by Piper Stone
I would need to concentrate for the time being.
That would likely become increasingly difficult.
The remaining drive was also in silence. She never once looked in my direction or bothered to ask any additional questions. As I slowed, prepared to make the last turn, I took a deep breath. I hadn’t been certain if I’d ever see the estate again, nor had I been certain I’d wanted to. The memories were far too painful.
My pulse raced as I rolled around the curve, holding my breath until I reached the gated entrance. I knew that Samuel had hired only the best employees to maintain the property, even faking a deed to make it appear as if he’d purchased the property after my father’s death. That had allowed the estate to go untouched for all these years.
As I pressed in the code, I realized my damn hand was shaking. This was ridiculous. I owned this property outright. The people who should be nervous were Perez and his entire family. Thinking about revenge stopped the angst of returning home cold. I moved into the place in my mind that had allowed me to handle the situation for all these years.
This was nothing more than the second to last step of enacting my revenge. I would relish the opportunity.
As the iron gates slowly opened, I turned my head, watching her reaction. She was doing everything in her power to mask her appreciation, but I could tell by the way her eyes darted back and forth how excited she was.
And curious.
She’d obviously underestimated me, even after renegotiating such a powerful deal. I rolled up the curvy driveway, almost shocked how much the fruit trees lining the concrete path had grown. They were full of fruit, their limbs hanging low and providing a beautiful entrance. Within minutes, a better sight of the vast estate came into view. With the luscious green rolling hills, olive trees flanking one entire side, the ocean on the other, I’d never seen a more beautiful location in any country.
I knew exactly why my mother had fallen in love with the place upon first sight. I’d heard the stories of how she’d convinced my father the aging, broken-down facilities could be refurbished with time and love. She certainly had given her all into doing just that.
When the house appeared on the horizon, Devon finally sat up in her seat, her luscious lips parting. “Oh. My. God. This is yours?”
“Yes, willed to me by my father.”
“What are those gorgeous trees?”
“Olive trees. They’ve been here for decades, at least according to my mother.” I shifted down, allowing her time to process what she was seeing. “That’s one of the businesses my family was in and we still are. Over there are production buildings and villas for the workers. We have some vineyards as well, although there have been some issues with grape production in recent years. I plan on changing that.”
“You are legitimate.”
Why did I have the feeling her statement was meant for additional probing? “Yes, my corporation has many facets, Devon. That’s the legacy my parents would have wanted.”
“I’m certain your parents are very proud of you.”
“You already know they’re dead, Devon. I have no doubt that you made certain connections in your google search, easily finding out my family’s last name as well as our history. With my entire family gone, I’m now the sole owner of the property.”
Exhaling, she glanced in my direction. “I’m sorry. That was callous of me. I can’t imagine what you went through losing everyone you cared about.”
“I won’t lie to you. It was a nightmare, but that was the distant past.”
“Then why the name change?”
I chuckled as I headed around the final curve leading to the house. “Because at times it’s necessary to hide in plain sight until you’re prepared to take down your adversaries.”
I could feel the heat of her stare, heard what sounded like a curse word or two slipping past her lips.
As I slowed down, I scanned the perimeter. Work had been performed on the stone, landscaping refurbished since I’d last seen pictures. I had to give Samuel credit. Everything appeared in tiptop shape.
“This is amazing,” she whispered. “What an incredible house.”
“The location was built in the eighteen hundreds. It’s seen its share of wars as well as two devastating fires. When my family purchased it from an auction, the entire place was close to being in ruins, all the vegetation overgrown.” I was surprised how much pride I felt in telling her the story. I pulled close to the massive front door. While there was a twenty-car garage, I wasn’t ready to feel like I was moving in just yet.
She took a deep breath before climbing out, walking immediate to one of the stone walls and peering over at the ocean. “This is like something out of a fairytale.”
Within seconds of our arrival, the front door opened, two staff members rushing outside, I was shocked to see a familiar face. The woman had been more like a nanny than a housekeeper, keeping me on track while Mother had worked tirelessly with artisans and landscapers, painters and stone workers.
“Mrs. Cornada,” I said after jumping out, taking long strides in her direction.
She placed both hands over her mouth, shaking her head back and forth. I could see tears in her eyes. “Dios mio,” she whispered and reached for me.
My God. Her words were as haunting as I thought they’d be. Frances Cornada been certain I was dead on more than one occasion given the premonitions she’d had for years. A devout Catholic, she always tried to instill faith into my heart and soul as well as my brother’s. Unfortunately, even with her amazing abilities to nurture me in entirely different ways than my parents had, she’d been unable to save my blackened soul.
That had been taken by the devil on the day of my birth.
I pulled her into a hug, even sweeping her small, frail body off the ground. “I’m so glad you’re still here, although you should have retired years ago. I can see Samuel doesn’t pay you enough.”
“I thought for certain I would never see you again. Hush about Samuel. He’s been very good to all of us over the years.” When I eased her down, she continued to hold my arms. “I couldn’t retire. This is the only place that ever felt like home to me.” I could tell she noticed Devon, her smile growing wide. “Your lovely wife.”
Devon laughed as she walked closer, holding out her hand. “Oh, no. This man could never tolerate a woman like me. I’m his business associate and nothing more. I’m Devon Rapshire.”
While Frances accepted the typical American greeting, she couldn’t help herself, pulling Devon into a hug.
I almost laughed as Devon stiffened, unaccustomed to this type of greeting. I could tell Frances was whispering something in Devon’s ear. All I could do was shake my head. Maybe it was good to return home after all. “And this amazing woman is more like a second mother than an amazing housekeeper. Devon, meet Frances Cornada. Devon will be staying with me for an extended period of time.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Please, Frances. Call me Santiago. I’m not my father.”
Frances gave me a soulful stare, tears remaining in her eyes. “No, you certainly aren’t. You’ve grown into a handsome and formidable man.” She darted a glance over her shoulder as the young man waiting near the door. “Juan is relatively new, but he’s well versed in your requirements. He’ll take your bags up to your old room. I didn’t know you were bringing a guest until a couple of hours ago. Should I prepare another room?”
“No, that won’t be necessary.” I didn’t plan on getting much sleep. There was far too much to do in preparation.
Devon already appeared uncomfortable, the look on her face one of disdain. She would need to get used to my requirements one way or the other.
Shifting, I noticed Juan had already grabbed our bags and was heading inside the house. Being waited on hand and foot would take some getting used to. My special needs. The term had obviously been provided by Samuel. When I’d left, I was little more than a boy. I’d been prepared to take on the world then, even though
I’d suffered another devastating loss.
“Come. Please. I know the chef has prepared a wonderful dinner for the two of you. You’ll have some time to rest before it’s served, but I’ve also made certain you can enjoy a cocktail while you explore the house. Very little has changed, although the kitchen has gone through a full remodel. The chef required it.” She laughed, flushed from embarrassment. “The chef is a formidable woman.”
“Then we should get along,” I said, grimacing as Devon huffed, heading toward the door. Her defiance was growing old. I took my time before entering the house, immediately struck by how pristine everything looked even after all these years.
“And my father’s office?”
Frances’ smile waned, her eyes immediately shimmering with tears. “As you can imagine, it was stripped of its contents, locked off after that.”
“Good.”
“I have the key when you’re ready.”
I rubbed my jaw, trying to keep the horrible images from rushing into my mind. “That won’t be for a while. Just keep it.”
She placed her hand over mine, squeezing. “I’m glad you’re home.” She headed for the house.
I hesitated for a few seconds, taking several deep breaths. I could almost feel my family’s presence.
After Devon walked inside, she stood in the marble entrance foyer, her gaze shifting to the artistic ceiling and gilded beams. My mother had wanted the entrance to be as grand as possible. She’d accomplished that feat, hiring an artist to paint the domed ceiling.
“I can’t believe anyone lives like this,” she finally said. “I just…”
“I know what you’re going to say. There are far too many square feet for any normal person. Including me. But I couldn’t sell the place, not after all the work my mother put into renovating it. Besides, the fruit is very productive at this point and I’m able to keep one hundred employees on payroll.”
“One hundred and fifteen, Santiago,” Frances corrected.
Laughing, several amazing memories replaced the ones that had caused me nightmares. “I’m glad you’re here to keep me on my toes.”
“Someone needs to,” she countered. “I have a few things to attend to, but I’ll check in with you later.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Cornada,” Devon commented, trying to offer a smile.
“Call me Frances, dear,” she said before walking out of the room.
“She is wonderful,” Devon said as she walked closer.
“She’s a very special woman, but never cross her. She can be a tough disciplinarian. I don’t know what my father, brother, and I would have done without her after my mother died.” I wasn’t prepared to explain any further. The pain was still too raw.
My thoughts drifted to all the times I’d run through the house, pretending I was a knight or a soldier, even fashioning a sword from some unknown material. As I guided her into the family room, I found it difficult to go any further than the entrance. Everything from the massive stone fireplace towering all the way to the cathedral ceiling to the leather furniture that had obviously been cared for over the years caused bittersweet memories to float through my mind.
“What did Frances say to you?” I asked, watching as she explored aspects of the room.
“I don’t think you want to know.”
“Yes, I do.”
“She said she could see love in your eyes.”
I should have known Frances would think something about bringing a woman into the house. I was certain she’d heard various stories about my philandering ways from Samuel. “She will quickly learn that’s not the case.”
“I hope so. You mean nothing to me.”
“Except a paycheck.”
Devon tipped her head in my direction. “At least we understand each other.”
There was no reason for her words to piss me off, yet they did. She was required to be anything I commanded her to be. I took a deep breath, studying the setting sun before walking toward the bar. “Would you like a drink?” I heard the terseness in my voice and while she didn’t deserve the anger I was feeling, she also needed to learn that she was indeed my employee.
“Why not? Wine if you have it.”
“We have everything.”
“Of course you do.” The tension between us was off the charts.
As I selected a bottle, I was surprised to hear her humming. The sound alone pushed me into full arousal, my cock aching like it had from the moment I’d laid eyes on her in the gallery. She truly didn’t understand how beautiful she was or that I was more drawn to her than any woman I’d had on my arm.
Unassuming.
Rebellious.
Stimulating.
As I poured the wine, I was forced to take a deep breath. Even then, the lingering scent of her perfume wafted into my nostrils. I’d never felt such dark longing in my life.
“What are you trying to steal?”
I’d expected her question and took my time walking toward her as I thought about the answer. As she turned to face me, her eyes narrowed. I could tell she grew more uncomfortable as I allowed my gaze to fall to her scuffed shoes. A warm flush crept along her strong jaw, trickling over her cheeks.
When she accepted the wine, the simple touch of our fingers was enough to send another rush of electricity slamming into every muscle. I needed to resist her, at least for now.
“An important family crest.”
“A crest. As in some kind of piece of armor?”
“A beautiful piece of art with a large diamond surrounded by rubies. The crest belonged to my grandfather and his father before him.”
“You brought me all this way to help you become a thief? Why not just buy it back?” A sly smile crossed her face.
“Because it was taken from the family over a disagreement. I assure you that the man holding the piece of family armor will not allow it to return to its rightful owner.”
“And just who is this asshole?”
She continued to challenge me in every way, pushing me to the kind of limits she wasn’t prepared to handle.
“A man who will soon learn that crossing me wasn’t in his best interest.”
“Is this the person responsible for killing your father?”
I clenched my jaw before answering, “Yes, Devon. It is.”
“It’s interesting that in the articles I read about the horrible crime, there were no suspects.”
She continued to bait me for information. “I’m certain you’ve watched enough American police shows on television to realize that certain crimes are easily ignored.”
The look she gave me was driven by contempt as well as continued curiosity about the man who’d hired her. When she inched closer, the proximity enough my senses were shoved into overload, I was forced to take a deep breath.
At least she left the comment alone.
“I’d like to be able to change before dinner. Is that allowed?” Her question was laced with animosity.
“Of course. I’ll take you to our room.”
“I’m not staying with you. I don’t care if I sleep in a twin bed, that’s better than being forced to sleep in the same bed with you. And I can find my own way.”
I issued a slight smile, unable to take my eyes off her. She was as infuriating as she was engaging. “Then by all means, you can take the master suite. I don’t plan on doing much sleeping. However, you need to keep in mind that this is my home and you are the guest.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning there are rules to follow. While you will be given access to a vehicle, you will be allowed outside of these walls only with my permission. It means that you are required to perform certain tasks when requested. That also means that you will remember at all times who is the master of the house.”
“Are you always this insufferable?” she asked, chuckling under her breath.
I refused to lose my temper, which was exactly what she was trying to accomplish. “Take the main stairs, which are just around the corner. You’
ll find the bedroom at the end of the corridor. As far as changing for dinner, yes, that will become a requirement.”
“Of course it will. As I would expect.”
She turned away from me immediately, keeping the glass of wine in her hand as she walked toward the door. My body remained on fire, the dirty thoughts shifting through my mind enticing the beast continuing to dwell deep within my body. “This doesn’t have to be confrontational, Devon.”
“Then don’t make it that way. I’m your employee and nothing else. Remember?”
A part of me wanted nothing more than to drag her against me, fisting her hair as I began to devour every inch of her. I refused to give into her silent tantrum. “You will find suitable clothing in the closet. Anything you don’t like can be returned. We will undoubtedly require a shopping trip at some point.”
She laughed softly, still refusing to acknowledge my comment.
The woman knew exactly how to get under my skin.
“What are you hiding, Mr. Romero? What are you so afraid of telling me?” She’d turned sharply, a smug look on her face.
“Why would you think I’m hiding anything? You know what happened to my family.”
“Don’t play me for a fool. While you act as if your deceased parents hold special meaning in your heart, you purposely stayed away from the home your mother spent years working on for a decade, maybe more. That would indicate there’s a very good reason you were forced to leave your native country. Perhaps the crest is of some value, but I know better than to think it’s the reason you returned. You have a personal vendetta, a need for revenge. That’s obvious. Who is this enemy you long to exterminate?”
She was already crossing a line, acting as if she had some say in what was going to happen. Narrowing my eyes, I took a few sips of wine. “You will be provided with information on a need to know basis.”
“You are the most egotistical man I’ve ever met. You obviously need my… expertise yet you don’t have the nerve to tell me what the hell is really going on. Maybe you should learn to pick a safe all by yourself.”
