The two men left. Donatti ran his fingers through his hair. He looked at the girl. “I’m sorry you’re going through all this shit. It’s a terrible thing when your parents are at war.”

“All I care about is Mommy.”

“True that,” Donatti said. “Who do you think is after you and your brother?”

“I’m assuming it’s my father.”

“Is your father violent?”

“No, not at all.”

“Someone beat up your mother.”

“It wasn’t my father.” She crossed her arms.

“Just trying to figure out things. Don’t get defensive.”

“I’m just saying …”

“Okay. Let me put it this way. If your father did take your brother, would he hurt him?”

“No, of course not. He worships Sanjay.”

“And you?”

Her eyes welled up. “My dad loves me.”

“But …”

“Nothing. He loves me.” A pause. “But Mommy loves me more.”

“Don’t take sides.”

“It’s true. She does love me more.”

“Does your mom talk smack about him?”

“No. She never says anything mean about anyone.”

“Including me?”

“Only that Gabe gets his talent from you.”

“She forgot the good looks.”

Juleen regarded his face: beautiful blue eyes and thick blond-streaked white hair that fell down to his shoulders. He was good-looking for an old guy. “My dad gambles.”

“Some people do.”

“Do you?”

“Nope. You always lose and I don’t like losing money.”

“Then why do people do it if it’s so stupid?”

“Because people do stupid things.” A pause. “Did your mom ever tell you I beat her up?” The girl looked at him with stunned eyes. “Not as bad as she is now, but I gave her bruises … a couple of black eyes. I scared her into not pressing charges. I didn’t want to go to prison. It was cowardly—what I did and how I acted afterward. Like I said, people do stupid things. That was my stupidest.”

She was silent.

“Don’t be so hard on your father. People gamble because it’s exciting … gives them a rush … like drugs.” He turned to her. “Don’t take drugs. Ever. It screws you up.”

“I don’t take drugs.” A pause. “Do you take drugs?”

“Not anymore.”

“But you did?”

“I was both an alcoholic and a drug addict.”

“But not now?”

“For the most part, I’m sober. But it’s always a battle. I’ve got an addictive personality. Don’t even start.”

“Why did you start?”

“I was depressed. I needed a rush.”

“But you’re not depressed now?”

“You ask a lot of questions.”

“Sorry.”

He sat back in his chair and observed the girl. She was squirming. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, it’s not nothing. What’s on your mind?”

“I’m just thinking that if you don’t gamble and you don’t drink and you don’t take drugs, like what gives you a rush if you have an addictive personality?”

“Sex.” With your mother.