“Living with Antonio is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Rafael murmurs. “He’s going to make a good father one day.” Narrowing his eyes, he points a finger at me. “Don’t you dare tell him I said it.”
Good fathers are selfless, and loving. Rafael must have a low bar for what it means to be a good father.
“I need to get a workout in.” He sighs, slapping his hands on his thighs.
As he stands, I notice his phone sticking out of his gym shorts. He’s an adult—a man—I’m sure Antonio doesn’t monitor his phone.
I stand on tiptoe and place a kiss on each cheek. “Thank you for stopping by.”
“We’ll talk more at dinner,” he says softly.
Ask him, Daniela. Now!
“I know this is unusual, but would it be possible for me to borrow your phone?”
He tilts his head to the side, looking a bit surprised.
“I don’t have a computer yet, and my phone service is unreliable. I’d like to check my email.”
“Sure. You can use it, but I can lend you my computer, if you prefer.”
“The phone is fine. I promise I won’t snoop.”
“Not too worried.” He hands it to me. “I’ll stop by on my way back from the gym to get it. The password is V-E-R-A.”
I almost gasp.Vera.His mother.My heart clenches.
Sadness creeps into Rafael’s face the moment he realizes I made the connection. All I see is the little boy with his soccer cap and missing front teeth, crying for his mother—like it was yesterday. I reach over and touch his arm.
Vera Huntsman disappeared about a year and a half before my mother was murdered. Her husband claimed she ran off with a man, but I heard my parents talking one night when I was supposed to be in bed. My mother believed that Abel sent her away, or had her killed. An almost paralyzing fear gripped me, and I ran straight to my room and hid under the covers, as though I was next.
“Thank you,” I murmur, clinging to the phone.
“Have fun,” he says, his easy smile back.
“I promise to leave a little money in your bank account.”
“If Antonio trusts you enough to bring you into his house, I can trust you too.”
When he leaves, I collapse with my back against the door.
Get to work, Daniela.
36
Antonio
“Victor said you wanted to see me,” Daniela says, sashaying into my office. “I hope this is about my call to Isabel. I more than upheld my end of the bargain during dinner with Rafael last night.”
Much to my surprise, she did. Dinner couldn’t have gone better. Anyone watching would have pegged us for a loving family or caring friends sharing a meal.
“Good morning. Even when the door’s open, people normally knock before they barge in.”
Her hair is in a high ponytail, and she’s wearing black lounge pants that drape over her hips in a way that makes my cock take notice.
“You can borrow this computer.” I hand her a brand new laptop that will eventually be hers. “It’s all set up to video-chat with Isabel. Cristiano thought the larger screen would make the chat more enjoyable.”
“Thank you,” she says earnestly.