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“I can’t argue with that.” I clamped my lips together, as he glowered at my short outburst in English.
He rose and walked purposefully toward me. “I am willing to overlook that you escaped me, my most precious girl. You should be grateful for my mercy.”
He clasped my wrist, and I shoved the memories away as best I could. In this moment, I was grateful for my breakdown with Stone. It had somehow prepared me for this, made me stronger.
“Papa is thrilled to have you back.”
It took everything I had not to flinch when he bent to kiss my cheek. “I’m happy to be reunited with my family.” My voice broke on the sentence, but he mistook my sorrow and gave my shoulder an affectionate squeeze.
“We’re going home now.” His gentle demeanor vanished in an instant. “Carlos. Take her phone. Leave it here.”
He complied, slipping the handbag off my arm after he took the bag with the milk. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding it.
My father led me to the door, the pressure of his grasp on my wrist increased. He opened the door and dragged me into the foyer. We took the stairs all the way down to the garage, where a black SUV was waiting.
The General, my father’s most trusted man, opened the back door. He smiled at me, though it was menacing, as I climbed inside the vehicle. My father sat next to me, and Carlos slid into the front passenger seat. My father never let go of my wrist, and though I knew exactly what he was doing, exerting his dominance, it made me want to scream.
I’d failed already at step one of the plan, because I’d been unable to stall him.But he believes you’re happy to go home with him.The thought gave me strength to keep going.
“Say goodbye to New York, Camila. It’s too bad none of your so-called friends could be here to see you off.” He didn’t sound sorry in the least, his words sending my brain into overdrive.
My father’s power only went so far in the United States, but as soon as he had me back in Nicaragua, it would be nearly impossible for me to escape. The life and all the people I loved would be stolen from me. It had been a long time since Daniel and I had fully practiced the rest of the plan, but I prayed it was still in place.
“Papa,” I said, schooling my voice to be soft and demure, as much as it pained me.
His answering smile was serene. “Yes, my Camila.”
“As you can see, I’ve done well for myself. I have a safe deposit box with a substantial amount of cash, gold, jewelry, and a few other valuables in it I’d like to retrieve before we go.”
“We’ll send someone for it once we’re home.” He had plenty of money, but he always wanted more. I needed to play to that.
“It’s in a bank for high-end clients. The only way to get into the deposit box is with my handprint and eye scan,” I said.
“Define substantial.”
I had my father’s attention. “Roughly twenty.”
“Thousand?” he asked, as if I’d suggested we make the detour for fifty cents.
“Million,” I corrected.
His brows shot up, his beady eyes filling with greed. “How did you get that kind of money?”
“I learned from the best.” I patted his leg.
“Twenty million in valuables won’t fit inside a safe deposit box.”
“Did I say box?” I asked casually. “I meant vault. The rare paintings need a special climate to preserve them.” Well, if they’d been real, they would have.
“Why aren’t they hanging in your home?”
I flashed him a surreptitious smile. “These aren’t the kind of things one leaves lying around in the open.”
He studied me, eyes narrowed as he interpreted my unspoken meaning. My father always loved what he wasn’t supposed to have.
“If you are lying to me…” he warned.
I vehemently shook my head. “I have never lied to you, Papa. Never.” Strangely enough, that was the truth. “Why don’t I call them? You can dial.”
