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“What’s going on?” I mutter. But Santi doesn’t say a word as Antonio approaches.
“Since when did teaching my wife to handle a gun involve your hands on her body?” he snarls.
You have got to be kidding me.
Santi pales. “Boss, I apologize. I didn’t mean anything. I was just trying to helpSenhoraDaniela find her stance. I would never disrespect you. Either of you.”
“Antonio,” I plead, hoping he’ll stop. I don’t think he’d actually hurt Santi, but he is not happy with him.
“Leave us,” he tells Santi, who hands me back the pistol, then wastes no time getting the hell away from the crazy man.
“What if he’d turned around and shot you?” I ask, after Santi is out of hearing range.
“Santi’s experienced enough to know that it was a warning shot fired in the air.”
“Was that really necessary? He wasn’t doing anything untoward—and neither was I.”
Antonio peers into my eyes. “I know. But his hand was too close to your ass. I want to make sure he knows not to even think about it while he’s teaching you to shoot.”
This possessive Antonio. I’ve seen glimpses before, but never like this. “You fired a warning shot? You’re out of control.”
He shrugs. “Only where you’re concerned,Princesa.”
I ignore the buttery tone. “Did you come here to spy on us?”
“I don’t need to make a trip out here for that. There’s surveillance all over the grounds. I came to tell you I’ll be in London tomorrow. Just for the day.” He pauses for a beat. “I’m going to tell my mother and Rafael about Valentina. We’re on borrowed time, Daniela.”
My heart plops into my stomach, but I don’t argue, because he’s right. Rafael lives here, and he could show up at any time without calling. “I want to be there when you tell them.”
“No.”
Here we go.“Why not? I can help them understand better than you can.”
“It’s going to be hard enough on them. Before they have to face you, I want them to have some time to come to grips with what my family did to you and your mother.”
“They’re not responsible for what happened. Your mother and Rafael were their victims too. Besides, this is no longeryourfamily andmyfamily. It’sourfamily. One family. We need to do this together. I’m going with you.”
“Can’t you ever just do as I ask? Why does everything have to involve a protracted discussion?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
He glowers at me. “Have you learned to shoot that thing?”
Nice pivot.But I won’t forget about London.
“Why don’t you go stand over there?” I point to the target. “And we’ll see.”
50
DANIELA
Antonio and I are having coffee in the living room at his mother’s apartment. Rafael’s with us too.
As much as Lydia loves that we’re here, she keeps eyeing her son, who’s wearing the burden of delivering the crushing news like a heavy weight. I suspect the only reason she hasn’t called him on it is because Rafael and I are here.
It took some prodding, but in the end, Antonio decided it made sense to tell his mother and Rafael together. He also decided that it might be helpful for me to be there.
I’m a bit edgy too. Antonio arranged for a meeting at St. Philomena’s, and we’re having dinner with Will and Samantha before we leave. It’s the first time I’ve left Valentina for a full day and most of the evening. She’s at home, in Mia and Santi’s care, and under Victor’s watchful eye, but it’s still hard. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for me when she goes to camp.
