Love in Purgatory (De La Fuente Family 2)

What was that?

He’d never had such a wet dream about Emelia or anyone before, and it had felt so real—as though she’d been in the room with him.

It shouldn’t have happened, but surely it wasn’t a sin. He couldn’t exactly control what just happened, and he certainly didn’t touch his own flesh.

He was in so much trouble.

Chapter Twelve

Emelia had avoided Diego for the past few days, but as she heard a key in the lock seconds before the door opened and banged shut behind him, she knew that was about to end.

Diego had been working shifts at the firehouse and she’d made herself scarce when she knew he’d be home.

She wasn’t stupid, and knew that he wanted to know what was going on with her. He’d been bugging her since they’d returned from Ramon’s wedding, even before that really.

Instead of hiding, she needed to take a trip home to Montana and talk to their mom. She knew deep in her heart that what she’d overheard was the truth, even though, on occasion, she doubted the words.

The reason why she’d hesitated though was because she’d be opening up a whole lot of hurt for Diego and the others. Eric knew the truth, but their brothers, Aiden, Kasey, Mateo and, of course Dante didn’t. They’d been led to believe that their father had had an affair with Lucia while their mother Francesca had been dying. It was because of his father’s quick remarriage that Dante left home, and never really went back to live.

Even as a child, she’d noticed the animosity between father and son, when Dante had popped in for a visit.

There was going to be a lot of heartbreak when the truth became clear, and what about their Uncle, Elias McKenzie. He hadn’t spoken to Emiliano since his sister, Francesca, had died because of how quickly he’d married Emelia’s mother.

It was a huge mess, and if it weren’t for her need to have the truth out and in the open, she’d let it be, even though it constantly played on her mind. If she weren’t in love with Dante, perhaps it wouldn’t have been so difficult to know the truth when no one else did. But that was something she’d never know.

While she’d tried to come up with a solution to her problem, Diego had dropped his bag to one side of the fridge and moved into her line of sight.

“So,” he leaned back against the cabinet, his ankles crossed and his arms crossed over his stomach, “we’re in the same room...for once.”

Emelia tried to play it cool. “We’re usually in the same room.”

“Usually. Yes, we are.” His gaze stayed unwavering on her while she squirmed. “You’ve been avoiding me…for a week, Emelia. Even Mike’s seen you once, but me, your twin, not so much.”

Her brother wasn’t happy, and that hurt her. She needed to be as honest as she could with him before he got exasperated with her, which had happened a couple of times in the past. They hadn’t talked for a month when that happened because Diego could get good and pissed.

“Every time I see you, all you keep asking me is what’s wrong with me. I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you, but you’re making me feel worse with your constant questions about what’s going on.” Emelia walked to stand in front of him. She hesitated and then unwrapped his arms so that she could wrap her own around his waist and rest her head against his chest. “I love you, Diego.” She sighed. “There is something going on and until it’s sorted, please trust me to handle it. I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. At least, not yet.”

Silence followed until Diego broke it, “I love you too, and that’s why I’m constantly checking on you.” He sighed and squeezed her tighter. “But I promise to stop questioning you...for now. And it doesn’t help when Mike is asking me about past boyfriends because he says that when you were with him, he got the feeling you were wishing he was someone else...he’s wrong isn’t he, Sis?”

She felt bad. Mike was a great guy and she’d managed to keep it platonic when they’d gone out, but with hindsight, perhaps she shouldn’t have even accepted. She’d been fed up of loving someone who she couldn’t be with so she’d agreed, a

nd now she’d probably hurt Mike.

“I like Mike, Diego.”

“I’m hearing a but in there.”

“I don’t want a boyfriend. If I was looking, then Mike would be a great guy to date because he actually has respect for women.”

“Ouch, Sis,” he put her at arms length, “you didn’t need to be so brutal.”

She smiled. “Recognized yourself with that, huh?”

He rolled his eyes and moved to grab a beer from the fridge. “Do you want me to tell Mike?”

“Diego, I’m not ten. I’ll tell him myself when I see him tonight. We’re supposed to be going to the movies, but I’ll tell him beforehand and give him the choice of just being friends or stop seeing each other completely.”

“Hmm.” Diego took a long drink from the bottle.