“What did you do?” He hadn’t touched his coffee and didn’t care if it went cold. He was in emotional overload as he tried to imagine how Carmen carried this load alone.
“I was completely isolated. The only thing I could do was go back to the apartment I shared with Victor. I pretended nothing happened. Two weeks later he read a text from my mom, asking if I’d given more thought to the accusations I’d made about Victor. Ironically he interpreted it wrong. He figured she was encouraging me to pursue some kind of legal protection. What she was really asking was had I let that go yet.”
“What did he do?” Brian felt a pulse of rage fill his body. He wished he’d have been there to help.
“He went into a rage and poured gasoline on my car and set it on fire. He threw my phone in the trash. He hit me so hard my retina detached and I needed surgery to have it repaired.”
“And then your parents got it?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t told them I was in the hospital. When I woke up after my surgery, Gloria was in the room. I didn’t know who she was or what she wanted, but she was about to change my life. Apparently Victor had a history. A very dangerous one. Every place his father went for work, Victor would do this to someone. Then when it came to a head, his father would request a transfer. Between diplomatic immunity and powerful allies, he was not being punished. But Gloria said Victor was escalating, and she didn’t believe I would survive much longer in the situation I was in. Out of habit I almost defended him, but I couldn’t do it anymore. She offered me a way out.”
“Verde Lago?”
“Yes. I would move there the moment I was able to travel. I could notify my family that I was all right, but that I wouldn’t be in touch for a long time. She didn’t tell me much more, but I didn’t need to hear very much. I was ready. I knew she was right, he’d kill me soon.”
“I can’t imagine what that felt like.”
“I still felt like a disappointment and failure. But that’s what Verde Lago was all about. I had to really heal: mind, body and soul. Once I had, Gloria gave me an opportunity to work there. She knew about my family and how they’d acted in the wake of telling them. Most people clamor to get back to their lives once the danger passes. I didn’t have a life to go back to.”
“Did you end up graduating?”
“I didn’t walk with my class, but Gloria arranged for me to finish all my needed credits remotely. She saved my life, and the extra time she gave me in Italy taught me so much. I had a front row seat to how she did business and how she handled herself in the world. All of it changed me.”
Brian finally picked up his lukewarm coffee and sipped it. “You said Victor was in jail. What happened?”
“About seven months after I left, he was in Utah. His father had transferred there. I guess he’d been dating someone for about a month. Gloria had someone keeping tabs on him. She did that a lot for the men who hadn’t been held accountable. Especially those who traveled and found ways to avoid getting a reputation. She’d known he was in Utah but didn’t know he was dating someone. One night he was driving the car and they were fighting. He unbuckled her seat belt and ran the car into some boulders at the side of the road.”
“No, did she die?”
“He thought she had. But she survived and told the story of what he’d done. There was evidence of prior abuse on her body, and some friends of hers testified they saw him hit her more than once. Most important, a traffic cam saw it happen just the way she said. He was charged with attempted murder. There was no immunity or protection that could be offered to save him.”
“I can’t believe it took that much to put him away. You weren’t the first, I’m sure.”
“And if there hadn’t have been a camera, that girl would not have been his last. That’s why I know what I did with Curtis was the right thing. In some cases, with some people, it’s the only way.”
“Do you think you’ll do it again?” His chest tightened at the idea that this was her new life. There was no way he’d let her do it alone.
“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t keep doing this. Not the way I just did. It’s too dangerous. I can see that now. Maybe there is still a way I could help.”
“How? I’d like to be a part of whatever it is.”
“Tray and Lauren are going to expand. They’ll take what Gloria started, and they’ll grow it. I love that idea. But I do think a facet of the strategy should focus on prevention, not just alleviating the damage. It wouldn’t be quite so harrowing, but there could be a real team, a process. Irrefutable evidence is the only way to take some people down.”
“I love it.” Brian sat up a little straighter. “You should pitch it to them. I want in.”
“It won’t be in Boston. It’ll be all over the world, I’m sure. You couldn’t work the docks and do this.”
“That’s good, since I was fired.” He hadn’t told her. There wasn’t ever a good time. But now at least he could share the news. “A company came in and bought the one I worked for. They cleaned house and brought in more robots to do my job. There were rumblings that it was coming but the phone call came two days ago.”
“I’m so sorry.” She put her hand on his leg, and her touch made everything a little better.
“You were right, I have loads of opportunities. It’s time I find something I’m passionate about, not just some job I can do in my sleep. I’m ready for that.” He covered her hand with his. “Oh, that reminds me. I bought you something. I’ve been waiting for the right time to give it to you.”
“You did?” She crumpled her face up as he pulled a small box out of his pocket. “You didn’t have to buy me anything.”
“I saw it one day when I was out, and it kind of felt like a sign. My mother would have really respected you.” He chose his words carefully. It would be easy to say his mother would have liked her, but to earn respect was more challenging. Carmen would have. “When I saw this I thought it was a sign from her.” He handed the bracelet over and watched her face closely.
“Wow. It’s beautiful. What’s the charm?”
“It’s a Catholic patron saint. We wear them and give them as gifts. Each saint has a different cause. That is Margaret the Barefooted. She’s the patron saint of widows, difficult marriages, and abused women. If I remember right, she suffered greatly at the hands of her husband but remained a faithful member of the church. She served the poor and walked barefoot to be closer to them. She immersed herself in their plight just to try to help them. Like you did.”
Carmen’s cheeks soaked with tears as she urged him to help her put on the bracelet. “This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you.” Her arms were around his neck, and her tears dampened his cheek as he held her close.
“My mother was always finding those patron saints everywhere we went. She’d think of the right person who needed the right saint, and she’d gift it to them. When I saw Margaret, I knew it was my mom, and she’d want you to wear it.”
They stayed that way for a long time, her hugging his neck, his arms wrapped around her. Her tears dried and her breathing slowed as they finally broke apart.
“I should have gotten you something.” She looked painfully embarrassed all of a sudden. “This was so thoughtful, and you did so much for me. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come to help me with Curtis.”
“You’ve given me plenty.” Brian pushed her bangs out of her eyes. “I didn’t want to admit that I was in a rut and feeling shitty about all the great things that had happened to my family. I needed to be knocked back to reality. You did that. That’s a damn good gift.”
“There is one crazy thing I want to do that might be a gift to you.”
“Oh yeah?” Excitement coursed through him. She had a tantalizing look in her eyes and he loved it. “I’ve already proven I enjoy your crazy.”
She jumped to her feet and darted to the kitchen. “You already saw those pictures of me with the purple hair, right?”
“Yeah,” he said tentatively as she came back in the room with a bottle in her hand. “What’s that?”
“Purple hair dye.” She smiled and her eyes glinted with mischief. “I was looking back on my life and all the stuff I’ve been through. I was trying to think of the last time I felt really like myself. And you know what, it was before all this. It was back when I wore what I wanted and dyed the ends of my hair all different colors. I didn’t spend all my time trying to impress anyone. I just did what felt good.”
“And purple hair feels good?” He twisted his mouth up to avoid chuckling. “I think it’ll look hot. You should do it.”
“As I mentioned, I don’t care what anyone thinks.” She put her finger up to her lips for a second. “But I am glad you think so.”
“Carmen, there is one more thing.” He didn’t want to dampen the mood or bring her back down. But he always wanted to pull off all the heavy stuff like a Band-Aid and just be done with it.
“I’m not going to reach out to my parents.” She’d read his mind, and it was rather creepy.
“How did you know I was going to suggest that?”
“Because you’re a wonderful man who wants things to work out for me. I love that about you, but some things don’t need to be repaired, they need to be removed. My family is like an appendix, not a vital organ.”
“But how are you so sure—?”
“They know what happened with Victor. His case was well publicized. After he was sentenced I called them. I thought maybe I’d be able to talk to them and they’d be on my side. My mother was mortified that we’d known Victor. My father was in denial. They still didn’t want to believe it.”
“What about your sisters?”
“They were children when I left. They never knew anything about Victor. I have no clue how my parents explained away my absence over the years. But I don’t want to open that door. It’s not fair to them or to me.”
“They’re adults now. They could form their own opinions.”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head and bit at her lip nervously. “It’s been so long. I don’t want to go in and uproot their lives.”
“Carmen, you’ve learned a lot in your life. You’ve learned it all the hard way. You could certainly impart some big sister wisdom that could save them some pain. Isn’t that what family is about?”
She gulped. “I’ll think about it. But I’ve learned to let go of some dreams. I always imagined one day I’d have this perfect homecoming. My parents would welcome me, and we’d find a way back from all the hurt we felt. My old room would be waiting, my mother’s pie cooling on the windowsill. My father would hug me like he used to. But I’ve figured out that home is fluid. And today, being here with you, feels pretty damn perfect.”
“I hear you. I’ll support whatever you decide. But social media is a wonderful thing. You could reach out anytime. Well, after your extreme makeover.” He gestured at the bottle in her hand.
“Oh, you didn’t notice. There’s plenty in here. We’re doing your tips too.”
“No way.” He stood and she crouched a bit, looking ready to pounce. “Don’t even think about it.”
“You’re going to look amazing. Maybe we’ll even get you some clothes that don’t look like you stole them from a lumberjack.” She moved to one side of the couch and he darted around to the other. The chase was on and the house became a jungle gym. Brian hadn’t laughed that hard or been that wild in ages. Finally letting her catch him, he spun and lifted her off her feet, scooping her up behind her legs and her neck. He cradled her like a bride about to be carried over the threshold and they both stopped laughing at once. “I never want to let you go. Don’t ever make me.”
“I won’t,” she promised, leaning in to kiss his lips gently.
“I’ll never hurt you. I’ll never scare you. I’ll never make you think twice about how much I love you.” He said the words quicker than he could think to stop them.
“Love?” she asked, looking worried and then suddenly relieved.
“I do.”
Closing her eyes, she drew in a deep breath. He wondered if he’d said too much, too soon.
“I never thought I’d ever believe a man who said those words to me. It’s so easy to swear you won’t hurt someone.”
“I know. I don’t expect—”
“I believe you, Brian. I trust you.” She rested her head on his chest. “And there is no doubt in my mind that I love you.”
Epilogue
Carmen was pretending not to check her phone. The nagging worry that her recent message wouldn’t result in a reply had her pacing the floor.
Brian had to physically block her path to get her attention. “You want to sit down or keep wearing a hole in the carpet?”
“The pacing is helping.” She side stepped him and kept going. “Let me read it back one more time?”
“You read the message a thousand times before you sent it and two thousand after you sent it. It was perfect.” He looked down at her with a gentle expression. “If she answers, that’s great. If she doesn’t, you’re still all right. No worse off than you were before.”
“But then I’ll know it’s a choice she’s making. Before she may not have known how to reach me. None of my social media accounts were active. Now there will be no question that my sister doesn’t want contact with me.”
“Then at least you’ll know that and you can move on.” Brian was being unwaveringly supportive which was one of her favorite things about him. The problem was she couldn’t seem to let any of it in long enough to feel better. Fear was gripping her tightly and not even Brian’s strength could pry her free.
“I should have sent it this morning rather than last night. That’s a rotten thing to do to someone right before they probably go to bed. I bet she was up all night. I bet she called my parents first thing this morning.”
“Your note asked her not to talk to your parents yet.” Brian didn’t block her way anymore. Now he just started pacing her apartment with her.
“I’m taking that job with Lauren and Tray. I’m going to be traveling and working nonstop. If they don’t reply back, I’m going to be so busy I’ll be fine.”
“And you have that new hot boyfriend who’s going to travel with you and help in any way he can. His job will be to keep you busy. Especially at night. You won’t have any time to worry at night.” He put his hands on her shoulders and rubbed her muscles until she moaned. Finally she stopped pacing.
“I’m going to be fine either way.” She nodded her head and moaned again as he massaged her shoulders.
“But you really want to check your phone again?”
“Desperately.”
“Even though you told me to take it and not let you see it again until dinner time?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s not even lunch yet.”
“Right.”
“And you did tell me that even if you begged I should keep it from you because you’re being obsessive.”
“I did say that.” She turned toward him and looped her arms around his neck. Kissing his lips passionately, she felt a smile form. Pulling back, he laughed.
“You also said that I should not fall prey to your attempts at seducing me in order to get your phone back.”
“I said those things so long ago. How can you even remember the details?” her hand slid down his chest and to the buckle of his belt.
Brian checked his watch. “It’s been twenty-six minutes.”
“I made it longer than I thought I would.” She unfastened his belt. “Speaking of longer than I thought.”
“You’re going to get my pants off and then ask for your phone?” He took her hand and pulled it up to his lips. Kissing his way down her palm, to her wrist and straight to her elbow.
She cooed and closed her eyes. “Maybe I’m just trying to be distracted long enough to forget about my phone.”
“Now that I can do.” Brian slid a hand around her waist and p
ulled her in against him. She could feel his excitement through his jeans. Before she could lose herself in their kiss, her phone chirped. It was an indication of a message. It could be from anyone. Possibly unrelated to the message she’d sent her sister. Or maybe it was related. Her mind spun anxiously as she froze in his arms. “I thought you put it on silent?”
“I did tell you that,” she said sheepishly. “And I meant to but also I didn’t want to.”
“Go get it.” He laughed and pointed in the direction of her phone sitting on the kitchen counter.
“Shit,” she said through a breathy laugh. “It’s from Nora. She wrote back. I can’t read it. I’m freaking out.”
“Want me to read it?” Brian asked, reaching his hand out for her phone.
“No.” She shook her head and clutched her phone to her chest protectively.
“So I can’t read it. And you don’t want to read it. But you’re dying to know what it says. We may be at an impasse.”
“Please stop trying to use logic and reason and live in reality. It’s very annoying.” She glared at him and then softened her expression. “I’m going to read it.”
Brian gestured toward the couch and she followed. With his arm over her shoulder she felt like at least if it was bad news she’d know where to fall. Straight into his arms.
Clearing her throat, she began to read out loud.
Carmen,
I am so glad to hear from you. You can’t imagine what it’s been like since you left. Things are very complicated now with mom and dad. Vivi and I have struggled with how they chose to handle things with you. We had so many questions and they never had any answers. All we knew was you had made things hard for mom and dad and then you were gone. No one told us anything else. Since then I’ve tried to learn more about what happened and I know that you were in a bad situation, though I don’t know all the details. I hope we can talk and reconnect. If you ever feel up to it, I’d love answers to some of these questions.
I’d like to say mom and dad are different now. I wish I could say they were ready to apologize but I have no idea. They don’t talk about any of it. They don’t talk about you. Vivi and I learned not to bring it up anymore. Please call me when you can. I’d love to know where you are. I’d be happy to be anywhere but here. This town is a black hole. Be glad you got out when you did.
Perfect Homecoming (Barrington Billionaires Book 10) Page 15
