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The air in the room is thick and chewy as grown men grapple with a tsunami of emotion. Theirmodus operandiis to destroy everything that makes them uncomfortable. But they will not destroy my daughter.
“The circumstances surrounding my pregnancy are not what we’d want for any girl, or any woman, not even our worst enemy. But no one, not even my father, who was distressed over my mother’s death, ever treated Valentina as anything but a cherished blessing. This was important to Isabel, who grew up feeling unwanted, and it’s been vitally important to me since I was old enough to understand.” I pause for a breath.
While I’ve managed to remain outwardly composed, my emotions are seconds from getting the best of me. These are not men who respect the word of a distraught woman. These are men who respond to strength.You will stay strong.
“My innocence was not the most important thing they took from me that day. It was my mother, who surely would have had an opinion about how the circumstances of my life turned out. But hear this,” I say, with more authority than I have, and more confidence than I feel. “I love that little girl with every cell of my being. And I expect each of you to treat Valentina, not like the byproduct of a monstrous act, but like the precious child she is. No exceptions.”
With the words still hanging in the air, I grip the edge of the table and stand with as much dignity as I can muster.
Antonio takes hold of my wrist as I walk past him. “That’s not something you need to spend one second worrying about. You’re my wife. Valentina is your daughter, and she’s under my protection. Anyone who treats her as anything less will answer directly to me.”
He’s deadly serious—his words, his tone, his expression—all of it.
A sense of relief courses through me. No one will go against him. They wouldn’t dare.
I nod, and he releases me.
With one hand on the door, I pause for a moment. “I want Isabel’s body sent home so she can have a proper burial. Please let me know the moment you hear any news about Valentina.”
No one responds, but they heard me.
I shut the door behind me, and put one foot in front of the other, until I reach the sofa in the main cabin and collapse against the cool leather.
12
ANTONIO
After Daniela leaves the room, no one says a word for a few moments. Not because she might be listening outside the door, but out of respect for her. And admiration. She’s tough. Tougher than she looks. Tougher than she should have to be.
I can’t think. I treated her—fuck—there are no words to describe it. Letting her get on that boat. Letting her think she was going to be raped.Jesus Christ.I’m going to burn in hell. And I deserve it.
“You didn’t know,” Cristiano says quietly, like he can read my mind.
Why didn’t I know?It’s consuming me, and as we sit here without a word, I’m sure it’s eating at Cristiano and Lucas too.
Cristiano breaks the grating silence. “I don’t think we can get the body back. I believe it’s been disposed of.”
“You heard her. Do whatever it takes to get it back, and for some reason you’re not successful, figure something out. But I don’t want to hear a word about it. I’m not going to lie to her about the identity of the body.
“How the fuck did we not know this?” I slam my fist on the table. “How?” I glower at Lucas through the screen.
“It was buried deep,” he says, his voice conveying all of our frustration. “Even knowing what we do, I can’t find a thing. D’Sousa did not want it uncovered.”
“Why would he do this?” I have my theories, but I’m too close to this. It’s too personal. “Why didn’t he just tell me?”
Cristiano shrugs. “Maybe it’s exactly what she said. That the knowledge would make her unmarriageable to someone like you.”
That’s what I thought initially.But there’s no way.
I shake my head. I owed him big. He knew I’d do whatever he asked regarding his daughter, especially if her safety was at risk. “Too simple. And not remotely within the possibilities. He knew I couldn’t refuse him.”
Cristiano shrugs. “Then why did he feel the need to sweeten the deal with the vineyards?”
“He gave me the vineyards to protect her. D’Sousa knew I was the best person to take on my uncle.” It’s clear now. “If I owned the vineyards, his daughter and granddaughter would be safe. At least that’s what he thought. But I didn’t marry Daniela right away, like he probably expected, and for six years, I did everything in my power to keep the betrothal contract under wraps.”
That was a major fuck-up. But she was too young—and I wasn’t ready. I had an empire to build. In hindsight, both are piss-poor excuses, especially the latter.
“Are we underestimating Tomas?” I have strong opinions about my cousin, but I can’t let my lifelong disdain for him throw me off track. “Is it possible that he could pull all this off himself?”
