His Ultimate Prize

Hands shaking, she read through the documents. ‘How...? Why...?’ Tears clogged her throat, making the words difficult to utter. Finally she could clear her father’s name.

‘The how doesn’t matter. The why is because you deserve to know.’

She didn’t realise she was crying until the first teardrop landed on her hand. Sucking in a sustaining breath, she swiped at her cheeks. ‘I...I really don’t know what to say. After what happened...’ She glanced down at the papers again and swallowed. ‘Thank you, Marco,’ she said huskily.

‘De nada,’ he replied hoarsely.

‘You didn’t have to deliver it in person, though.’

His watchful look intensified. ‘I didn’t. But I needed the excuse to see you.’

‘Why?’ she whispered, too afraid to hope.

He swallowed. ‘Rafael woke up—really woke up yesterday.’

Her heart lurched. ‘Is he okay?’

Marco nodded. ‘I went to see him this morning. He told me what happened in Budapest.’

Sasha sighed. ‘I know it was stupid, but I lost it when I found out what Rafael was doing.’

‘You mean deliberately using your friendship to make Raven jealous?’

She nodded. ‘I think she was smitten with Rafael when she first joined the team. That changed when she found out he’d dated most of the women in the paddock. She refused to have anything to do with him after that.’

Marco pursed his lips. ‘And he, of course, found it a challenge when she kept refusing him. Why didn’t you tell me?’ he demanded.

‘You told me the significance of your mother’s ring. I didn’t think you needed to know Rafael was intending to use it to...’

‘Get lucky?’ He grimaced, then sobered. ‘He’s over that now, I think. He’s seems different—more...mature. I think the accident was a wake-up call for him.’

His eyes locked on her, their expression so bleak it broke her heart.

‘For me too. You were right.’

‘I was?’

He moved towards her suddenly. ‘Sí. I was living in the past. I knew it even before you left León. I knew it when I came to see you in São Paolo. Hearing Rafael tell me what I already knew—how great you are, how much of a friend you’d been to him...’ He stopped and swallowed. ‘Did I mention I’m the stupidest person I know right now?’

‘Um, you may have.’

‘What I said in São Paolo was unforgivable...’ His anxious gaze snared hers. ‘I was in shock, but I never should’ve said what I did. I’m sorry you lost your baby. I think you would’ve made a brilliant mother.’

‘You do?’

‘Sí. I saw how the Children of Bravery Awards affected you. You held it together despite your pain. Watching you on stage with the kids made me wish my child had had a mother like you. At least then she would’ve had a chance.’

Tears filled her eyes. ‘Oh, Marco...’ She could barely speak past the lump in her throat.

Another grimace slashed his face. ‘I’ve made you cry again.’ He sat next to her and gently brushed away her tears. ‘This wasn’t what I intended by coming here.’

‘Why did you come here, Marco?’

He sucked in a huge breath. ‘To tell you I love you. And to beg your forgiveness.’

‘You love me?’

He gave a jerky nod. ‘It ripped me apart to learn I’d had your love and lost it because I’d been so stupid. When you called two days ago—’

‘When you hung up on me?’

‘I panicked. The hospital had just called about Rafael. I thought you knew and were calling to ask to see him.’ He frowned. ‘Why did you call?’

‘I had something to tell you. When you hung up on me I wrote a letter instead.’

‘A letter?’

‘Well, it was more like a list.’

She’d done it to stop herself from crying—something she couldn’t seem to stop doing lately.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled it out and held it towards him. ‘Here.’

He stared at the paper but didn’t take it, his face ashen. ‘Is forgiveness anywhere on that list, by any chance?’

Her gaze sharpened on him. ‘Forgiveness?’

‘Yes. Forgiveness of judgemental bastards who don’t know the special gift of love and beauty and goodness when it’s handed to them.’

‘Er...’ She glanced down at the list, her thundering heartbeat echoing loudly in her ears. ‘No. But then I’ve only had two days to work on it.’

Dropping down on his haunches, he cupped her face in his hands. ‘Then consider this a special request, por favor. I know I have a lot of grovelling to do for judging you harshly from the beginning.’