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The fact that he was justifying his actions shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Wasn’t that how she had come into this world? Hadn’t she heard a version of the same story from her mother about her father’s justification for his infidelity? The only difference here was that Ramon had apparently wanted the seed he’d unwittingly planted in her womb. Suki’s father hadn’t even stuck around for the pregnancy test announcing she was on the way.
The end result of that had been a mother steeped in so much bitterness she’d never trusted another man long enough to move on from the past. From a very early age, Suki had vowed to learn from that lesson, until she’d met Luis and had eventually chosen to hope that all men weren’t the same.
Luis had been one in a million, and she’d trusted him with her life. Unfortunately, she’d been foolish enough to transfer some of that faith to his older brother.
She didn’t plan on making the same mistake again.
Refocusing on Ramon, she shook her head. ‘There’s no way this can ever work. Too much has happened. Besides, what about Svetlana? Won’t she have a huge say in what you’re proposing?’
‘She and I have been over for several months.’ The words were clipped. Final.
Suki told herself the fluttering in her stomach was a side effect of the strain of the conversation. ‘The same kind of over you meant the last time?’
His eyes gleamed, his focus unwavering. ‘The kind of over that means she has no bearing on this conversation.’
She wanted to press for more. Why, she had no idea. Whether Ramon and Svetlana were over or not had no impact on her life. There were more important things to focus on, like the reason he had a file on her mother.
‘Did you know about Luis’s financial bequest before today?’
‘No, but he was fond of you. It doesn’t surprise me he would take such an action.’
Her head still reeled from that. ‘I don’t know what to say...’
Another bleak expression darted across his face. ‘If he were here right now, what do you think he’d say with regard to your mother’s condition?’
Suki’s heart twisted, her best friend’s vibrant face rearing up vividly in her mind’s eye. ‘He would help me beg, borrow or steal to help her.’
‘Sí, he would. And what do you think he would say to you helping me to continue his family line?’ he countered smoothly.
She gasped at the skilful way he’d cornered her. ‘That’s not fair.’
‘Is it not, or are you being a hypocrite? He’s left you a means to help your mother. Should her treatment exceed what he left for you, I’ll pick up the slack.’ He paused, his eyes still fixed on her. ‘Are you going to let pride and stubbornness stand in the way of your mother’s health?’
‘No, of course not! But I can’t help but think this is...a cold transaction.’
‘It’s a transaction where we both win.’
Her heart shuddered. ‘But her doctors say there’s nothing else they can do.’
‘They were wrong.’ Returning to the sofa, he picked up the last file and handed it to her.
Hands shaking, she opened it, started to read. The names that jumped out at her were from some of the best teaching hospitals and medical research facilities in the world. She recognised them because she’d come across several of them in her own research. Letters from acclaimed doctors with countless abbreviations after their names had personally answered all of the pertinent questions Ramon had posed them. Without offering guarantees, at least half a dozen different doctors had given her mother far better odds than her current doctors had.
‘Everything in there has been double and triple checked. All that’s required for your mother to get the help she vitally needs is to say yes.’
Suki closed her eyes, three unshakeable truths becoming crystal clear. Her mother’s case wasn’t hopeless. Luis, in his own inimitable way, was caring for her even from the grave. But by doing so, he’d also put her directly in his brother’s debt.
And there was only one means by which Ramon Acosta wanted payment.
CHAPTER SIX
SHE WENT THROUGH the paperwork, noting the recommendation for her mother’s treatment to be started immediately, preferably at a state-of-the-art facility in Miami. Closing the file, Suki walked to the sofa and sat down.
The pressure that had been building since Ramon walked into her hotel room this morning intensified. Her pulse raced and in a fit of agitation she reached up and tugged the pins from her hair. The simple of act of unknotting her hair brought a tiny bit of relief. But her mind continued to spin at the sheer enormity of what he was asking of her.
Spiking her fingers into her hair, she briefly massaged her scalp, then raised her head to the dominating figure poised like a dark overlord before her. His gaze was on the heavy tresses gliding over her hands and down her shoulders. He seemed momentarily fascinated with what she was doing, but, too soon, dark unwavering green eyes locked on hers once more.
‘Are you ready to discuss this properly?’
