“‘Tell your father how I took everything he holds dear, soiled everything he loves most,’ Hugo taunted. ‘Tell him that the last thing his precious Rosa saw before she took her last breath was my dick.’
“Then they left through the woods without another word.”
A salty droplet lands on my lips while I finish the story. I bring my fingers to my face. It’s wet.Tears.But I don’t know where they came from. I don’t remember crying. Even as I wonder about the tears, the words continue to fall from my mouth. There’s no holding them back now.
“When I was sure they were gone, I went to my mother. Her eyes were open, but she was limp. The gash in her neck was so deep, her head was partially severed. There was so much blood.So much blood.I used the picnic blanket to cover her, because she would be embarrassed to be naked in the meadow. Then I crawled under the blanket and curled my body around hers, and slept until Isabel found us. It was months later when we learned I was pregnant.”
I pull in jagged breath after jagged breath, blinking a few times. For a few seconds, I can’t remember where I am.
Antonio is on his haunches, in front of me, massaging my fingers with his.How long has he been here, like this? I don’t know.
His hands are warm, but his eyes are icy, and the energy surrounding him is thrumming—a drumbeat signaling war.
“That’s everything. Pretty much. I’ll clarify whatever you want, but it’s getting late. I need to go to Valentina. I’ve already wasted too much time.”
He uses his thumbs to wipe the tears from my face. “Who else knows about this?” The lines in his forehead are etched deep, and his voice is low.
“Isabel and my father. Jorge knew bits and pieces. I don’t know who the Huntsmans told.”
He winces atHuntsmans. “Does Tomas know about Valentina?”
My stomach does a somersault, like I’m back on the roller coaster. “You won’t give her to him, will you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. But I need to know if he’s aware he has a daughter. The information will help ensure her long-term safety.”
I nod and take a breath. “I don’t think so. But I can’t be sure. He asked about Isabel and Valentina at the funeral home when my father died, and then again at the Camelia Ball. But mostly I felt like he was fishing for information.”
He wets his lips and nods. “It’ll take some time to assemble the crew and get the plane ready. Why don’t you get dressed and put a bag together for the flight.”
He’s letting me go to Valentina.He’s letting me go.
“Or better yet,” he adds, “lie down for a little while. I’ll wake you with plenty of time if you fall asleep.” He smooths my hair and stands.
“How long before I can leave?” I still can’t believe I’m going.
“I’ll know more after I make some calls,” he says, striding toward the door, his gait uncharacteristically halting. Antonio Huntsman isn’t a tentative man. Not his words, or his actions. What if he’s giving a second thought to turning her over? Or using her as a pawn in some power play?
“Antonio.”
He stops and turns to face me.
“I need your word that she’ll be safe.”
“Lucas and Cristiano are on it. There’s no one better. Nothing’s going to happen to her. You have my word.”
If I know anything about him, it’s that his word is gold. He doesn’t ever feel compelled to promise anything, but when he has in the past, he’s never gone back on it. Not with me—at least not yet.
“Let me make the arrangements so we can leave.”
We?I assumed he’d send me with guards, and maybe Cristiano. I never expected he’d make the trip with me. “You’re coming?”
“Of course I’m coming. I’m your husband. Nothing’s changed.”
I don’t challenge him, but I don’t believe nothing’s changed.
He doesn’t believe it, either.
5