Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“She’s told me.” His eyes widen ever so slightly in surprise.
“And you don’t have a problem with that information?”
“No.” I lean forward and rest my hands on the back of one of the chairs, getting closer. “I do have a problem with you digging into her past and finding out information that was not given to you by her or me.”
“Did you actually think I wouldn’t look into her?” He says it like I’m stupid for even doubting him. “I have our family name to protect.”
“That name was given to you by default,” I remind him, and his eyes narrow. If there is one thing Ricardo hates, it’s the reminder that he is not a King, that his given name that used to hold a little weight in this city, no longer does. His father and siblings lost most of their family fortune with bad investments and their need to pretend they have more than they do.
“What do you think your mother, your grandmothers, and your sisters would think about your girlfriend’s past?”
“If you’d like, you can tell them and find out, but you should know their opinions of Elora don’t change my feelings where she is concerned.”
“She’s tra—”
“What’s going on?” My mother’s question cuts off whatever it was he was about to say, which is a good thing. If he finished saying the word I think was going to come out of his mouth, no one could have stopped me from jumping across his desk and taking him to the floor of his own office.
Pushing back from the chair to stand up straight, I meet my mother’s gaze. “Your husband was just letting me know that he ran a background check on Elora.”
“Ricardo,” Mom gasps, seeming completely shocked. “Please tell me that isn’t true.”
“Her father is a murderer,” he defends.
“And your father was a cheater and wife beater before he got too weak to perform either of those acts.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, but there is no hiding that she is angry.
“This isn’t about my father.”
“Then why is it about Elora’s?” she asks, and he glares at her.
“She’s not—”
“She came to the hospital to be with my son despite our less-than-warm welcome and has sat with my mother every day since she was released from their care. Neither of those acts has gone unnoticed by me, even though I know she didn’t do them to win me over or garner my approval.” Dragging her eyes off his, she looks at me. “I had no idea he was looking into her, but nothing like this will happen again.” She shoots him a look, daring him to argue, before she spins on her heels and walks out of the office.
“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?” I turn on him, and his jaw twitches, but he doesn’t answer, so I continue. “I’m only going to say this once, so I hope it sinks in. Elora is not a threat, and if you attempt to come between us again, you’re not going to like the consequences, Ricardo, because I will let everything burn before I lose her.”
“Are you threatening me?” He scoffs.
“I don’t need to threaten you, Ricardo. You and I both know that.” I turn for the door and head out, then down the winding staircase to the first floor. My warning was not an idle one. Without me, Ricardo has close to nothing.
“Where is my mother?” I ask Jane when I reach the bottom step, and she points me in the direction of the kitchen. When I step through the doorway a minute later, I find my mom pulling out a bottle of Pinot from the wine fridge.
“Let me help.” I walk to her, taking the wine opener from her when she attempts to screw it into the top of the bottle but almost stabs herself because her hands are shaking. That isn’t the first clue she’s upset. She only ever drinks when she’s angry unless she’s out to dinner.
“I’m sorry.” She sighs, leaning against the counter. “I should have known he would do something like that, but I thought—”
“It’s fine,” I cut her off before she can tell me that she thought he would respect her enough to listen to her about leaving Elora alone, when even she knows she has never held even an ounce of control or sway when it comes to him. “I’m not surprised he looked into her, but he doesn’t realize she and I have had days upon days alone to talk for hours at a time and get to know each other. He can’t tell me anything about her that I don’t already know.” I pass her the bottle when it’s opened and watch her fill her glass.
After taking a sip, she walks to the small round table in the kitchen and takes a seat. I pull up one across from her.