Zach laughed.
It was a gorgeous sound.
And the look on Fabio’s face was one I wouldn’t forget. He literally glowed with pride at having made his son smile.
“Look… umm… Fabio,” Zach said, stepping way out of his comfort zone. “I’m sorry too and while you might have a criminal record, I have much worse. If you knew what I’d done in my life, you wouldn’t be so excited to have a relationship with me.”
I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t want to, so I didn’t. “It wasn’t you. It was her—Henrietta Smith,” I insisted, wanting to cry in anger and frustration. “You were cursed, sold and used. Your choices were taken from you.”
Zach put his hand over mine and squeezed it gently. Closing his eyes, he let out a choppy breath. “People died and I did nothing. I watched. She killed and I abetted.”
“Bullshit,” Fabio said. “I call bullshit.”
Zach eyed him angrily. “I don’t care what you call. Shifters, witches and warlocks died and I did nothing,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
“Were you capable of defending them?” Fabio demanded, standing his ground.
“Does it matter?” Zach snapped. “Hundreds are dead.”
“It matters,” Fabio shot right back, equally as harsh. “What was done to you would have destroyed a lesser man. It tears at my soul to know what you lived through, but you are not to blame. Henrietta Smith was a deranged and sorry excuse of a fake witch who followed a sham religion not recognized by the Goddess. What she did is on her, not you. Never you,” Fabio said firmly. “You are as much a victim as those she destroyed.”
“Fairytales are lies and very hard to swallow,” Zach said, sounding so much older than his years. “Yes, it’s true I was helpless to stop her. But a lifetime of watching needless death takes a toll.”
“Let that shit go,” Fabio said, staring at Zach with an intensity that was captivating. “If you need to pay a self-imposed penance, pay it. For every evil atrocity that woman did, do something kind, loving and semi-legal to replace it. And no… it will not bring her victims back, but it will slowly make the Goddess’s Universe a more beautiful place. Do good in the memory of those who can’t. You’ve already started.”
Zach rubbed his temples and eyed his father. “You’re quite smart for a criminal.”
“Thank you. I try,” Fabio replied with a charming grin. “It’s a wondrous and strange thing… I love you, Zach. I can’t explain it correctly, but I look at you and I see a beautiful, virtuous man.”
Zach tensed at Fabio’s admission, but he didn’t punch him. I took it as a good sign.
“Then you need glasses, old man. I’m not worthy of your love,” Zach said flatly.
“My choice to give,” Fabio said. “Your choice to accept.”
“Can’t yet,” Zach admitted. “Working on a relationship with myself. Willow is next in line. You’re in fourth place behind Zelda.”
Fabio grinned and clapped his hands. “I’ll take it and you will take the money. Please take the money.”
I shook my head in agreement with Zach. “Honestly, Fabio, the money doesn’t help until we know who the investor is,” I told him. “Besides, even if we pay him off, there's no guarantee he won't want retribution for the community theatre not producing the play. But thank you. It’s such an incredible and kind offer.”
“Willow is right,” Zach said. “Do you have any idea who might have put that kind of money up?”
Fabio’s brow wrinkled in thought. “I truly don’t,” he said. “However, once we discover who he is, the money is ready if he'll take it.”
“We?” Zach inquired with a raised brow.
Fabio grinned. “If you’re dealing with someone who’s fond of cement shoes, I would think having a criminal like myself on your team might be helpful.”
Again, Zach laughed.
Again, Fabio beamed.
My smile grew so wide it hurt my cheeks.
Zach sobered and focused on Fabio. “I’m not sure what kind of relationship we can have,” he said slowly, clearly finding his words as the thoughts came. “But I would like to start as friends.”
Fabio’s breath caught in his throat and his sparkling green eyes teared up. “I would like that very much. Also, if you’d like to run me over with a car, I’m in. It did wonders for your sister.”
“Thank you, but I’ll pass,” Zach said with a chuckle. “I thought I wanted to punch you before I came, but…”
“Let’s go,” Fabio bellowed joyously, jumping up from his chair. “We can duke it out in the front yard. It will be good for the soul.”
“Umm… I don’t know,” I said, wondering how they went from being friends to kicking each other’s asses.
“Seriously?” Zach asked, excited. “You’ll punch back, right?”
“Of course,” Fabio said. “I’d be honored to have a smackdown with my son. We’ve missed out on so much.”
“So much violence?” I asked, still not thinking this was a great plan.
“Yes!” Fabio said. “A father should teach his son how to fight. A little blood and a few broken bones are a byproduct of the love warlocks share. Very stupid and manly, but quite fun.”
“Sounds great,” Zach said, grinning.
“Outstanding! We can heal each other afterward,” Fabio said, ushering us through the kitchen and out the front door. “And if the injuries are too much for male warlock healers to handle, we’ll call your sister. Zelda will definitely take blackmail photos, but she’s the strongest healer witch in existence. If she balks, I’ll withhold the new Berkin bag I procured for her.”
“Good plan,” Zach said, following Fabio out of the front door as I stood rooted to the floor in shock.
“Come along, Willow,” Fabio called over his shoulder. “A good time shall be had by all.”
“Coming,” I muttered, forcing my feet to move. Warlocks were batshit crazy.
“Oh, and I’d be quite honored if
