Ellie is at your job. She wants to sign little man up for piano lessons."
"Lord help whoever has to teach that Spawn of Satan you call a son!” I add an exaggerated shiver.
"Hey, that's my kid! He isn't that bad."
"Your son tried to bite me last week because I bought the last blue Powerade from the machine and I wouldn't give it to him."
"He likes blue Powerade!" he laughs. "Let’s go, toots, stop running your mouth and let's train!"
Forty-five minutes later my legs feel like noodles, and I officially can't lift my arms. Laying on the mat, I see a shadow standing over me. I see a leg moving towards me to deliver a kick; when I grab it, knocking the attacker off balance, he recovers fast. I'm tired, but my adrenalin kicks in. I feel him come up to choke me from behind, but reverse the move on him. He's bigger than me and heavier, but I'm faster and he is underestimating me. I kick his knee out and shove my elbow into his face and when he is falling down I reach up and deliver a knee to the face knocking him unconscious.
I take a second to catch my breath when I hear clapping "You have disabled one of my best men, but once you have your attacker unconscious you need to flee." I hear a man yell from across the gym.
Why the hell did he attack me? I hiss getting ready to fight whoever is speaking.
“I needed to see how you would react if attacked. Having a bodyguard is a great tool to have, but being able to defend yourself if your guard is taken out is the difference between life and death. You fight like you want to live.”
Turning around I hear a sharp intake of breath, "Celine?"
"No, my name is Estelle. You must have known my mother. Her name was Celine."
"What's your father's name?" The man asks.
"Edwin Mayò."
"How old are you, Estelle?" he inquires stepping closer trying take in all the features on my face. "What month were you born in?"
"I'm twenty-four. I was born in August." I respond hesitantly.
"Why are you asking? Who are you?" I see the large man sit on the bench. Putting his hand on his chest I see he is trying to catch his breath. I step forward against my better judgment. "Do I need to call 911? Are you okay?" He shakes his head no but is unable to speak. I see his eyes welling with tears and his mouth set in a thin line.
"I'm Antonio De Luca and I believe I'm your father." He reaches for my face but I move backwards, "You look so much like my Celine but you also look like your younger brother." It's then I realize I'm looking into a pair of golden eyes in a face of sun-kissed skin that matches mine.
"My father is Edwin Mayò." I say shaking my head this isn’t happening, I don’t know this man he, could be telling me anything. He opens his wallet and pulls out a picture of him and a beautiful women I don’t recognize right away but then I look closer and I know it’s my mother.
"Is that what that bastard told you? Can we go somewhere to talk? Please, I don't want to have this conversation in a gym."
"No, I’m not going anywhere with you, but you're right, this isn’t a conversation to have in a gym. Do you know where the Glendalough Building is? I will meet you in the lobby of that building in thirty minutes."
"You’re staying with a Kerrigan?" he speculated with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Rhydian Kerrigan. His brother Easton is married to my best friend, Kennedy."
Antonio is silent as I make my way to my truck. As I drive I can see his headlights right behind me. We make it to the lobby of the building and I see the concierge at the desk.
“Good evening, Ms. Roux, Mr. Kerrigan made us aware you will be living here, so please call down if you need anything."
Can you please call up to Rhydian’s and ask him to come down to the lobby?
"Mr. Kerrigan just accessed the elevator so he should be down any minute now." Phil nodded his head towards the elevators doors.
"Thanks, Phil." I nod and we make our way towards the lobby area.
“Is there anything I can do for you Mr. De
"Lord help whoever has to teach that Spawn of Satan you call a son!” I add an exaggerated shiver.
"Hey, that's my kid! He isn't that bad."
"Your son tried to bite me last week because I bought the last blue Powerade from the machine and I wouldn't give it to him."
"He likes blue Powerade!" he laughs. "Let’s go, toots, stop running your mouth and let's train!"
Forty-five minutes later my legs feel like noodles, and I officially can't lift my arms. Laying on the mat, I see a shadow standing over me. I see a leg moving towards me to deliver a kick; when I grab it, knocking the attacker off balance, he recovers fast. I'm tired, but my adrenalin kicks in. I feel him come up to choke me from behind, but reverse the move on him. He's bigger than me and heavier, but I'm faster and he is underestimating me. I kick his knee out and shove my elbow into his face and when he is falling down I reach up and deliver a knee to the face knocking him unconscious.
I take a second to catch my breath when I hear clapping "You have disabled one of my best men, but once you have your attacker unconscious you need to flee." I hear a man yell from across the gym.
Why the hell did he attack me? I hiss getting ready to fight whoever is speaking.
“I needed to see how you would react if attacked. Having a bodyguard is a great tool to have, but being able to defend yourself if your guard is taken out is the difference between life and death. You fight like you want to live.”
Turning around I hear a sharp intake of breath, "Celine?"
"No, my name is Estelle. You must have known my mother. Her name was Celine."
"What's your father's name?" The man asks.
"Edwin Mayò."
"How old are you, Estelle?" he inquires stepping closer trying take in all the features on my face. "What month were you born in?"
"I'm twenty-four. I was born in August." I respond hesitantly.
"Why are you asking? Who are you?" I see the large man sit on the bench. Putting his hand on his chest I see he is trying to catch his breath. I step forward against my better judgment. "Do I need to call 911? Are you okay?" He shakes his head no but is unable to speak. I see his eyes welling with tears and his mouth set in a thin line.
"I'm Antonio De Luca and I believe I'm your father." He reaches for my face but I move backwards, "You look so much like my Celine but you also look like your younger brother." It's then I realize I'm looking into a pair of golden eyes in a face of sun-kissed skin that matches mine.
"My father is Edwin Mayò." I say shaking my head this isn’t happening, I don’t know this man he, could be telling me anything. He opens his wallet and pulls out a picture of him and a beautiful women I don’t recognize right away but then I look closer and I know it’s my mother.
"Is that what that bastard told you? Can we go somewhere to talk? Please, I don't want to have this conversation in a gym."
"No, I’m not going anywhere with you, but you're right, this isn’t a conversation to have in a gym. Do you know where the Glendalough Building is? I will meet you in the lobby of that building in thirty minutes."
"You’re staying with a Kerrigan?" he speculated with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Rhydian Kerrigan. His brother Easton is married to my best friend, Kennedy."
Antonio is silent as I make my way to my truck. As I drive I can see his headlights right behind me. We make it to the lobby of the building and I see the concierge at the desk.
“Good evening, Ms. Roux, Mr. Kerrigan made us aware you will be living here, so please call down if you need anything."
Can you please call up to Rhydian’s and ask him to come down to the lobby?
"Mr. Kerrigan just accessed the elevator so he should be down any minute now." Phil nodded his head towards the elevators doors.
"Thanks, Phil." I nod and we make our way towards the lobby area.
“Is there anything I can do for you Mr. De
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