Page 54 of My Broken Bodyguard 2: Ritchie & Tori

He patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Now tell me, why did I have to fly out to Chicago?”

I placed my hand on top of his. “Thank you for being here, Dad.”

“For my one and only son, I will do whatever it takes,” he replied sincerely.

He sank onto the leather sofa not far from where I sat in one of the chairs.

“I arrived here two months ago to keep an eye on Lexis.”

His brows lifted. “Luca’s girlfriend?”

“Yes.” I sipped the Scotch.

Luca is unaware that I’ve found her, and it’s probably best to keep it that way for now. Lexis fled and started her life over in Chicago, indicating that she no longer wants to be with him. My job was to protect and watch over her, not to give relationship advice. But based on her actions, it’s safe to say she has no desire to be with Luca anymore, and I will honor her decision. If anyissues arise, I’ll handle them personally or hire men to ensure her safety when I return to Jersey City.

He smiled. “You’re still a stand-up guy. Your mom would be proud.”

A wide grin spread across my lips. “She would, huh?”

“Yes.”

We clanked our glasses to honor my mother.

“May my dear wife rest in peace.” He stared into the bottom of his glass for a beat.

“Dad, how are you doing? Are you seeing anyone?”

He smirked. “What else is going on, Ritchie? What happened?”

Dad changed the subject. That was fair. I probably shouldn’t have asked about another woman after honoring Mom.

“Son, you didn’t say anything wrong.”

It was like he read my mind.

“Ritchie, I want to know what happened, then we’ll circle back to me.”

A small smile appeared at the corner of my mouth. “Alright, I’ll tell you. During my stay in Chicago, a persistent hotel maid snapped me out of my drunken haze. I was drowning myself in alcohol, consumed by the guilt of losing Lexis. But this maid refused to let me hide from my problems. She pushed back against my grumpy ways and never backed down. Despite my attempts to avoid her, I couldn’t resist her fiery spirit.”

“Let me guess, she’s the woman that Archie mentioned going to the gun range with?”

“Her name is Tori Corrigan, and she had been in a relationship with a notorious drug dealer known as Daryl ‘Man-Man’ on the South Side. However, it was revealed that he was blackmailing her to stay with him so he could continue his hidden romance with his boyfriend. To make a long story short. I asked Catch to stay in Chicago and protect her while I went backto work for Luca for a while. It was inevitable that there would be a war between me and Daryl; he had no intention of giving up Tori without a fight. And if someone had told me that I would fall in love during all of this, I probably would’ve laughed in their face.”

I threaded my fingers through my hair again. “I messed up. My goal was to torture myself for losing Lexis. But the gorgeous woman wouldn’t have it. Tori wanted me when I didn’t feel I deserved love. The woman is so fucking stubborn. I told her I’m a bodyguard for a mafia crime boss. My life is on the line every day. If anyone shoots at Luca, I take the bullet.”

Dad’s eyes widened. Sometimes when a person laid the truth bare out in front of them, they really saw it for what it was. Dad understood too well how dangerous my position was in the mafia.

I reached for the liquor and downed it, savoring the burn as it traveled down my throat. “There was a point where I didn’t care if I lived or died,” I admitted.

“As long as I had her in that moment.”

Getting up from my seat, I caught a glimpse of my father’s face. “I took three bullets for her,” I stated proudly.

My dad’s jaw dropped. “What?” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, one in the thigh, stomach, and arm,” I gestured to each wound on my body.

My dad jumped up and lifted my shirt, examining the stitched-up wounds with concern. He looked back at me, his expression filled with worry. “Son, did you have a vest on?” He lowered my shirt.

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