Chapter Twenty-Three: Warm

"What?"

"You didn't know?"

I ask. Technically, I refer to Dawson as an old family friend since I can hardly call him a father or stepfather.

"No, I thought he was…yours?"

He says the 'yours' in a small tone that makes me suspect he thinks he has stolen something from me, so I smile.

"He just likes me because I laugh at his jokes and keep Eliza in line. He isn’t my father."

"I didn’t know that you aren't fully related to your sister."

"To the point, Matteo."

I insist.

"Fine. My men found out he had a terminal illness last year and-"

Right, I remember Elizabeth refused to inherit his fortune, and his sons are druggies.

"He needed someone to inherit it."

I nod slowly.

"His sons are dangerous."

"For your sister or you, maybe. But not for me. But he refused to give me the time of day for two years, but a few tabloids with you in my arms and suddenly he is the one blowing up my phone."

"So, you needed to seal the deal by doing that to me?"

"I thought you'd mention how I helped you in the ho