Rian walked in and a weak smile found her lips. Her heart lightened at the sight of him even though it shouldn’t. But he’d thrown himself over her body and that meant something. She just didn’t know what it meant in the big scheme of things. Would he do that for any client? Or was he prepared to die with her?
“How are you feeling?” he asked, going to sit beside her, taking her hand into his. “Your color is better. You had us going for a while.”
“I like to keep people on their toes,” she said with a weak smile.
“You definitely did that.” His gaze roved her face and her heart nearly broke at the raw emotion she saw there. That was no act. Whatever he was feeling, it was real and she was relieved. “Your dad is anxious to see you. Are you feeling up to talking to him?”
“Who was that man?” she asked, confused. “I’d never seen him before in my life. He seemed so normal when he stepped out of the car. I thought he was a friend of Warren’s or something. But then he...took out a gun and just sh-sh-shot me. No hesitation whatsoever.”
As difficult as it was for her to get the words out, it seemed equally so for Rian to relive that moment. “His name was Barto Calvino and he was the son of a man who worked with your father before you were born. He was sick, and he knew he wasn’t going to make it much longer. So when he pulled the trigger, he had nothing to lose.”
“Why would he hate my father so much?” she asked, pained. “My father is the sweetest man on the planet.”
“I think that’s something you and your dad should talk about,” he said gently. “I’m going to let you get a few minutes with him. He’s been here since you went into surgery.”
She nodded, blinking back tears. She wanted to ask Rian to stay but after everything that had happened, she didn’t know where they stood. The last words between them were Rian breaking up with her. She didn’t want him to stay with her out of pity. She wanted him to stay because he wanted to be with her, even if they didn’t know how their worlds would mesh. She wanted him to not care about that stuff, to care only about her. Rian let himself out and her father, looking older than ever before, walked in, a wealth of worry and relief etched in his expression.
He took her hand and kissed it, patting it lovingly even as his eyes watered.
“Babbo,” she said, her eyes watering, as well. “I’m okay. Please don’t cry.”
“I’m so sorry for putting you in this position. It’s all my fault.”
She shook her head. “Don’t blame yourself, please.”
He shook his head resolutely before sitting heavily in the seat beside her bed. “No, I have something to tell you. It’s something I’m not proud of but it’s time you know my secret shame.”
CoCo frowned, scared of what possible secrets her father had been keeping, but she had to be mature enough to handle the information. Whatever it was, they’d handle it together. “Go ahead, Babbo... I’m listening.”
“Vincent and I were best friends. We shared a dream of creating fine shoes for upstanding gentleman. Vincent was the quiet one while I was the one who wasn’t afraid to talk. One day he sketched a design... It was brilliant. Even to my amateur eye, I knew it was something special. But I told him the opposite. I manipulated him into thinking it was trash. He discarded the idea, trusting me.” His voice wavered. “But I knew I had to get him out of the company or else it might happen again. We fought. I started a rumor that he had stolen from the company. Back then your honor and dignity were worth more than gold. You could get a loan simply based on your integrity. I made it so that no one would ever believe him if he tried to say that I had taken his idea. I sold my soul to the devil for the riches we have today and you nearly paid with your life for my greedy ambition. Can you forgive me?”
CoCo was stunned. There was no better word for it. Her silence caused her father to cry.
“You hate me, I understand. I am nothing. Vincent was the talent and I stole it. Barto wanted to make me pay for killing his father’s spirit. I deserve it. He should’ve aimed that bullet at me.”