“Not that you asked me, but I think that doing nothing is a very wise decision.”

“Besides I have the best revenge of all. She’s in India.” Donatti smiled, but it wasn’t a pretty one. “But you’re here.”

“So what? She doesn’t give a damn about me.” Said more to himself than to his father. “If she did, she would have taken me with her.”

“Oh no, no, no, no.” Donatti wagged his finger. “She didn’t dare take you with her. Maybe I’d let her go—there are lots of women in this world—but bastard or not, you’re still my only kid. If she had taken you away, it would have sealed her death warrant.”

He crushed out his cigarette and lit another one.

“I know your mother very well. She’s got herself a little bastard baby girl, but her real baby is right here with me. She’s in incredible psychic pain and that makes me very happy.” He stood up. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Are you taking me home?”

“You mean back to the Deckers?”

“Home is the Deckers.” Gabe grinned. “But you’ll always be my only dad.”

“Yeah until you find out who shot his wad in your mom that summer.”

Gabe ignored him and stood up. “You know, I can take the bus if it’s an inconvenience to drive me into the Valley.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Besides I want to hear all about your progress with your new pal, Nick.”

“He’s my teacher, Chris, not my pal. He tortures me every time I see him. But I guess that’s the price of getting better.”

“You’d better be improving after spending all my money on lessons.” Donatti grabbed the nape of his neck and none too gently. “This way.”

A stretch limo was waiting. That wasn’t a surprise. His father usually needed room for his long legs. What was a surprise was a wisp of a girl sitting in the backseat. She looked fourteen although he knew she was at least eighteen. Chris didn’t mess with underage girls anymore. She was cute in a pixie way—small upturned nose, dimples in her cheeks, and curly auburn hair. There was intelligence in her brown eyes.

“Talia.” Chris pointed to the girl. To her, he said, “This is my kid.”

“Gabe Whitman.” Gabe offered her his hand.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” She shook his hand back. “He talks about you all the time.”