Page 79 of Prodigal

Silence settled around the three of them; Ennis’s gaze locked on André’s, Gideon off to the side just watching them, allowing André to handle the situation however he wanted to.

“That’s what I want,” Ennis said finally. Softly.

“What?”

“You.” He stepped forward, eyes pleading. “I want my son.”

André felt Gideon tense. And he swallowed the automatic rejection that formed on his tongue as Ennis continued.

“I want to have my son in my life. It’s time.”

André cocked his head. “Is it? Funny how it wasn’t time when your wife was alive, when my mother was alive, when your darling daughter was alive. But now, you’re alone. You’re getting old and you’re all alone in this big, echoing house. So now you want your son in your life?”

“I always wanted you,” Ennis rasped. “Always.”

“Hmm. I can’t help but notice I’m nowhere on your walls.” He made a show of looking around. “But the child you raised, the one who tried to end your life, remains. All I ever got from you was dollars in my back account every month.” He chuckled, the sound cutting off when Gideon moved to stand at his side, his shoulder brushing André’s. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Get Alexander to agree to what I want. Not Gideon,me.” He tapped a finger to his chest. “And I’ll see if I have room in my life for the father who didn’t want me.”

“André—”

He ignored Ennis’s plea and walked out of the office, Gideon at his side, ignoring the security guys who guided them out of the house and outside to where Samir and the others waited, surrounded by armed men.

Gideon’s team didn’t seem to mind.

And they didn’t ask questions when André and Gideon climbed into the SUV. Gideon’s arm went around André as they drove off Ennis’s palatial estate.

“Are you okay?”

No. He hated that he was still affected by Ennis’s rejection of him. He hated that a part of him had wanted to agree, to say yes when Ennis said he wanted his son. Because the boy inside of André wanted his father.

But he didn’t know if he could trust Ennis. He didn’t know if he could forget all the years when he felt unwanted and unloved by the man who’d contributed to his life.

His tongue felt paralyzed though. He couldn’t say those words to Gideon, so he just shook his head, burying his face in the other man’s neck.

While his eyes burned with tears.

25

If Jules thoughtsomething was off with her brother, she didn’t mention it.

André had been extra quiet since they left Ennis’s place, and now Gideon was beating himself up for insisting André be the one to make the request of his father. He’d fucked up and was trying desperately to figure out a way to fix it. André hadn’t been ready, but Gideon had forced the issue, making the plans and only letting André in on them when they were on their way to see Ennis.

He’d fucked up.

They were back home and had shared dinner with Jules, who’d done most of the talking, with André contributing single-word responses and grunts every now and then. At least dinner was over now and Jules was watching a movie with some of the kitchen staff. That gave Gideon the chance to make things up to André.

“Come on.” He got up from the table and held out a hand.

Though curiosity lit his eyes, André didn’t hesitate to put his hand in Gideon’s, to allow Gideon to gently pull him to his feet. Gideon didn’t release him; instead, he tugged the other man tohis chest, pressing a kiss to his neck before leading André up to his bedroom. Inside, he closed the door and backed André up against it, taking his face in his hands.

“I’m sorry.”

André blinked at him. “What?”

“I shouldn’t have let you go to Ennis.” He swallowed, guilt and remorse roughening his voice. “I fucked up, baby. And I’m so sorry.”

André shook his head. “No. Gideon, no. It’s fine.” Now he was the one touching Gideon’s face, soothing him. “You’re fine.” He sighed, then pressed his lips together briefly. “I’m just… It’s all so complicated, you know?”

Gideon didn’t know what it meant to not have his father around. Even when he was in hiding, Aldo had been there. If not in person, then via a phone call, letters, anything. So no, Gideon couldn’t really understand not having a father around who he knew loved him beyond reason. But he’d lost his mother. He could relate to how it felt, wanting your parent around and not having them.

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