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As usual, he holds all the cards. I’m not sure what to do, but after some time passes, I lower myself into the chair because he could send her away, and I wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing about it.
He takes the seat next to me, turning it so we’re facing each other. “Things are about to get dangerous in Porto. We’re close to learning more about the explosion at Santa Ana’s and Isabel’s murder. St. Philomena’s is an exclusive private girls’ school outside of London. The kind of exclusive where kings and presidents send their daughters and granddaughters. The security at the school is unparalleled. Samantha and Will send Alexis there. Valentina will be safe in London while the war is being fought here.”
There’s a sense of urgency about him. I don’t think he’s lying about the danger, but there has to be another way.
“She can stay in the valley with me. It’s not like we go to the mall or the nail salon, or anywhere, really.”
“No. We don’t understand the risks well enough.”
This is a difficult argument. Perhaps if I were in another frame of mind, I might see it differently. Of course I want her to be safe. But I also want her with me. I’m not convinced that I can’t have both.
“You expect me to send her to another country, to a place I know nothing about?”
“You’ll have an opportunity to visit before she’s enrolled. It’s required. And my mother and Samantha are close by.”
“She’s twelve. I can’t send her away alone.”
“She won’t be anywhere near the youngest girl there. Besides, you’ll be going too.”
“To camp?”
He rolls his eyes. “No. To stay with Samantha and Will.”
This is crazy. I’m not staying with people I don’t know. “I’ve met them just once.”
“My mother and Rafael will be there too.”
I gauge him carefully. This isn’t just any danger. He’s talking serious danger. I can’t afford to dismiss it—not that he’ll let me anyway. Maybe if we’re both in London, it won’t be so bad. “Will I be able to visit with Valentina while she’s at camp?”
He shakes his head. “No. St. Philomena’s is safe because people aren’t in and out. But she’ll have Mia with her, and Santi nearby.”
I glance at the photographs on the desk behind him. “Is this so that you can do whatever you want with whomever you want with me out of the way?” It’s snarky. I know sending us away has nothing to do with his whoring, but he deserves a bit of snark.
“I don’t need you out of the way to do whatever or whomever I want.”
“You are a despicable excuse for a human being.” I get up to leave. I need some time to think through the possibilities, and I can’t do it here.
“I suggest you put your cute little ass back in that chair. I’m thin on patience today, and from the moment you walked through the door, I’ve wanted to tear that dress off your gorgeous body and fuck you against the windows overlooking the old city.”
My eye catches the photos on his desk.
His expression is dark and salacious, and despite the growing anger, my lower belly tightens in response.
Fuck me against the windows?“It’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens.”
He throws his head back and laughs. It takes me by surprise, and if I wasn’t so angry, I might laugh too.
Before either of us says anything more, the phone on his desk buzzes, and he answers. “Send her in.”
“Our guest has arrived,” he murmurs, a moment before Sonia traipses through the door.
45
ANTONIO
I’m not sure who’s more surprised, Sonia or Daniela. Sometimes getting everyone in the room at the same time is the best way to air the dirty laundry.
I stand and lean against my desk, with my arms folded.
