The Secret That Shocked De Santis

But it still did. God, it hurt. He wanted her. Needed her back. He loved her.

He swore. Short, pithy, pained. Then he moved. He had to freaking well move. He had to find her.

He picked up his phone. Called a captain he trusted.

‘The Princess. When did you last see her?’ he demanded, the second the guy answered.

‘Uh, the General came to see her and—’

‘When was that?’ Eduardo scowled, sourness sinking into his gut.

‘He arrived just before you left for the hospital,’ the Captain answered warily.

After Eduardo had argued with her and walked out. Had she had a showdown with her father? ‘When did the General leave?’

‘I believe they went out to lunch—’

‘They what?’ Confounded, Eduardo couldn’t believe his ears.

‘Uh...lunch. At a restaurant, I think—’

Eduardo didn’t bother listening to the rest. He turned on his heel and ran to the other end of the palace to General Carlos Zambrano’s quarters. He thudded on the door so hard it rattled the hinges. And sure enough General Carlos himself answered it.

‘Where is Stella?’ He pushed past the man into the room.

‘She’s your wife. Shouldn’t you know?’

‘She is her own person,’ Eduardo clipped an answer as he looked around the lounge. ‘You really had lunch with her?’

‘No, I’ve been in a meeting,’ the General answered.

The old man was lying. Eduardo should have come back to the palace hours ago. But he’d been unable to cancel that last engagement because he hadn’t wanted to let them down at the last minute. Instead he’d let Stella down.

‘My daughter is very strong,’ the General said. ‘She doesn’t grant many people the power to hurt her.’ He looked at him very carefully, his frown deepening. ‘I thought you had hurt her.’

‘I have.’

‘No.’ Carlos moved impatiently. ‘I mean physically. Back when she got pregnant.’

Dumbfounded, Eduardo stared, and then rage seared. ‘I would never—’

‘That’s what she told me.’ Her father raised his hands. ‘She said you are a good man. I was just...protective. And unwilling to trust her judgement.’

‘Good Lord, you really give her a hard time.’ Eduardo breathed hard to recover his equilibrium. He was furious. What had he ever done to make him think that? He might be arrogant and entitled, but he wasn’t a psychopath.

‘I’m sorry.’ The General sighed. ‘No man was ever going to be good enough for her. Not even a prince.’

Eduardo stared at the older man, seeing for the first time the pallor, the anxiety in his eyes. ‘What the hell is going on?’

‘I’m worried about her,’ Carlos admitted gruffly. ‘I lost her mother and it all but destroyed me. All these years I did what I thought was best for Stella. But I think I have been wrong. In sending her away...in protecting her from active duty—’

‘In helping her run away from me. That was wrong.’ Eduardo struggled to stay calm.

The General froze.

‘I know you’ve helped her.’ Eduardo’s anger simmered like a pot of molten lava, yet he was still unable to believe this horrible reality. ‘You might as well tell me where she is now, because I will find her. I have more resources, more patience than you can imagine. I have to know she is okay. I have to see that for myself.’

He realised now just how fragile she was. And just how courageous.

Last night he’d told her she wasn’t alone any more. But the first time she’d questioned it—the first time she’d needed him—he’d walked out. She’d been hurt and he’d hurt her more. Because he’d been so wrapped up in his own insecurity he hadn’t seen how truly upset she’d been.

He was an idiot. She’d never had the emotional security she’d craved. Of course she was going to test him. This morning she’d done what she did best and challenged him. And he’d let her down.

He shouldn’t have left her to wake by herself, because something had happened to set off her doubts. He shouldn’t have stood there silently judging her when she still hadn’t told him her fears about the birth. These were huge fears for her, and she’d needed to feel totally safe before she shared them. He’d needed to earn that trust. And now she’d run away because she was used to being alone. Because she thought she still was.