Page 78 of Bad Rio

“I’m sorry,” she rushed out. “Of course he is. I meant your natural father.”

“The sperm donor?” He scoffed. “Why should I spend a second thinking about him? I don’t even know if my mother told him she was pregnant. For all I know, he has no idea I’m even alive.”

Becca nodded, and squeezed his hand. She’d gone plenty far enough with her probing. Time to drop the subject.

“You’ll make a good mother,” he said out of the blue. “You’re responsible, logical, affectionate. Any kid of yours coming into this world will grow up lucky.”

“Thank you,” she said, touched by his praise. He sounded sincere.

To hide her pinkening cheeks, she sipped her wine. She felt certain that a child of Rio’s would also be lucky, but she couldn’t voice that thought. If they had children together, how blessed they’d be as parents.

She couldn’t say that aloud either. She imagined, only briefly, nursing a little boy of his. He’d be blue-eyed, with golden baby curls. How adorable he’d be. How wonderful. Awed at her own thoughts, she marveled at herself. Until then, she hadn’t even known she wanted children. But she did. Suddenly, she was certain. Stealing a glance at his handsome profile, her heart pounded.

To keep her thoughts private, she took more sips of wine. Because he’d never mentioned any promise of a future relationship, he could never know her fantasies. The glass quickly emptied.

“You’re swilling that wine like a sailor on leave,” Rio said with a laugh. “It’s only afternoon. Maybe you’ll want to slow it down a little?”

Becca managed an innocent smile. She held out her empty vessel. “This country air is invigorating. I’ll slow down after the next one. Another glass, please?”

****

On the fifth day, AgentWebster phoned to tell them it was all over. Rio, Big Jim, Sarah and Becca gathered once again around the kitchen table. Rio put the phone on speaker so they could all hear.

“The sting went down without a hitch,” Agent Webster said. His voice came through the speaker sounding tinny but loud. “Tim has been arrested together with his aides in the commission of illegal gun and drug transport and kidnapping.”

Her hand at her throat, Becca leaned toward the phone. “And my father?”

“Daniel De Monte has been brought in for questioning. He made incriminating statements and was arrested. Big surprise, he’s already lawyered up. Now, his senate campaign will be suspended. I’m sorry.”

Hearing this, Becca’s heart ached. Naturally she knew her father’s attorney, his name and office address. At least he was in sound legal hands.

Rio pulled her to his side and stroked her arm.

“We have temporarily shut down operations at your father’s hubcap distributorship and sent the employees home,” the agent said. “However, I don’t expect this to be for long. We have the perpetrators in custody. Now, the wheels of justice will begin to turn.”

“Thank you, Agent Webster,” Becca whispered.

“Eh, just a minute. We’re not finished, Miss De Monte. We’ll need both you and Rio Lang to come in for a thorough interview. The branch office in San Antonio will be fine.”

She pushed hair out of her eyes and met Rio’s steady gaze. “Of course. We’ll do that.”

Rio spoke up. “We’ll leave here tomorrow.”

She didn’t object. The call was ended and abruptly she got to her feet. “I’m going for a walk,” she told the surprised table.

Rio began to stand up and she held out a hand. “No, I need a little time alone.”

He sank back down.

****

During a private walkaround the corrals, she made a long phone call to her shocked brothers, explained matters, and told them to stay strong.

“Dad has been arrested,” she told them. “And so has Tim.”

Both were thoroughly bewildered. She could tell they had a hard time believing their father could have stooped to such lows.

“Where are they holding Dad?” James asked in a tight voice. “We have to go see him.”

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