Page 7 of Cutting Ties
Chapter 4
Valentina
As much as I loved my mother and it felt good when she pulled me aside and gave me her blessings after supper, it felt even better when we were throwing my suitcase into the back of the SUV and I was sliding into the seat next to Anthony. We didn’t have a lot of time together before he had to go back to America and we wanted to make the most of it.
“What did your mother think of me?” Anthony asked once the privacy panel was up and the vehicle was on its way out of the compound, followed by two more cars of armed guards that both my brother and mother insisted upon. As annoying as it was, I knew they were right. Anthony wasn’t a target, but I potentially was, either for kidnapping or assassination. There was always a chance Anthony could be caught in the crossfire, which was something I’d never be able to live with if it happened. Anthony had been briefed on the risks of being with me before coming here and had insisted I was worth the risk.
Giving him a coy smile, I shrugged. “Why do you think she said anything?”
Grinning back at her, I replied, “Even though you two were speaking Spanish, I made out a few words here and there. Anthony being one of them.”
“We didn’t cover that up well enough.” Placing a hand on his thigh just above the knee, I gave it a squeeze. “She liked you. But you’re the first man she’s met in a long time.”
He cocked a brow up at me, and a partial smile touched his lips. “How long?”
Alejandro, my former fiancé came to mind. The man whose life had ended way too quickly. I had to fight to keep the tears from my eyes.
His frown deepened. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
I’d toyed with the idea of telling him the entire story numerous times over the months we’d talked, and each time I’d backed out. How do you tell someone that you were falling for that the last man who had the balls to love you died because of it? Would he run from me? Would he treat me like I had the plague, like most other men with half a brain did when they discovered who I was? The only ones that stayed around did so because they wanted to get in my father’s good graces. I wasn’t brave enough to take the chance he’d go running – at least not yet. Not until I knew without a doubt how he felt about me, and that the I love you we’d already uttered from a distance weren’t just empty words on his side.
Taking a deep breath in, I slowly exhaled. “It’s nothing.” Batting the single tear that threatened to escape down my cheek away before he could see it and it ruined my make-up, I forced a smile to my lips. “This is exciting that you’re here, and I have a great night planned for us.”
He didn’t look convinced but draped an arm over my shoulders and pulled me tight. “What do you have planned?” The warmth of his body against mine felt so good. So right. I’d missed the company of a man. My smile turned genuine as I pushed the memories of Alejandro from my mind. Right now was about us. Potentially about our future.
“We’re heading into Cartagena. There’s lots of excitement to be had tonight.” Hooking a thumb to the cars trailing behind us, I gave him a lopsided grin. “Even with the goon patrol behind us.”
“That’s fine. I understand your situation. Hey–” He captured my chin in his hand and forced me to look directly into his eyes. “I know about everything and I took the chance to come here because I care for you and I feel what we’ve developed is worth the fight and the risk.”
As much as I didn’t want to sound self-deprecating, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why me?”
“I saw your home. It’s something you’d expect to see a sheik living in. You have the best of everything here. But you’re willing to throw it all away for a normal life. That takes courage.”
I smiled at the thought. “You’re not exactly poor.”
“True, but I’m a massive step down from your life here. If, after the week we spend together, we decide to pursue this, you’ll be giving up living like a queen. The only help I have is a housekeeper who shows up three times a week for a few hours to dust.”
My smile turned to a laugh. “Life isn’t all about money and power.”
“Many would disagree with you there.”
“When I was little, I assumed everyone lived like I did. It wasn’t until I became older that I realized there were people suffering with nothing. I also realized that money and power didn’t equate to happiness or love. It was a lesson I had to learn hard over many years.”
“You’re only twenty-eight. I’d say you learned that relatively quickly. There’s people twice your age that are still learning that lesson.”
“Maybe.” Closing my eyes, I snuggled close to him, resting my head on his shoulder. “Is it fine if we don’t talk until we get there?” I’d spent most of the previous night barely getting a wink of sleep, too anxious for his arrival to switch off. The emotional roller coaster I’d been on had taken its toll on me and I just wanted to savor the feel of his warm body next to mine.
“Oh course.” He held me tight to him. His arms felt like heaven. Like home.
Anthony
Holding her tight, I ran my hands through her hair and listened to her soft snores. There was a part of me that warned I shouldn’t get myself involved with her and her family. But I couldn’t turn from her. My feelings for her were already too strong.
There was something she wasn’t telling me. I’d had a feeling before I flew here and was quite certain of it now. It had something to do with the last man she was in a relationship with, I’d gathered that much. The whole thing didn’t make any sense.
How bad could it be that she was too scared to tell me what it was?
Suddenly the city came into view. The lights illuminated the sky as we began to pass by stunning churches and colorful buildings. The city had such beauty; a quaint beauty that I didn’t see in Los Angeles or any cities in the United States – at least not the same type of beauty.
