Page 43 of Brazilian Revenge

“I know you mean it.” She scooted on the bed and planted a friendly kiss on his cheek.

A shiver swept through him, and he snatched her into his arms as if otherwise she’d be taken away by some sort of natural disaster. She gasped, obviously surprised, but didn’t draw back from his possessive embrace.

He gave her a long, passionate kiss.

“We have three hours until she wakes again,” she said.

“Then let’s make them count,” he whispered, before he claimed her lips with his again, and used that senseless attraction to distract him from thinking just to what he had agreed to.

…

“Leonardo. Leonardo.”

Leonardo rubbed his eyes. He felt a hand poking him, and he quickly stepped out of the sleepy haze.

Satyanna was the first image he saw, but she didn’t flash the smiles she had the previous night. Instead, she frowned, fully dressed. He glanced around, trying to see what time it was. When was the last time he overslept? For as long as he could remember, his body was conditioned to wake up at six fifteen a.m. Every day. Why would there be such change? Because she slept next to him. All night long, her warmth enveloped him like a fur coat on a winter day. What was he doing?

“Why didn’t you tell me that Clemonte called you?”

Oh. He ran his hand down his face. It was way too early to have that conversation. Guilt stabbed at him. The previous night he’d chosen not to—there was no atmosphere, and if he were really honest, he was in the mood for distraction rather than problem-solving.

“I was going to. That happened last night.”

“You had several hours. What did he say?”

He scooted on the bed, and thumped his feet on the floor. “He said he wants either you or the baby back to leave us alone. That if neither of you return to him, he will kill someone,” he said, and fear washed over him. Talking about it out loud somehow worsened the situation because that meant it was all too real.

She paced the floor, with hands perched at her waist. “What? And you didn’t think to tell me that?”

“No. I called my detective, and thought I’d wait to tell you.”

She shook her head. “You had no problem fucking me while you waited. Is that all I’m good for? Distraction? You can’t share anything meaningful with me? I’m not asking you for flowers and rainbows. This is my life.” Even though her tone was accusatory, he noticed the disappointment dangling in her words.

He stood and reached for the chair to grab his boxers. “Last night was meaningful. And I was going to tell you.” Fully dressed, he touched her elbow to have her turn and look at him.

She jerked away, waving him off. “You know what’s ironic? Ever since I came here I had to prove how trustworthy I am. I still do. You suspect anything I do. And you are the one keeping things from me—things that affect me and my daughter.”

“Our daughter. I’m going to Maranhão today. I will do things myself. Interview anyone and everyone Clemonte might have talked to and see where he could be now. You and Lyanna are not to leave this house. Understood?”

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