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“I fail to see how this is important,” Scarlett said, determined not to listen to any more of Lydia’s words. It wasn’t just her loyalty to Carter that drove her determination to shut out Lydia. A cold fear was stirring in her stomach, and she sensed an oncoming disaster.
Ignoring her, Lydia continued, “They invented a revolutionary memory chip that held three times the industry standards of ten years ago, but was less than half the size. Your father approached them about buying the chip, but Justin and Carter knew it would make them rich. They refused Terini’s persistent and dogged attempts to gain the memory chip.”
Lydia fell silent for a moment, drawing in a deep breath before continuing. “Terini got tired of
waiting, and he sent a security team to the warehouse where Roche was headquartered at the time. The men beat Justin and Carter until they were unconscious, stole the chip, and set fire to the building. “
“Darren was returning with food, and he was able to pull Carter from the fire, but the building was engulfed with flames before he could even think about returning to the inferno to retrieve Justin. My husband burned to death on the direct orders of your father. His men were instructed to kill Carter and Justin and cover their deeds with arson.”
“You have no proof,” Scarlett insisted stridently. “Those men could have come from anywhere.”
“My brother is still old-fashioned in many ways,” Lydia said with peculiar satisfaction. “He spent two years tracking down a member of the team, working with the only lead he had. The face of the man whose mask he’d displaced in their fight.” She tossed the manila folder down on the bed. “In exchange for my brother’s silence, Louis Venetta confessed to his part in the crime and signed this statement. Carter has not pressed charges because he wants revenge himself. However, he is a fair man, and would not pursue Terini until he was positive that he was the one responsible.”
Numbly, Scarlett flipped open the file and read the two page statement from Venetta as Lydia maintained a hostile silence. “This man is a liar,” she said, but her tone lacked conviction.
“In addition to the statement, Carter had preliminary proof when Terini released the MX-187 chip, almost an exact replica of his prototype, less than six months after the fire and Justin’s death.” She gazed down at Scarlett.
“What more do you want?” she asked weakly.
“Now you can see why a future between you and Carter is impossible,” Lydia gloated. “His hatred of your family will always interfere. It is best to end things now, before you fall in love with him.”
“Too late,” Scarlett said bitterly. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I have no intention of breaking my relationship with Carter. I love him, and now I understand his rage at my father, thanks to you. I will support him no matter what he does to my father.” Lydia’s plan had backfired, Scarlett would make her see that. What a terrible sister she was.
“Brave words,” Lydia mocked. “But time will show how well they hold up,” she added, leaving the room.
She’d left the folder behind, and Scarlett impulsively hid it in her suitcase, wondering if she would need it in the future for some purpose. As she returned the case to the closet, Lydia’s words sank in, and sobs burst from her chest. The man who’d raised her was a murderer. How could she ever look at him the same way again?
A fierce wave of love washed over Scarlett, and she was grateful that Carter had tried to spare her this pain. Dashing the tears from her eyes, she belted the robe securely and hurried from her room, practically running down the hall to his bedroom. She pounded on the door, then impatiently again when he failed to answer immediately. His door finally swung open, and Scarlett threw herself in his arms. “I’ve made my decision. I’ll stand by you, no matter what action you take against my father. I love you.”
Carter sighed as his heart lifted. He pulled her against him and crushed her mouth under his in a fierce kiss. “You won’t change your mind?” he asked.
“Never,” Scarlett vowed.
“I won’t let you,” Carter whispered as he pulled her into his room.
18
Scarlett
Though their visit had gotten off to a rocky start, Scarlett enjoyed the rest of the trip. His family was warm, with the exception of Lydia, and she knew they’d accepted her. Even Thea hugged her before she got in the town car. “Come back soon,” she whispered.
When Vanna wrapped Scarlett in a sisterly embrace, she said, “The wedding will be lavish,” she predicted. “You must have it here.”
Scarlett shifted uncomfortably, glancing over at Carter, who was busy saying goodbye to his brother. “We haven’t gotten to that point yet,” she muttered.
Vanna laughed. “You will. Then there will be bambini, and Athena will be very happy.”
Scarlett sighed in exasperation, but she secretly hoped Vanna was right. She moved on to Ekaterini, then Athena, receiving warm hugs from each of them, and kind comments. Athena grasped her face between her hands, looking deep into her eyes. “Love him well.”
“I will,” Scarlett promised, and Athena nodded her satisfaction.
She wished they could stay on Thakilopos forever, just making love on the sand, swimming in the Aegean, and living an idyllic life far away from her father.
The meeting was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and Scarlett knew Carter had to be there for that. She realized how important his revenge was to him, and she didn’t blame him. Dismantling Rocco’s company was a very important piece of his vengeance, and she wouldn’t deny him the right, nor the pleasure he would receive. Her only wish was that it was over already, and that they could concentrate on the future.
“Are you all right?” he asked, noticing her frown.
Scarlett turned to Carter and smiled. “I’m fine. I was just wishing we didn’t have to leave already,” she explained as they got out of the car and boarded the jet. Leondris was in the cockpit, and the plane lifted smoothly from the runway. Soon, they were airborne.
