Page 24 of Dex

“Papai.”I would give anything to be there, with him, holding his hand, reassuring him, telling him that everything is going to be fine.Truth is, I’m not so sure anymore.

I switch the phone to my other ear, keeping it away from Dexter, just in case.“I’m good, Papai, don’t worry about me.How are you?”

“I’m good, my dear.I was praying tonight would go well.”

“It went fine.”I keep my voice neutral.I don’t want him worrying.“We’ll talk tomorrow.It’s late.You shouldn’t have stayed up all this time for me.”Guilt tugs at me.São Paulo is two hours ahead of New York and it’s midnight here.

My father can sense I don’t want to speak.He even asks if one of the Knights is with me.I explain that one of them is driving me back to my hotel.He sounds overjoyed and says that’s good news.

If only my parents could see Dexter’s face.I can’t tell them how he behaved.No matter how this ends, or what further hostility I must endure, I will spare them that.I hang up.

“Your parents?”Dexter asks.

“Yes.”

“You seemed worried.”

My insides are in freefall.“Do you speak Portuguese?”

“Is that what you speak?”

“Yes.”

He looks surprised.“Not Brazilian?”

“No.”

“Is everything okay?”he asks, displaying a rare side of concern.

I falter.“Just...old age.”

“How old are you?”he cries, incredulously.His tone makes me giggle.

“I’m twenty-four.”

“Seven-year age gap,” he mutters.

“Huh?”

“The age gap between you and me.”It surprises me that he’s worked this out.“How old arethey?”he continues.

“My parents?They’re in their late sixties.”

“Similar ages, then.My father’s sixty-five.”

I force a small smile, but my mind is racing.My father is placing all his hopes on me.I can’t go back without securing an alliance.Also, Dexter was working out the age gap between us.He’s older, but not Ramos-years older.

“You sounded worried about them.Are you?”Dexter prods again.I can’t tell if he’s genuinely concerned or if he’s trying to find out more about my reason for being here.

“I’m close to my parents.They miss me and I miss them very much.”

“But you’ve only been here a few days.”

“I still miss them.It’s not the number of days so much as it is the distance.”

“When did you get here?”

His interrogation puts me on guard.“Why so many questions when you didn’t even answer mine.”

---