As far as I’m concerned, only Cristiano and Lucas are beyond reproach—and maybe Thiago, my driver. Alvarez and Santi have proven themselves, but to a lesser degree. Everyone else is suspect, although the culprit is unlikely to be a low-level guard who has no actionable information.
Despite the prospect of a traitor in our midst, I show up Thursday night. Not just for Valentina, but for Daniela, who would feel the child’s hurt feelings acutely, like a heart attack, or a bludgeoning.
There will be times when I’ll cause her pain. I am who I am, and I do what I do. Many things can’t be avoided, but showing up for cake is a small thing.Staying the night, however, is another matter.
Why?Becausestaying the nightis just a euphemism for sex.
That won’t happen, again, until Tomas has paid for what he did. He’smyfamily,myblood, and along withmyfather, he made Daniela’s life a living hell. I don’t deserve her goodness until I’ve made that pig bleed.After that, she’s mine. Every day and every night.
“You rode Demeter around the enclosure, groomed her when you were done, and she loves you as much as you love her.” I repeat the highlights of Valentina’s last few days, between bites of cake, which is delicious. I don’t even need to pretend.
“How do you know?” she asks, her wide eyes a shimmery violet under the light.
It reminds me that I need to talk to Rafa, and my mother, and I need to rip out Tomas’s bowels. The first two are going to be unpleasant, but I’m going to enjoy the hell out of the last one.
“I know everything,” I tell her as though it’s fact—and to some extent it is.
“Did you tell him?” she asks, scrunching her nose at Daniela, who has been quieter than normal during dinner, but fidgety.
And beautiful—I’ve had to force myself not to stare, but more than once she caught me red-handed.
Daniela shakes her head. “Not me. I didn’t blab.”
“I spoke with Silvio to make sure you didn’t need anything for Demeter.”
Valentina nods. “I don’t need anything. Demeter has everything. And even the riding boots fit me perfectly. They’re real leather. So beautiful.” She beams. “Thank you.”
Daniela smiles softly at the girl, her entire face radiating love. There have been moments when she looked at me with something that resembledlove. But they’re few and far between, and honestly, it’s better that way.Better for whom?I shove aside the nagging voice and focus on Valentina’s gratitude. It’s safer, and less likely to lead me to trouble.
They’re real leather.Something I take for granted, and I’m sure for most of her life Daniela took it for granted too. But Valentina left Porto and the riches of Quinta Rosa do Vale at a very young age. I’m sure she doesn’t remember many details from that time in her life. And those years they spent in Fall River—leather was a luxury that they couldn’t afford.I made sure of it.It’s not something that makes me proud. It never did, but now, sitting here with them, I feel nothing but remorse.
“Do you want more cake?” Valentina asks.
I shake my head. “I’ve had two pieces. It’s delicious, but I’m stuffed. Would you mind if I take some back with me?”
Valentina nods. “Do you think Cristiano would like a piece, too?”
Daniela side-eyes me. She texted me that Valentina has a thing for Cristiano. It’s harmless, and perfectly normal, but Daniela doesn’t like it. Given her own experiences, I get it, and I gave Cristiano a heads-up, but that’s it. I refuse to make a big deal out of a schoolgirl crush. That serves no purpose. “I’m sure he would enjoy some cake. But I better take a piece for Lucas too, or he’s liable to eat mine.”
She smiles, broadly. “We have a lot left. You can take half, if you want. But do you need to go, already?”
“I’m afraid I do.”
Daniela stiffens, her lips pursing.
It’s been a relaxing evening. As it turns out, I needed it.I needed her.But if I stay any longer, I’m going to tear off her clothes and lick that sweet pussy before I bury my cock inside it. I won’t be able to stop myself.
“I think you’ve had enough cake too,meninaValentina,” Daniela says kindly, but firmly. “It’s time to go upstairs and do some reading before bed. Between cake baking and horse riding, you haven’t done any today.”
“Can I stay a little while longer? Antonio is never here.”
“You need to listen to your”—Motheralmost slips out, but I catch myself. Although not before Daniela pales—“friend. Until you have a tutor, we need to make sure you stay caught up on your schoolwork.”
“When will I be able to go to school?”
“Valentina,” Daniela chides, “we’ve been over this. You’ll have a tutor for the rest of the year, which is over in a few days. We’ll talk about school over the summer.”
Valentina’s never going to school. Not in Porto. Her association with me makes it too risky. Eventually my enemies will all know she’s an important part of our lives—a way to get to me. It’s too dangerous. Despite kicking the issue down the road, her mother knows it, too.