Page 39 of His Unexpected Heir

Astra’s shoulders relaxed and she nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’ll grab something from the kitchen, but I have some important things I need to get done today.”

“And we’re helping,” Bailey inserted, in case the men hadn’t heard her the first time. She turned to Astra. “I bet that Eldora made some biscuits and eggs. We could make breakfast sandwiches, and be on our way.”

Astra and Macie perked up at the suggestion. “Perfect!” Macie replied, clapping her hands cheerfully. She looked at Astra. “You ladies get your stuff and I’ll get three breakfast sandwiches ready for us. I’ll meet you both at the car.”

A moment later, the three lovely ladies were gone, off on their mysterious mission.

Antonio looked at Edward, then at Matteo. Did he have a similarly confused expression on his face?

He certainly hoped not. Straightening, he gestured towards the dining room. “With the ladies gone, we can talk about your proposed factory over breakfast,” he told Edward.

The three men then walked into the dining room, all of them grumpier than they’d been moments before when their ladies were in their midst.

Chapter 14

“This day has been perfect!” Astra sighed as she sat down in the restaurant chair. “I can’t believe that we got all of the supplies so easily!”

Bailey opened her menu, chuckling. “You have a super-assistant. Macie is the one who found that survivalist store. It had everything we needed, plus some stuff we hadn’t even thought of that would be good additions to your stash.”

“Very true. I didn’t even know some of those things existed!” Astra commented, perusing the lunch options. “I’m starving!”

“I didn’t know that survivalists had so many fun toys! The dehydrated meals that you bought sound delicious!” Macie added.

Astra grinned. She’d bought several meals that only needed hot water, as well as a box of protein bars and other treats, a small camp stove and the fuel needed to heat up food or water. She’d also found a container that could safely store water for several months. She’d purchased wool blankets and foil blankets, wool socks, and personal hygiene items. She had several flashlights that could be energized through shaking, plus candles and waterproof matches, an alarm that would most likely pierce through walls of stone, and a strobe light.

“We just need a container for everything,” Macie added. “And a way to camouflage the container.”

They put in their order for lunch, then discussed various ways to hide a large container. As they ate their lunch, the three ladies moved on to talk about plans for the festivals and craft fairs that Astra had thought up.

Everything was finally coming together!

Maria dumped her purchases into the trunk of her car, then slid her sunglasses over her eyes. That’s when she saw her. The bitch was sitting at an outdoor table at one of Maria’s favorite restaurants. She didn’t know who the other women were. They were inconsequential. The other women weren’t obstacles to her life’s goal, so she didn’t bother to examine them.

No, Maria’s focus was on the bitch sitting in the sunshine, laughing. Actually laughing! Wasn’t the woman here in Spain to work? Why the hell was she wasting time at a table, laughing?

With a huff, Maria slipped into her sports car and sped off, ignoring the honks of disgruntled drivers when she cut them off. An hour later, she parked at the prison. It wasn’t visiting hours, but she was sure that she could get through for a short conversation.

Sure enough, after pleading her case to the guards, she was led into the visitors’ room. And a moment later, Ricardo del Campo strolled in. Even in the orange prison uniform, the Marquesso del Campo was a distinguished figure. Sure, he’d lost weight over the past several months. And there was a strange, dark shadow on one side of his face. But otherwise, the man still looked like he should be on a throne instead of in a non-descript prison visiting room.

“You are a sight for weary eyes, Maria,” Ricardo declared as soon as he sat down across the table. “Please…tell me of your progress. Is my son following my orders?”

Maria shifted slightly in the plastic chair. “Not exactly, my lord.”

Ricardo’s eyes narrowed and there was a dangerous tilt to his mouth. “Explain.”

The command was given in that soft, gentle tone that no one would mistake. The threat was real and terrifying.

“First of all, Eldora slipped something into the woman’s tea, but she didn’t drink it.” She shifted again, crossing and uncrossing her legs. “We didn’t know it at the time, but the woman is pregnant.”

She waited, bracing herself for his reaction. It wasn’t long in coming.

“Pregnant?” he repeated, his long, elegant fingers sliding against his chin as if he were contemplating that word. “My son impregnated a commoner?” He reached out, taking her hands. This prisoner was allowed to ignore the no-touching rule during outsider’s visits because of his title, or perhaps it was because of the bribes he’d given the guards.

His touch was gentle initially.

“Well, yes.”

“And you did nothing to stop this from happening?” Ricardo asked, his voice still soft but his fingers closed around her hands, clenching them tightly.

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