Chaser snorts and shakes his head. “Not at all. My father sent me with his blessing. I lost my voting privileges, but not my patch. Only money I had, came straight outta my personal piggy bank. I had to make it on my own. But I could come back to the club at any time.”
“And what does this little family history lesson have to do with my daughter?” my father asks.
“Let me finish. The band I went out there with didn’t last, but my friend and I met two other guys from another band and we formed a new group. We worked our asses off and finally landed a small record deal. I don’t know how much you know about the music business out there, but the competition is extreme. Videos are a big deal. The label gave us some money to shoot something flashy.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “Not quite what the band would have chosen.”
I duck my head and laugh too, thinking of the tacky video.
My father just seems confused.
“That’s where your daughter comes in. You had just been shipped off to this lovely facility.” Chaser circles his hand in the air, indicating the prison surrounding us. “And she decided that instead of being enslaved by your minions, she wanted to pursue her own dreams and become an actress.”
Cold fear at having my secret revealed to my father swirls in my gut. Knowing hell would freeze over before I gained his approval, I never shared my dream with him. Sure, I’d dabbled in the theater in high school, but that’s not quite the same as running off to Hollywood.
Surprisingly, he turns to me with softer eyes. “You never told me this.”
“I didn’t think you’d approve.”
“I wouldn’t have,” he answers honestly. “Continue,” he says to Chaser.
“Anyway, your daughter was hired to play a part in that video.” Chaser drapes his arm over the back of my chair. His hand grazes the side of my face, and he tucks some hair behind my ear in an affectionate gesture not missed by my father. “The second I saw her, I wanted her in my life.”
I glance at Chaser. He knew that first day?
He notices me watching him and flashes a sincere smile, before turning back to my father.
“What I’m trying to explain to you, sir, is that I didn’t pursue your daughter because I knew she was your daughter.” He closes his eyes for a brief second and shakes his head. “She goes by a stage name. But even if she didn’t, I don’t think I would’ve known who she was. Remember, I’ve been out of club business for four years now.” All humor vanishes from Chaser’s face, and he sits up straighter, leans in closer to the plexiglass. “I didn’t learn who she was until after Vasily attacked her.”
Anger slashes across my father’s face. “Attacked?”
“Yes, Father,” I answer calmly. “He was not kind or gentle about his intentions.”
Chaser takes my hand again. “I brought her back home to my club, because I knew she’d be safe there. My father’s the one who recognized who she was.” He glances over at me. “I love her. Doesn’t matter to me who she’s related to.”
Some of this information is new to me or at least Chaser’s characterization of it is, but oh, how my heart flutters when Chaser unequivocally declares his love for me in front of my father.
“You’re telling me your father won’t exploit this relationship for a business deal?”
“With all due respect, sir, not everything is about you.” Chaser’s mouth quirks. “I can’t speak to my father’s motivations. He’s always looking out for the club, obviously. Just as I’m sure you’re always protecting your interests.”
Something in my father’s hard demeanor finally breaks. “Honesty.” My father actually smiles. “That, I respect.”
“So do I, sir. I want to start our relationship out on the right foot.”
“And why is that?”
Chaser pulls no punches. “I plan to be in your daughter’s life for a long time, so I’m trying to be as straight with you as possible.” He glances around the room. “Under the circumstances.”
“Understood.” My father leans forward. “Where did you say your hometown was?”
One corner of Chaser’s mouth twitches upwards. “Kodack. But I’ve moved around a lot. Toronto, right outside Syracuse. Got family I stay with from time-to-time in twenty-five different states.”
My father raises an eyebrow. Somehow, I don’t think Chaser is describing a bunch of cousins scattered around the country. More likely this is some territory code.
“Toronto. It’s supposed to be nice up there.”
“It’s a beautiful city,” Chaser agrees.
“I’ve never been.”
A cat-ate-the-canary grin spreads across Chaser’s face. “Well, when you get out, maybe we’ll take a big ol’ family trip, and I can introduce you to some people.”
I can’t think of anything that sounds more unpleasant.
Chapter Forty-Three
Chaser
“I can’t believe you managed to win over my father,” Mallory says as we leave the prison and navigate the parking lot. “He’s usually as ornery as your father.”