Page 50 of Betrayed

“It’s only been a few weeks and you’re going away already?” Beth gasped.

Arturo’s phone rang on her last accusatory word. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. “I’m sorry, Mari, but this is work. I must take it.”

She nodded, her gaze fixed on her children. He stepped away after giving her shoulder a supportive squeeze.

“This isn’t a good time,” he snapped at the unsuspecting caller.

“I know you’re heading out soon, Arturo, but we’ve got a lead and it might be the break we’ve been waiting for.”

Merde!His assessing gaze shifted to Mari, who was enduring the dual onslaught of both kids, the boy’s face now a bright crimson.

“What do you know about this guy? He sounds French. How did you meet a French guy?” Jordy whispered, but his voice carried.

“Isn’t it soon for you to be going away with him, Mom?” Beth asked. “I mean, he said it’s only been a few weeks. He’s the first one since dad. You don’t know what guys are like, not having dated for a while. Are you ready for someone so, so...French?”

“She means sophisticated. He drives a Porsche. And you know what they say about French guys.” Then he paused, his eyes shifting to Arturo. “Does he know you’ve got money? How do you know he’s not trying to con you or something?”

He needed to get off the phone and rescue her. She was pale, and they were grilling her like she was a material witness to a crime. He returned his focus to the call.

“This is extremely bad timing,mon ami.”

“I wouldn’t pull you away if it weren’t crucial,” Jonas assured him.

“When?”

“Briefing in thirty,” he advised then disconnected.

“I’m all right, Arturo,” Mari assured him, having moved up behind him. “See to your business then we’ll go.”

“I don’t want to leave you with this.”

“I’ll be fine.”

He tipped her face up, holding her cheeks between his palms as he searched her eyes. “If you’re sure...”

She nodded.

He needed to go, but hated to leave her outnumbered.

“I know this is a surprise, finding a stranger with your mother. Let me assure you, I care about her and have no nefarious schemes to bilk her out of her funds. That car you’ve mentioned several times didn’t come cheap. I have no need for her.”

Despite his assurances, they still gave him scathing looks. Since he couldn’t fall much farther in their estimation, he said what he felt compelled to.

“Although it’s not my place to say, but your mother is important to me. In the weeks I’ve known her, I haven’t heard you call or been told that you’ve visited. I understand you are busy with your lives, but perhaps if you came home more often or called every once in a while, you might know that she’s got a new man in her life. With you away, she has admitted to feeling lonely.”

“Arturo, please.”

But he’d already started down this path and sallied forth. “She misses you both. Perhaps it’s time to remember after losing one parent, that family is precious, your mother especially.” He turned back to her. “This shouldn’t take long. An hour, two at the most.” His eyes darted to her kids. “I’ll call as soon as I find out exactly how long.”

“Maybe we should cancel.”

“No, you’ve been looking forward to this and need a break.”

She nodded, managing a small tentative smile. “I’d really like to go.”

“And you will. I’ll handle my business, you handle this, and we’ll take off.” With a tender kiss on her forehead, he reluctantly left, the heat of her children’s stares like searing pokers on his back.

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