Love in Purgatory (De La Fuente Family 2)

“Why are you still in bed,” Diego grumbled before he opened her curtains to let in the bright sun. “Are you sick? Mom never said anything.”

She hid under the covers when her brother let the light into her room. She’d just woken up at his abrupt entry, and wasn’t in the mood for anything. In fact, she felt so close to tears at the sight of her twin, she tried to fight them back before Diego removed the cover, which she knew he’d do.

It had been two days since she knew

the absolute truth, and since Dante had left without one word to her. She’d messaged him, and it hurt that he hadn’t even read them. Eric had left to go home to Sylvia, which left Emelia at home to be there when her parents told the others.

Mateo and Kasey had arrived the night before, and Aiden would have flown home with Diego as he was still in New York. But now she had to stay quiet until her brothers were called in to their father’s office.

She certainly wasn’t going to be the one to tell anyone, not after Dante’s reaction, which still hurt deep in her heart.

The longing to go to him, so that he wasn’t alone, was strong, and she knew that it wouldn’t be long before she gave in and turned up on his doorstep with her bags. He’d have to deal with her then—no avoidance.

“Sis,” Diego gently called, sounding unsure, which wasn’t like him. “Emelia, c’mon out from there. You have me worried.”

She felt him sit on the bed at her hip just before the covers were peeled back from her face. “I’m okay,” she whispered.

Diego frowned. “You don’t sound too good.” He placed the palm of his hand over her forehead. “You don’t have a temperature. Why are you hiding in here?”

“I’m not.”

He arched a brow as though to say, ‘yeah, right’.

“Okay, maybe I am.” She pushed herself up and rested her chin on her knees. “I’m glad you’re here.” That was the truth as well. She always wanted Diego when she was upset, and her twin never bothered with what others thought when he held her. He was always affectionate with her.

She climbed from the bed and crawled onto Diego’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. She sighed and felt that everything would be okay with his arms around her, protecting her.

“Emelia, you know I’m always here for you, but you really have me worried. Does this have anything to do with why Mom and Dad have called us all here?”

He stroked down her back, but held her tightly against him with his other hand. And then, when he kissed her shoulder, she started to quietly sob against him.

“Fuck, Emelia.”

Minutes passed while he held her and eventually her sobs turned to hiccups, and Diego laughed.

“I’m sorry.” She wiped at her tears, blew her nose and laughed when Diego winced.

“I needed that.”

“Dammit, Sis, you’re like a faucet recently. I know I promised you not to keep asking what’s wrong,” he stood, and moved her back to her bed before he ran his fingers through his hair, “but I need to know. I’ll keep it to myself, but I want to know.”

When Diego got in one of his moods, she knew that he really wouldn’t let it go. She certainly couldn’t tell him everything, but she could give him a bit to keep him happy, at least for now.

“Does this have anything to do with Dante?” he asked, but she sensed anger behind his question.

“Kind of.”

“Shit. What is it with you two? You both have an argument and then sulk like teenagers until one of you makes the first move to make up.” He moved and stood directly in front of her, his hand reached out and tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “This has to stop because it makes you so damn sad.” He frowned. “You don’t get like this when we fall out. You get pissed. What’s different?”

“I don’t want to cry again. Let’s leave it for now, I’m going to follow Dante to Denver and get our differences sorted out.”

“About time,” Diego grumbled, and as he looked out of her window, started to grin. “Come and look.” He reached his hand out to her, his gaze stayed focused outside the window.

She jumped from the bed, grabbed her robe and let him drag her in front of him. “What are we looking at?”

“Aiden.” He smirked.

Aiden leaned against the vet’s SUV and talked to her as she loaded her gear into the back. A foal had been born earlier and their father had called Sarah, the vet, to assist. But why would Diego be interested in watching Aiden with her?