The fight fizzed out of her but the fear that something had gone seriously wrong between the airport and home wouldn’t go away.
At seven on the dot, the doorbell rang. She passed her hand over her black jumpsuit and tucked a lock of hair nervously behind her ear as she stood by Theo’s side.
The butler entered the living room, followed by her father.
Benedicto da Costa drew to a halt. His narrowed gaze slid from Theo to her, his face a mask of dark anger and cold malice she’d forced herself to overlook in the past.
Now she saw him for who he really was. Images of Theo’s scars flashed through her mind and her hands fisted at her side.
‘I won’t shake your hand because this isn’t a social visit,’ he rasped icily to Theo. ‘And I won’t be dining with you, either.’
‘Perfectly fine by me. Frankly, the quicker we get this over with the better. But let me remind you that you’re here only because of Inez. She may be your daughter but she’s under my protection now. I suggest you don’t lose sight of that fact. What business you and I have will be finished by week’s end.’
Her father’s gaze swung back to her. ‘Are you just going to stand there and let him speak to your father that way? You disappoint me.’
‘That’s no surprise. I’ve been a disappointment from the moment I was born a girl, Pai.’
‘Your mother will be rolling in her grave at your behaviour.’
She raised her chin. ‘No, actually. Mãe told me every day she was proud of me. She also encouraged me to follow my dreams. She wanted to be a sculptor. Did you know that?’
‘What’s your point?’
‘She was talented, Pai. But she gave it up for you. It was her, not you, who taught me what loyalty and family meant. You were only focused on exploiting that loyalty for your own selfish needs.’
His face tightened and his eyes flickered to Theo, who’d been standing by her with his arms folded, a half smile on his face.
‘Is this what I came here for? To be lectured by an ungrateful child?’
Theo shrugged. ‘I’m finding it quite entertaining.’
Benedicto growled and shot to his feet. ‘If there is a point, son, I suggest you get to it.’
Theo grew marble-still, his smile disappearing in the blink of an eye. Pure rage vibrated off his body and Inez watched his nostrils flare as he sucked in a control-sustaining breath.
‘I am not your son. And you are not worthy to be a father. It’s a shame you didn’t learn how to be a better parent from the mother who gave birth to you in that favela you deny you grew up in. And don’t bother denying it again. I know everything there is to know about you, da Costa.’
For the first time since he’d walked in, Benedicto grew wary. He strolled to the drinks cabinet and took his time examining all the expensive spirits and liqueurs displayed.
Without asking, he poured a measure of single malt whisky and took a bold sip. ‘So I bent the truth a little. So what? You’ve already discredited my campaign. What do you want? My company? Is that your end game? You want to pick up the shares for Da Costa Holdings for peanuts? Well, over my dead body.’
Theo’s laugh was menacing enough to cause her skin to tingle in alarm. ‘Trust me, a few weeks ago it would’ve been my pleasure to grant you your wish. But you’re wrong on that score. Your company is of no interest to me.’
His wariness increased. ‘What’s changed?’
Theo’s eyes flicked to her and her heart thudded. ‘Your daughter.’
‘Really?’
Inez shook her head in astonishment. ‘Do you really not know who he is, Pai?’ she asked.
Theo’s mouth curved in a mirthless smile. ‘Oh, he knows who I am. He’s just hoping that I don’t know what he did twelve years ago.’
Benedicto swallowed, his gaunt face growing pale until he looked ashen. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking—’
She rushed towards him, anger, pain and disappointment coiling like poisonous snakes inside her. ‘Don’t you dare deny it. Don’t you dare!’ Her voice cracked and a sob broke through her chest. ‘You had a boy kidnapped and tortured! For money. How could you?’