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“I’ll send the appropriate address in anticipation of your arrival.”
“Acceptable. Three days, Diez. Until then.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I ended the satellite call, chuckling under my breath.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re up to something?” Sanchez asked after moving behind me.
“Because you know me too well. We’re leaving sometime tomorrow.”
“And where are we going?” he asked, his snicker an indication he already knew.
“Not fucking South America.”
* * *
Haunting emotions.
As I walked into the house, the soft, melodic violin music brought a series of emotions from sadness to remorse. The sound was evocative, yet with every chord played, I felt the raw pain burning deep inside the woman who’d managed to steal my heart.
The piece she’d selected was stunningly beautiful, yet so forlorn I was able to taste her despondency.
I’d managed to betray her trust.
Other than the lilting strings of music, there was no other sound in the house, the employees staying out of sight. As I headed in the direction of the music room, a sudden longing for celebrations and exclamations of joy surprised me, yet that’s how I’d started to feel around Giada. Sadly, her selection yanked at the darkest part of me, pulling at the chains still firmly wrapped around my psyche.
I had the same feelings that I did the first time I’d heard her play. She was brilliant, her fingers golden. She had a way of making you feel the music, which had been a new experience for me. I’d been left in awe, finding it difficult to think clearly.
Now I felt the same, only the deep-seated sanctuary of hiding behind a mask of steel had been ripped away. I felt like I’d broken her, a woman with the kind of smile who could melt any man from across the room.
And I hated myself because of it.
I moved to the partially closed door, shoving my hands into my pockets and waiting. For the right moment? For the end of her song? Hell, I didn’t know any longer. She’d disrupted my life in every way, but I couldn’t imagine spending even a moment without her. Who was it that had once said only a woman could bring you to your knees?
The music finally ended. Now the silence was overbearing. I pushed the door open with a single finger, remaining where I was. She stood with her hand on the piano, the other still wrapped around the neck of her violin.
And I could see tears on her cheeks.
She sensed my presence immediately, stiffening then lifting her head, refusing to look at me. I remained silent, watching as she placed her precious instrument on the stand, even taking a few seconds to brush her fingers across the strings. Only then did she finally turn in my direction.
“I’d like to talk to my father, Sevastian. This is not a request but a demand. You will allow me to talk to the people I love.”
As she walked closer, her jaw clenched, I realized she was absolutely the strongest woman I’d ever known, able to rival my mother. Yet the softness, the goodness within her remained. Her upbringing. Her father’s power. Even the cage she’d been forced into hadn’t kept her from becoming resolute.
“Of course.”
Some of her hardened edge faded away, a portion of the light returning to her eyes. “Now?”
I smiled, resisting the urge to drag her against me. This time, I wanted her to come of her own free will.
And I wanted her to be able to trust me.
“We’re returning to the States tomorrow.”
The look of glee was quickly replaced with one of uncertainty. “Why? What are you going to do?”
She was asking if I planned on killing her father with my bare hands. “I’m going to handle business, my princess. You need your family, and we have a wedding to plan. I won’t stop you from spending time with the people you love.”
