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Chapter Eight
When Gil pulled into the driveway, Leo’s parents close behind, Augusta emerged before he’d put the car in park.
She screamed, “Get in the house! Get away from that hoodlum!”
“I will not,” Amelia said calmly. She’d been quiet on the drive but there were no tears, no shaking, no fear.
Leo watched her in fascination.
Storming across the cobblestones in heels that were too high, an outfit that was too formal, and wearing far too much jewelry, Augusta grabbed Amelia hard by her upper arm as if to drag her to the house.
Amelia stiffened, resisting the force.
Stepping between them, Leo said quietly, “Release her. Like it or not, Amelia is a grown woman. There is nothing keeping her legally tethered to this house. Tread carefully, Augusta.”
The woman looked back and forth between them several times. “You...how dare you! This is your fault! Your influence is what put all these ridiculous ideas in her head.”
Leo knew his parents took up positions beside him and Amelia but they remained silent. His upbringing, his future, gave him certain freedoms and a strong sense of self.
“Ridiculous ideas? Which ideas are those?” Leo tilted his head. “You made her drop weight again despite her history with an eating disorder. You don’t care if she smokes, guzzles caffeine to stay awake, or suffers at the hands of some animal intent on making her nothing more than an object...but you have a problem with her spending the day with me in love and mutual respect?”
“None of that happened! She-she’s making up stories!”
“Is she?” he asked softly. He tugged Amelia from Augusta’s grip and guided her to his other side. “Suddenly, she’s the liar, Augusta? For years, you’ve traipsed her around the country. You have risked her education, her health, and her happiness to appease some sick need you have to live through her.”
“Don’t you speak to me like that…!”
“I will speak to you like that. You deserve far less respect than I’m giving you. I grant it out of respect for Amelia and your husband.” He met Gil’s eyes behind his wife. “Even though you are equally responsible for what’s been done to your daughter, sir. Your refusal to curb this woman’s obsession with beauty and fame is pathetic.”
Gil stuttered, “I-I would never do anything to hurt, Amy.”
“And yet...by turning a blind eye, you are guilty by association.” Returning his attention to Augusta, Leo said, “She graduates in a few weeks and is now a legal adult. If she doesn’t want to go to pageants or auditions, she won’t be going. If she wishes to live with my family in a private suite, she is welcome to do so. Your time as her keeper is behind you, Augusta. If she wishes to pursue modeling, acting, or any other career, you won’t be calling the shots. Not another day.” Dropping his voice, he stared into her wide eyes. “Do I make myself clear?”
Augusta whispered, “You have no right…”
“You have no right. The rest of Amelia’s life belongs to Amelia. Not to you, her father, me, or anyone else. It belongs to her and I swear to God, I will see that she has it.”
Leo’s mother touched Amelia’s shoulder. “If ye wish te stay with us, ye’re always welcome, love. Now or in the future. Our home is yers.”
“Thank you, Mrs. De La Cruz.” Amelia cleared her throat. “Please don’t be upset with Leo. It was my idea to skip school and spend the day together.”
Sarabeth laughed warmly. “Are ye kiddin’, love?” She inclined her head at Leo’s father. “This one once kidnapped me, ye know? Threw me over his shoulder and carried me off the property to his car. Said I was gonna hear him out and if I didn’t want him, he’d take me home. Cagey bugger. We were married a month later. I understand love, Amelia. I understand youth. It hasn’t been that long since I felt like me heart would beat out my chest.” She winked. “Still feel it now and again.”
Quiet by nature, Alejandro De La Cruz rarely spoke to people outside his family. Approaching Amelia, he placed his hand on her cheek. “You are the sun, Amelia. To our boy, the world circles you and depends on your light. To us, you are already family because one day, you will truly be. Everything here can be left behind if you wish it.”
Reaching up, Amelia held his father’s wrist. “Thank you, sir. I have a few weeks left of school. Then I’ll start my life with Leo properly. I won’t begin our future as a damsel in distress.”
Alejandro smiled. “I know something about fighters. You will call Sarabeth or myself if you cannot reach Leo, yes?” She nodded. “That’s a good girl. We’re going home. We simply worried there had been another kidnapping attempt on Leo. He managed to evade Baylor for the second time this year.” He clicked his teeth. “Hot blood.”
“I’m sorry you worried,” Amelia told him. “We’ll do better in future about telling people where we are.”
“So much progress.” He lightly tapped her temple. “Give some of that reason to our Leo, yes?”
She laughed. “He’s perfect as he is, sir.”
Calling to Amelia’s father, Leo’s father said, “Hold the line, Gil. It is what all of us are called upon to do eventually.” Wrapping his arm around Sarabeth’s waist, he tossed over his shoulder, “Augusta.”
Moments later, they were gone with their security detail driving behind them. Glancing at the street, Leo waved to Baylor who stood beside another black SUV.
