Page 67 of Veiled Amor

There was hope that Colorado was her forever home. If not with Capone, then she’d like to settle somewhere, and she wanted to do it not looking over her shoulder. For weeks, she’d avoided calling home because there was no point. Her father had no room for compromise.

She didn’t miss home or him, but she missed Pilar. The housekeeper was probably the only person in their household who would miss her.

It was a spur of the moment, a mad whim, brought on by tipsiness and a need to set the past where it belonged.

The call rang as she paced a little.

It wasn’t Pilar who answered, and the gruff voice stole Lucia’s confidence. “Yes, who is it?” Nicholas Cole barked. It was proof of how prevalent he’d been making her choices for her when she froze, unable to hang up. “Listen here, you punk, these calls are monitored, if I get my hands on you…”

“It’s me,” she spoke, and almost withered under his forceful tone until she remembered she was no longer the doormat daughter. “I was calling to talk to Pilar. She usually answers.”

“The stupid woman was getting under my feet, I told her to get out for the weekend. Where are you, Lucia?”

“I’m sure your spies have told you where I am.”

“You’re with that man.”

“He has a name, and yes, I am. I didn’t want to do it the way I did; I’m an adult and should be allowed to go where I please. You didn’t leave me much choice.”

Whoa. Where was this bold confidence coming from? It could be she’d siphoned it from Capone because she’d never spoken to her father like that before. Hanging around tough, coarse bikers for a few days had put some pep in her step because she went on. “I know what you were trying to do with that Texan. I’m not something you can give away in a business deal, father. I stupidly thought you cared about me. But then, after Santiago, I should have known better.”

“You’ll mind how you talk to me, Lucia.” He growled. She could imagine him in his office, irritated with a red face. Her father was handsome, or so the many women on his arm would attest. But he had a foul, irrational temper and hated being disobeyed.

“Why? You don’t care how you talk to me. My life ismine. I was too stupid to let it go on this long. And if you keep sending your soldiers after me, you won’t see me ever again.”

“Stupid girl.” She heard him hiss as if bored. “You don’t know what I do to keep you safe and unknown.”

“Negotiating me in a deal is keeping me safe? Keeping me locked up at home is protecting me?”

“You’re hardly locked up in a one-bedroom apartment, Lucia. Quit the fucking dramatics. You’ve had your fun. I’ll send the jet for you.”

“No.”

“Stop this now.” He said strongly. “I don’t have time for this shit.”

“Let me guess. Your Texan deal is going south without a stupid daughter to sweeten the pot? Such a shame mom died before you could have more daughters, they would have come in useful.” Emotion locked up in her throat. Despite her circumstances, she’d never been one of those woe-is-me people. She’d taken everything on the chin. But her mother’s death and a father who didn’t give a damn, maybe this was as good as her life got.

“I’m not coming back or marrying someone you throw me at.” She felt exasperated while listening to his tirade about how ungrateful of a daughter she was and how she would come back kicking and screaming. Lucia felt a renewed temper rise through her body, out through her mouth. “Shall I tell you why I won’t do any of those things, father? Because I’m already married!”

Oh, boy.

Why did she say that?

And why did the words fill her with champagne fizz and happiness?

She heard the silence, and then he erupted. Nicholas Cole could convey his displeasure very well without raising his voice. “To Mercado?”

“Yes. Giancarlo is my husband now. So, I’m useless to you. I hope when we next see each other—”

Two things happened at once.

Her father started lambasting on how he would drag her home.

And she heard a subtle noise behind her. When she turned, she caught Capone pushing a shoulder from the door as if he’d been there a while.

Eyes like gun lasers, he came for her in a hot stride. Every inch of air Lucia held in her lungs evacuated, as if running from a burning building.

Stunned, she let the phone get plucked out of her hand.