Dane looked away. The last thing he wanted to do was discuss things with his father.
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
Salazar nodded and took a drink. “She’ll probably figure it out one day, you know.”
It was suddenly hard to drag in air. It felt like there was a big, tight fist around his throat. Dane swung his gaze toward Sazalar. “Not unless you say something, she won’t.”
Salazar chuckled. “True. If I hadn’t said anything, you would’ve never found out.”
Dane froze, then narrowed his eyes. “Don’t make an enemy out of me.”
“Ah, don’t worry. I won’t be the one to tell her. After all, my hands aren’t clean either.” Salazar knocked back the rest of his drink. “But some day she’ll find out, just like you did. And then what are you going to tell her? ‘Sorry’ will be a bit inadequate at that point.” Something that could only be characterized as a smirk twisted his mouth. “Just remember how you reacted. And it wasn’t even you who got hurt.”
He pushed himself off the door and left.
Dane watched his father go. His hands began curling into fis—
Jesus, breathe and relax.
Dane rolled his shoulders and neck, then took a couple of deep breaths. The only reason he’d been able to put the pieces together was because Sophia had revealed the details of her accident, including the type of car that hit her. Unless he did the same, she didn’t have the clues or means to put it together. So he was safe.
But somehow Salazar’s words hung around his neck like a noose.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“So you finally realized you aren’t welcome here?”
Sophia faltered at Geraldine’s derisive words. She stopped, setting her wheeled suitcase upright behind her.
“You should’ve never come here.”
“Salazar asked me to come.”
“Salazar asked. My brother has no brain when it comes to pretty young things. You’re just like your mother.”
Sophia felt her go-for-the-throat competitive instincts surface. Betsy might not be the most maternal woman, but she’s still my mother. She took a half-step forward.
Hands on her hips, Geraldine straightened, her spine tight.
“Aunt, behave,” came Dane’s cold voice.
“I’m not the one misbehaving.” Geraldine gestured at Sophia. “Just look at that trash, trying to insin—”
“Enough.”
He didn’t raise his voice, but it was so frigid Sophia couldn’t help but shiver. Geraldine blanched. “How can you take that tone with me?”
“Easily. I’m restraining myself because I promised Grandma I’d be kind to you.” Dane drew himself up to his full height. “Do not push me. And most importantly, do not treat Sophia with disrespect or my tone will be the least of your problems.”
Geraldine’s eyes widened, and she opened and closed her mouth a few times. Finally, she said, “You’re going to break a promise to your grandmother over her?”
“Yes. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
He put a hand to the small of Sophia’s back and led her toward the parking lot.
“You didn’t have to step in there. I had that,” Sophia said. “And don’t break your promise on my account.”
“There were other promises. I’ve decided that some of them were more important than the one to be kind to Geraldine.”
She looked around for his Lamborghini. “Where’s your car?”
“Over there.” He gestured at a brand new black Bentley, gleaming in the California sun.
“What happened to the Lamborghini?”
He shrugged. “I got bored with it.” He opened the door. “Get in.”
She climbed in. When he got behind the wheel and started driving, she said, “Nobody gets bored with a Lamborghini.”
“When you have as much money as I do, you do.” He looked straight ahead. “Besides, I know you don’t like it.”
Her heart softened. “Is it because of what I said about the accident?” She laid her hand over his. “You shouldn’t have. It’s been seven years. It doesn’t bother me.” Not entirely true, but… She just couldn’t wrap her mind around the gesture. “What are you going to do with your old car?”
“Don’t know. It’s not important.”
“Not important? It’s an expensive car.”
“What would you do with it if it were yours?”
“I…don’t know.” She’d never had anything that valuable. Her father had liked to live rich, but he hadn’t given her anything that extravagant. “Maybe you should sell it and donate the proceeds.”