The Secret That Shocked De Santis

That broke his heart.

How could he expect her to open up to him the way he wanted when he hadn’t done the same? He’d shut her out from how he really felt. So often when they’d verged on true intimacy he’d turned things physical. Kept her close, but kept that last bit of himself distant. Safe. Until last night.

Those kids he’d seen at the hospital today kept on fighting. They faced things far more fearful. He’d been a coward. After that day on the beach he’d been too proud to chase her—in reality he’d been too much of a chicken. Because he’d been as freaked out by the intensity of that afternoon as she had. Only he hadn’t been man enough to admit it—not even to himself.

Then fate had given him a second chance, and he’d gladly taken advantage of it.

Yet he’d still screwed it up.

So he’d damn well find her. But as soon as he knew she was okay he’d set her free. If she still wanted to, she could live overseas. He’d find her a safe haven. His heart tore at the thought of letting her go, but he’d do whatever was necessary to ensure her happiness.

‘You all right? You’re breathing funny.’

The General was staring at him as if he’d grown an extra head.

‘I need to find her.’

‘You should already know where she is,’ her father said. ‘She’s where she always goes when she needs time to think.’

She wanted to think? Hope bubbled up within him. If she needed to think then it might not be too late.

Now he tried to think. Stella’s answer to everything was exercise. She always went for a run. Or a swim.

The answer hit like a lightning bolt and he almost laughed at the simplicity. The obviousness. More hope bubbled. He didn’t deserve her if he wasn’t right. If he took the Maserati he could get there in less than half an hour...

But his way out of the palace was blocked by his brother, standing in the high-studded, gilded atrium, clad in an Armani tuxedo and adjusting a gleaming cufflink.

‘Are you ready?’ Antonio scowled at Eduardo’s jeans.

He’d forgotten about the opening night of the freaking opera and the damn politicians he was supposed to schmooze. ‘Antonio, I can’t right now.’

His brother looked implacable. ‘All I need you to do is—’

‘I can’t go with you.’ Eduardo interrupted shortly.

His brother’s expressionless eyes narrowed. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s Stella. She’s gone.’

‘Already?’

‘Be human!’ Eduardo shouted. ‘Be human for one goddamn minute.’

Antonio stood so rigid he looked as if he’d been cast in metal.

‘I’m sorry that you lost Alessia.’ Eduardo gazed at his brother and offered his wretched apology. ‘I am so sorry I never told you she was sick. I will always be sorry that I never told you.’

His lungs hurt with the effort of breathing. With the effort of not pushing past Antonio and combing the streets in a desperate, hopeless, fear-filled search.

‘I know you put the Crown first. But I’m not you. I can’t do that. Stella comes first for me now and she always will. I can’t be here. I can’t do this. I have to go after her.’

As he went to go past him Antonio gripped his arm with a vice-like hand. Eduardo turned and looked into his brother’s face. They almost stood eye to eye.

‘I don’t blame you for my not going to see Alessia sooner.’ Antonio spoke with quiet, lethal intensity. ‘I could have gone. So many times. And I didn’t. That was my decision. My fault. My guilt.’

Eduardo shook his head. ‘I should have told you. I should have made you go. I should have been a better brother. To you and to her.’

A muscle jerked in Antonio’s jaw. But then he lifted his hand and ruffled Eduardo’s hair in that old tease of years ago. ‘It’s still too long, but it suits you.’ He released Eduardo with a small, wry smile. ‘Go. Get out of here. Do what’s right.’

Eduardo heard Antonio’s quiet words behind him as he strode away.

‘Do what I didn’t.’

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE TIDE HAD TURNED. Waves rushed higher. In another hour there’d only be a narrow strip of dry sand left at the base of the cliff. She needed to walk back around the rocks to the bay. She wasn’t going to risk free-climbing up the cliff now she had a baby on board.