Page 87 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

‘Because of this morning...’

‘Come off it, Carmen. You booked your flight before that row. Talk to me,’ he said. ‘I’m not leaving you like this.’

‘I’m hardly going to go to the ball now!’

‘Not if you really don’t want to, but you can come to the hotel.’ He was being practical. ‘You can take a bath, have something to eat—just don’t be here on your own tonight.’

‘You’re very kind, but—’

‘Actually, I’m not a very kind person,’ Elias corrected. ‘I have no issue in not going. They can go ahead without me.’

‘But it’s your team. Your friends and family.’

‘Then come to the hotel. You don’t have to see anyone.’ He wasn’t moving. ‘All right, we’ll just sit here instead.’

And he was more stubborn even than she, because he ignored his buzzing phone.

‘Can I ask you one thing?’ he said. ‘You don’t have to answer, but can I at least ask?’

‘I saw Seraphina in their wedding photo.’

Carmen seemed certain that was what he wanted to know.

‘I recognised her from the awards ceremony.’

‘I’m not asking about her—or that. Why won’t you tell your brothers that you saw your mother that day? You tell them what you think about their wives...you tell me what you’ve decided I’ve done... You say you can talk to them about everything, why not that?’

‘Because I’m ashamed!’

‘Why?’ He didn’t get it. ‘Because you heard them having sex?’

‘No!’ She covered her face. ‘Nothing like that.’

‘Then what?’ His voice was hoarse. ‘Carmen?’

‘She came home for sex. She came home for her husband. But she didn’t come forme. Not once. Only for Papá...for sex. She didn’t love me even that much.’ She held up her thumb and finger. ‘I hate her.’

‘You love her.’

‘Both,’ Carmen admitted, and started to cry.

‘Come with me.’ He stood and lifted her into his arms and held her. She didn’t resist.

‘I have to get my clothes...’

‘And your passport,’ he added drily. ‘Carmen, I’ll drive you to the airport myself, if that’s what you want, but I’m not leaving you here upset like this.’

They walked back to the lodge, and for once it was fragrant, with all the soap and perfume in the air, but everyone had already headed off.

‘I shan’t be long...’ she told him.

She went up to the little attic, where her backpack was already packed, and saw there was a large box sitting on her bed.

Carmen Romero

From Capitán Dante

‘Ready?’ Elias asked.

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