He inhaled sharply. 'And you've proved to me just how far you'll go. I told you about Angelique, about my child, and you said nothing. Because a small thing like a lost pregnancy is less important to you than your next race, isn't it?'
She swayed as pain clamped her chest in a crushing vice. 'You know why I wanted to race!'
'I was a fool to believe you were trying to preserve the memory of your father. You were really just seeking to further your own agenda.'
Pain arrowed through her. 'Don't pretend you don't think he was guilty.'
'I said he was found guilty. I didn't say I agreed with the verdict.'
'But-'
He slashed a hand through her words. 'I had my lawyers investigate the case. Some of the testimony didn't add up. If your father had spent less time feeling sorry for himself and more time getting his lawyers to concentrate on his case he'd have realised that. That's one of the things I came here to tell you.'
Tears stung the backs of her eyes, her throat clogging with unspoken words. 'Marco, please-can't we talk about this?'
He gave a single, finite shake of his head. 'I'm not interested in anything you have to say. I'm only grateful I never made you pregnant. I don't think I could survive another child of mine being so viciously denied life for the sake of ruthless ambition.'
Her insides froze as his words cut across her skin.
With one last condemning look he headed towards the door.
Panic seized her. 'Marco!'
He stilled but didn't turn around, one hand on the doorknob.
'What else did you come to say to me?'
The cold malice in his eyes when he turned around made her heart clench.
'I sold the team six weeks ago. In Korea. The paperwork was finalised today. As of one hour ago your contract is null and void.'
CHAPTER TWELVE
SHE WAS PREGNANT with Marco's child. Sasha had been certain of it almost as soon as Marco had walked out on her in São Paolo. Taking the pregnancy test once she'd returned home had only established what she'd known in her heart.
There was no doubt in her mind that she would tell him he was about to become a father. The only problem was when.
He'd made his feelings clear. Her own emotions were too raw for her to face another showdown with Marco. She doubted he would believe whatever she had to tell him anyway.
Gentle fingers stroked over her belly. The doctor had confirmed today that she was almost three months pregnant. Her fingers stilled. Angelique had terminated Marco's child at three months. Sadness welled inside her as she recalled Marco's face when he'd shown her his scan.
Making up her mind before she lost the courage, she dug out her phone. Her fingers shook as she pressed the numbers.
'Sí?' came the deep voice.
'Marco, it's me.'
Taut silence.
'I know you don't want to speak to me...but there's something I need to tell you.'
'I'm no longer in the motor racing business, so you're wasting your time.' The line went dead.
Sasha stared at the phone, anger and pain churning through her. 'Ass.'
She threw the phone down, vowing to make Marco beg before she let him anywhere near his child.
* * *
Two days later Sasha was standing at her fridge stacking groceries when she heard the agonisingly familiar sound of helicopter rotorblades. The aircraft flew directly over her small cottage before landing in a field half a mile away.
Even though she forced herself to finish her task, every sense was attuned to the knock that came less than five minutes later.
Heart hammering, she opened her door to find Marco standing there, tall, dark and windswept.
'You know you'll have my neighbours dining out on your spectacular entrance for years, don't you? What the hell are you doing here anyway? I recall you wanting nothing to do with me.'
Hazel eyes locked on hers, the look in them almost imploring. 'Invite me in, Sasha.'
'I don't invite heartless bloodsuckers into my home. You can stay right where you are. Better yet, jump back into your vampire-mobile and leave.'
'I'm not leaving until you hear what I have to say. I don't care what your neighbours think, but I get the feeling you do. There's a blue-haired one staring at us right now.' Brazen, he waved at Mrs Miller, who shamelessly waved back and kept right on staring at them.
Firming her lips, Sasha stepped back and waved him in. 'You think you're very clever, don't you?'
Expecting a quick comeback, she turned from shutting the door to find him staring at her, a tormented grimace on his face.
'No, I don't think I'm clever at all. In fact, right now, I'm the stupidest person I know.'
Her mouth dropped open.
His grimace deepened. 'Yes, I know. Shocker.'
'Marco...' She stopped and finally did what she'd been dying to do since he knocked on her door. She let her eyes devour him. Let her heart delight in the sheer magnificent sight of him. He went straight to her head. Made her sway where she stood.
He stared right back at her, a plethora of emotions she was too afraid to name passing over his face. He opened his mouth a couple of times but, seemingly losing his nerve to speak, cast his gaze around her small living room, over the pictures and racing knick-knacks she and her father had accumulated over the years.
Finally he dug into his jacket pocket. 'This is for you.'
Sasha took the papers. 'What are these?'
'Signed affidavits from two former drivers who swear your father wasn't involved in the fraud. He was the fall guy.'
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?'