Page 70 of Ignacio

“What did you have in mind?”

“I need to get the video.”

Benicio nodded slowly. “That’s the best option. Is there any chance there are multiple copies?”

“Possibly, and if there are, we’d need to get them too. Do you know of anyone who could handle this type of situation? I don’t care about the cost.”

His father studied him for a fraction of a second before asking, “You’re footing the bill for this… friend?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Well, I have an idea of someone who could help—maybe. Your friend’s problem sounds like the kind of thing they could assist with, but you’d have to talk to them and find out for sure. I don’t want to get your hopes up.”

“Okay,” Ignacio said, anxiously awaiting the information.

Benicio also leaned in. “Oscar and Sylvie’s son-in-law works for a company of ex-military people or something like that. To be honest, I’m not sure, but I know they’re good at what they do, and I took several cards from Oscar in case I ever find myself in a bind.”

He reached into his pocket, removed his wallet, and pulled out a card, which he slid across the table.

Ignacio picked it up. “Tyrone Evers, The Cordoba Agency.”

Benicio nodded. “He’s their son-in-law, a former cop. Anyway, the company itself is a security and investigative firm, but Oscar hinted they could handle situations no one else can.”

“This might be exactly what I’m looking for.”

“Give Tyrone a call and see what he says. He’ll let you know if they can help or not.”

“Thanks. I knew you’d have an answer.”

“It’s nice to still be needed,” his father said with a low chuckle.

Ignacio tucked the card into the front pocket of his jeans. “You’ll always be needed.”

Benicio smiled. “So, tell me what’s going on with your film project.”

They spent the rest of the meal discussing his ideas and the decision to add the twist after Delta’s suggestion, which Benicio agreed was a good idea.

When the food arrived, they indulged in huge platters of meat seasoned with onions, peppers, and a blend of spices. On the side were potato stew, mushroom stew, and rolls of teff injera.

Finally, they left the restaurant, Ignacio carrying a container with a meal for his bodyguard. As they strolled up the sidewalk, he finally broached another subject that had been on his mind since he learned about the role Delta’s parents played in giving that monster access to her.

“Father, I want to thank you. Not only for the help you just provided but for how you protected me when I was younger. You never let me travel alone and wanted to be involved in every aspect of my acting career. I hated that shit.”

Benicio chuckled. “Yes, and I remember how upset you always were.”

“I understand now, and I understand why you said no to certain events. At the time, I couldn’t grasp why you’d have me miss out on opportunities that could help my career, and I didn’t care when you explained there would be other opportunities.”

Though he’d benefited from having actor parents, when he was younger, he’d assumed he could be further along in his career if his father hadn’t limited his options. His parents often argued about his career because his mother believed he was old enough and mature enough to handle more of the industry, but Benicio had disagreed.

Ignacio usually sided with his mother’s assessment, but now he knew better. He didn’t think she cared any less about him than Benicio, but more than likely, she had been more optimistic about his chances because he was male.

His father shot him a sidelong glance. “What happened to make you think about those days all of a sudden and change your mind about how I limited your activities?”

They stopped near the front of Santana International. “Call it growth. Understanding. Clarity.”

“I know show business, and I knew you were not ready for it.” His father sighed. “It’s easy to be coerced into things you wouldn’t want to do because of the glitz and glamour and the money. I knew you loved acting, but as your parent, it was my job to keep you away from harm. There are many young people who left the industry scarred. I didn’t want you to suffer like them.”

“I understand now, and I’m sorry for being such a little shit back then.”

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