse to go meet with The Council, he’d entertained the brief notion of maybe there being something to build on between him and Ennis. He’d been a fool, though. Ennis and his now-dead daughter weren't people André cared to know, to be associated with. And maybe that was hypocritical of him when his lover was the same or maybe even worse.

But Gideon hadn’t failed him, not once.

He hadn’t hurt André, not once.

All Gideon did was care for him, protect him, and love Jules just as much as he loved André. How could André not love him? How could he not want to be by Gideon’s side?

The sound of the bedroom door opening had him lifting his lashes, and he watched as Gideon crawled onto the bed with him. He curled up next to him, stroking André’s head.

“Are you okay?” Gideon asked softly.

André rolled onto his back, gazing up at him. All he saw when he looked into Gideon’s eyes was genuine love and concern. Ennis had wanted André’s loyalty, just off the strength of their shared DNA. But Gideon showed and proved, every time. “You killed him, didn’t you?” His voice was low and raspy. “That Toby guy. You had him killed.” He’d thought about not bringing it up, but he wanted to always have the facts between him and Gideon.

“I did,” Gideon answered simply. And André loved him more for his honesty. “Ennis mustneverforget what happens when he decides to hurt you for his own selfish reasons.” He stroked a finger down André’s cheek. “Are you mad at me for that?”

Was he? André didn’t think he could stomach doing that, ordering somebody’s death as casually as Gideon did. But he wasn’t Gideon. They weren’t raised the same way. Hadn’t experienced the same things. Gideon was born into a life of politics, money, and bloodshed, and he navigated it flawlessly. He wouldn’t handle issues the way André would. “I’m not mad,” André told him. “You handle things the way you see fit.” Ways André couldn’t. But Gideon’s ways kept André and Jules alive and protected. André couldn’t be mad about that.

Gideon exhaled. “He’s your father. You can be upset, I promise I’ll understand.” Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against André’s. “I can also promise that I won’t allow anyone to hurt or disappoint you. Not while I’m alive.”

André sank his fingers into Gideon’s hair. “I love you for that.” Nobody had ever loved him like that, except maybe his mother. He couldn’t lie, knowing that he had a man willing to kill for him? That was some heady shit. “What’s your end goal? You told me you had plans for The Council.”

Gideon lifted an eyebrow. “You want to talk about that now?”

“Yep.” André nodded. “We have another two hours until we land, right? We need something to pass the time, so what better time than the present?”

---