Page 111 of Ruthless Commander
I met his stare. “I am.”
Then he reached across the table and took my hand in his soft, wrinkled one. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Please call me Francois. I would like to very much get to know you.”
I didn’t know what to say. Just stared as he held my hand. “You’re …you’re very welcome.”
“You are good for him.” He glanced at where Mateo and Edon stood at the counter.
I followed his gaze to my husband as he finished ordering and headed our way. His father pulled away as Mateo stood over us, placing a large glass of juice in front of me. “You start off with toast and eggs, nothing too heavy.”
I nodded. He was uncomfortable, that I could see, shifting his gaze from me to his father.
“Please.” Edon came up behind him. “Just sit. Just listen. That’s all I’m asking.”
But Mateo didn’t move. I knew he wouldn’t. Not until I lifted my hand for his. Only then did I see that steely determination soften. He took it, sliding along the seat next to me.
The waitress soon followed, sliding a plate of eggs and toast my way and coffee for the others. I drank, draining my glass, and picked up a piece of toast as Edon started.
“Tell him.” He urged his father. “Tell him what happened.”
I stopped chewing, earning a glare from Mateo. “Eat, Xael.”
Then I chewed, knowing this was probably the only thing keeping him here. I nodded, took a bite, and stabbed my fork into fluffy scrambled eggs.
“You are right.” His father urged, holding Mateo’s gaze. “I abandoned you. There is no excuse for that.”
“You got that right.” Mateo muttered.
“That day we left to go to work, we were attacked by a group of rebels. I tried to protect your mother, tried to fight them so she could get away. But there were too many. They knocked me out cold. When I woke, I saw her. Your mother was lying face down. They killed her while I lay there still breathing. I didn’t know what to do.”
Those wrinkled hands curled into fists.
There was real torment in his voice that still trembled as he recounted what had happened all those years ago. “They shot her and just left her beside the road. I was…not myself. Consumed with vengeance, I went after them.”
Only then did Mateo stiffen.
“I tracked them down, one by one.” His father’s voice hardened, those small fists shaking with rage.
Now I saw my husband in the eyes of this old man. It was Mateo’s rage that spilled from his lips as he told us how he hunted those men down and killed them. Some were husbands. Some were fathers. Some were vile pieces of shit. “They all deserved what they got.” He murmured, meeting Mateo’s gaze. “But by the time I tracked down the last of them, I realized what I’d left behind.”
“And what, you didn’t think to come and find us?” Mateo snapped.
His father seemed to shrink even smaller. His shoulders curled, as though his spine gave way under all the weight he carried. “I wanted to…but I felt ashamed. Shame I couldn’t save your mother and shame I hadn’t come to you.”
Mateo shook his head and turned away.
I reached out by reflex, grabbing his hand and holding it. He met my stare. “We all do things we regret.” I said, remembering the time this man had shattered my heart by walking away. “We all leave those we love behind, even if it’s only until we realize what a mistake that was.”
The realization hit him hard.
He swallowed, then turned back to him.
“We needed you.”
“I know.” He glanced at me. “But I’m here now.”
“Why?” Mateo shook his head. “Why now?”
His father grew quiet.
