Page 50 of Temptation and Treachery
He kissed the top of her head, grateful to have her, and the child that lay growing between them. Ayala watched them, the hard edge gone from his features.
“Say it again,” Celeste said in a near whisper.
He frowned. “What?”
“What you said to my father.”
“You were listening?”
Her back and shoulders tensed. “I was put next door and the speaker was on.”
He shot Parker a look, but she continued working, pretending her assessment was taking all her attention.
“Say it again,” Celeste said in a shaky voice.
“I’m quitting. If you—”
“No.” She shook her head without moving from the circle of his arms. “The other.”
With the doubts lingering in her head, he could understand her need to hear the words. Words he should have said to her first. But he knew Ayala would be moved within the next few hours, and he may never have another opportunity for a private conversation.
He leaned back, cupping the side of her face to tilt it up. “I love you,” he whispered for her ears alone.
…
I love you. The sweetest words she’d ever heard. Because they were for her. Not in a song. Not in a book. Not in a movie. Tears welled up in her eyes, a feeling of belonging washing over her. She tightened her hold, while he fit her against his body.
“There we go,” Kari zipped her bag, moving to one side.
Celeste loosened her hold on Rio. He kissed the top of her head whispering, “Go. You won’t have long, and I don’t know when you’ll see him again.”
She nodded, swallowing the knot of emotion at her throat. Memories flashed in her mind. Moments that made sense now. So many times he was being a dad instead of just a father and she’d never known.
“Victoria,” his red-rimmed eyes softened.
She replayed the horrible moment when he’d been forced to pull the trigger, killing his own son. The shot rang out in her head, and tears stung her eyes. “I’m so-rry.” Her breath caught, breaking the word in two.
He shook his head, drawing up his arms only to have the shackles hold him back. She put her arms around his shoulders, pressing her cheek to his damp temple.
“I couldn’t let him hurt you,” he said with a tender note in his voice.
Tears fell harder, shaking her from the inside. Pain for the brother she lost and for the man who made a decision no father should ever face. “I never knew.”
“Sit down, mija.” He pressed his head against hers then leaned away. “We have a lot to talk about.” His gaze went to the one-way glass then came back to her. “And not very much time.”
She wiped her cheeks, turning to find a chair had been brought around the table for her. Settling in, she tried her best to pretend her heart wasn’t breaking for her father.
His gaze roamed over her face. “I hardly recognize you.” She bit her lip, not knowing how to avoid bringing up her brother. He frowned, staring at Rio, who’d come to stand next to her.
She took a deep breath, knowing she’d just be making things more difficult. “Leonard.” She stared at the back of her hand, blinking back the tears threatening to spill over. “He felt I could use some color.”
He tightened his lips. “How did you end up with your brother?”
“He came to the hotel.” At his blank look, she remembered he didn’t know what happened. In her mind he’d been on the other side of their conversation. “I’d been texting with you. I thought it was you,” she added with an uncomfortable shrug. “I flew to Texas thinking I was coming to meet you but ended up stranded in a small town. He showed up when I got to Houston, saying he’d been sent to get me.”
She straightened, glancing up at Rio. “I didn’t forget you.” No, she’d actually been heartbroken to be forced away without being able to leave word. “I was trying to avoid a confrontation. I didn’t know…” Words filtered through her mind. Who you were,how you’d react to my brother and his men…to my disreputable family. None of that came close to what she should say. How she should explain and apologize. But it would have to wait for another time. When her words wouldn’t hurt her father. He’d already been hurt and lost so much because of his children.
“I’m just glad to have you back.” Rio reached out to touch her face. Through all of this she hadn’t told him how she felt. And he hadn’t pushed. Instead, giving her time to talk to her father.
