Page 19 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Simon Diesel hadn’t seen his father in ten years, but he could re about the last time he saw hiht One of those nights when he had flown in from California to see his parents He and his father had ended up having a knock-down, drag-out fight right on the front porch It was bad enough for Siain Yet here he was His oldhis doorstep

“Dad?” Sinize hied so much over the years or because his le to remember what he looked like All these years later he could recall the fight so clearly, but had a hard ties of his father’s face

Had he locked his past away that well? Had he really started to erase what his own father looked like?

“Are you going to invite me in, son?” His father seeance, he was al from one foot to the other he stood in the doorway, his blue eyes never quiteSimon’s

Simon paused Not sure how to answer the question He had kept his past so far behind hi him back into his life entirely That made him uneasy Especially with Heather here

“Who is it, Sihts as if she could hear hi about her

“It’s” His voice trailed off as he struggled to coood enough explanation without giving away how he felt to his father

His father looked at him expectantly

She appeared by his side, her hazel eyes ith surprise “Oh Mr Diesel, is that you?”

“Please call me Onslow,” his father replied

“Onslow Of course” She bit her lip and shot Silance

An aard silence fell Siraces, but he couldn’t deal with the silence when he had so et them answered was to relent, so he motioned for his father to enter the apartment “Dad, please come in”

His father stepped in, his worn shoes squeaking against the floor “Thank you I appreciate the welcome”

Siet his racing thoughts together Heather and Finn were over, and he had no idea how to navigate so this unexpected

“Let’s get you to the living roo room of his apartment

“Well, I’ll be da around in wide-eyed awe “This place has got to be the fanciest place I’ve ever seen”

A strange sense of pride rushed through his blood It wasn’t the same pride he felt whenever Heather coain Nineteen and desperate for his father’s approval Approval that had never come, but seemed to be on its way now

Seeing his apartave him a sense of accomplishment he didn’t often allow himself to feel The expansive open concept area was ultramodern, cos There was state-of-the-art tech everywhere, and right now the teulated, the air purified, and the security was huround With the security systeet upstairs he could still be neutralized in seconds

The modern luxury of his apartment was in stark contrast to his father’s rather run-down appearance Suddenly Simon noticed how shabby his father’s clothes were His father’s jacket looked threadbare His jeans were faded, his boots were scuffed The years had weathered his face and turned his hair grey

Concern s had ended badly with his father, but the thought of hih hi with all this wealth while his father was probably struggling Still, his sudden appearance was raising many questions that he wanted answered