Page 78 of Sweet Deception

Having Kylie's hands full of oil, rubbing and kneading my back, is pure heaven.

Sadly, it's the last thought in my head before I promptly fall asleep.

Chapter thirty-two

Luca

"Sir? A Kurt Davis is here for you." Esther announces through the intercom and interrupting my musings. I'm feeling a bit more refreshed today after falling asleep during Kylie's massage. The lack of sleep for two nights straight combined with the massage proved too much for me.

Kylie shook me awake after making breakfast and I had to rush to get ready, then suffer the ribbing from the guys when I came downstairs to see them at the island eating.

I've never slept as well as I did last night. My only regret was not staying awake long enough to see how far Kylie would take the massage. I made her promise to give me a repeat and I would return the favor.

"Mr. Morelli?"

Rubbing a hand over my face, I swing my gaze to Esther's desk where Kylie's dad is standing. I have the privacy screen engaged on the glass wall of my office, so I'm able to study him without his notice.

I expected his visit sooner. Either he showed restraint or he just found out about me and Kylie. My guess is the latter.

I had Rafael dig a little to find out what kind of cop Mr. Davis was. I wasn't surprised to find out he's one of the good ones after getting to know his daughter.

I press the intercom button. "Send him in." I stand and move around the desk to greet Mr. Davis as Esther opens the door for him. I study his face to find his expression blank. It's only the slight tightening around his eyes that gives away the tension he's carrying.

"Mr. Davis. It's good to meet you." I extend my hand. He hesitates before he takes it.

"Mr. Morelli." He nods.

"Can I get either of you anything to drink?" Esther asks.

"No, thank you, ma'am." Mr. Davis nods respectfully before bringing his observant eyes back to mine.

"We're good, Esther. Thank you." I wait for her to close the door before turning back to Kylie's dad. "Please, have a seat." I indicate the guest chair in front of my desk.

"I would ask what I can do for you, but I have a feeling your visit is about your daughter." I settle into my chair and watch as Kylie's dad sizes me up.

"You'd be correct. Imagine my surprise while when golfing, Chief Canton casually tells me how he had dinner with my daughter andyou." He shifts, probably uncomfortable even being here. "The asshole even waited until I was about to swing so he could screw with my stroke."

I chuckle, understanding that play. "After playing golf with him, myself, I'm not surprised to hear that. He'll do anything to win."

"Look, I'm going to cut to the chase. I don't know you, but I've heard of you. When you're related to the mafia, every cop in Chicago has heard of you. You've been extensively looked into because of your family ties. What I've learned is you stepped away from the family after your dad's passing and you've grown up creating your own empire with your two childhood friends. I know that everything about you is legal." He leans in. "On paper."

I raise my eyebrow at the implication.

"But I also know you still have contact with your family, even if it's sparse. What I don't know, Mr. Morelli, is how serious you are about my daughter." He holds his hand up. "Actually, that doesn't matter. What does matter is you breaking upwith her. I don't want her anywhere near your family. I don't want her anywhere on their radar." He extends his hand out to the view of the city. "You have an entire city of women to choose from. My daughter is not going to be one of them." His nostrils flair, but I can recognize the fear in his eyes for Kylie.

I understand it. Respect it even.

He's a father trying to protect his daughter. What I don't like is the implication I would allow harm to come to her. I knew being related to Rome would cause difficulties with her father. It's a battle I knew was coming, but that doesn't mean I like it.

I move to lean on my desk so I can look him in the eye. "Mr. Davis, your daughter is already known to Rome. You say every cop in Chicago knows him and me by extension? The same can be said of Rome. Do you think he wouldn't have knowledge of every single cop and, by extension, their family in return?" I lean back for the last hit I'm about to give him. "If Rome knows about your daughter, it's because of you, not me."

Kylie's dad goes pale.

Sighing, I attempt to relieve him of some of his fear. "Look, I'm not saying this as a threat. What do you expect when he's targeted so often by the police? But what you, as a cop, think that means is not why Rome keeps tabs on the police force. He doesn't do it to have ammunition against you."

I scrub a hand down my face, not wanting to talk about Rome's good deeds where the police are involved. They will only see it as bribery. "If the cops are closely watching Rome and the family, then you're aware he's worked very hard to turn the family around. He despised his father and didn't want to go down his path. But he's smart. He knows he will always be the focus of law enforcement. What he does with that information is work to provide good will toward the communities."

Mr. Davis leans back, skepticism clear in his gaze. It's obvious he would prefer I cut ties with her still. Hopefully my next words won't have his glare aimed my way again, no matter how much I deserve it.

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