“With you and Mum? No. I’m still wrapping my head around it, and I wish you’d told me before, but no, you’re still my Dad and Mum’s still Mum.” Theo meant it. They were his parents in every respect except biologically. And it proved to him that if Hsu had told him the truth about that, the rest would be true as well.
His dad looked serious. “There’s just one thing I don’t quite understand. Your adoption was closed, and those records are sealed. How did this new boss of yours find out, even with an extensive background check.”
“He’s very thorough.” Again Theo considered whether telling him just how Hsu knew would be a good idea. His mum would freak, but his dad was a pragmatic man. And he suddenly felt the need to share with someone he trusted. “No, he’s more than that. I don’t want Mum to know, though. Care for a pint at the White Horse, and I’ll tell you?” It was close by, but not Steve’s local, so less chance of any of his mates wanting a chat.
Steve agreed, and a short while later, they were sitting in a quiet corner by the fireplace. It was a trendy pub up near Canary Wharf, so on a Sunday, it was quiet with all the office workers enjoying their weekend, and the rest more intent on their cocktails and prosecco. They both ordered a pint, ale for Steve and a lager for Theo.
“Don’t tell Mum any of this, she’ll only worry, and she worries enough about Harry already.” Theo sipped at his beer as Steve nodded. “I haven’t been straight with you. After I resigned my commission.” He held up a hand to stop going through that old argument yet again. “I didn’t get an office job in the CIty. I did contract work, private security and stuff around the world, especially the usual hotspots. I saw more action than I did in those years in the Army, and I not only was I well paid for my services, I liked it.”
Steve blinked as he heard all this. “You mean you’re a mercenary? A soldier of fortune?”
“Dad, I don’t expect your approval, and I’m not looking for it. It is what it is...or was. My last job was a few months back. It went wrong. The bad guys got the jump on us.” He paused and downed several gulps of his beer. “What I’m going to tell you is pretty unbelievable, and you can’t tell anyone. Promise, Dad.”
There was a moment’s hesitation. “Okay, I promise. You’re worrying me now, son! But if it’s that important, I won’t tell a soul, promise.”
“It is. I died. Really died. And a little while later, I woke up, and everything had healed. No bullet holes, Nothing.” Seeing his dad’s shocked face, he ploughed on. “One of the team, Terry, he knew what had happened. He’d met people that had done the same. Come back to life, that is. And he said, I was immortal, an Immortal. Anyway, Terry put me in touch with this bloke looking for a new security chief in Switzerland, and he’s also Immortal. It was him that told me that all Immortals don’t have parents.” Theo wasn’t sure Hsu would like him telling someone else all that, but it was his Dad, and he trusted him. As it was Steve looked decidedly skeptical.
“All right, I can just about buy that you’re a mercenary of all things. I never really believed the working in the City. Not that I approve, and your mother definitely wouldn’t...don’t worry I said I won’t tell her, and I won’t. But, really, Theo immortality? You sure you didn’t get a knock on your head instead?”