What The Greek Wants Most(33)

She woke to kisses on her forehead and her cheek and opened her eyes to bright sunshine.

'Good, you're awake. We just landed.'

She yawned widely. 'Already? I feel as if I just fell asleep.'

He laughed. 'It's three o'clock in the afternoon. And we have much to do before tonight.'                       
       
           



       

She stared at his wide grin and her heart lifted with happiness. 'You seem in very good spirits, querido,' she commented.

He gathered her close in his arms and gazed down at her. 'There is a reason for that.'

'Tell me,' she murmured softly.

His face turned serious, his eyes fierce as he watched her. 'For the   first time in twelve years, I slept through the night without a   nightmare,' he muttered hoarsely.

Theo watched her face light up with shocked pleasure before she reached   up to clasp his face. Her kiss was gentle and sweet. 'Oh, Theo. I'm so   happy for you.'

'I'm happy for us,' he replied. With another kiss, he got up and started   dressing. 'Get a move on, sweetheart, unless you wish to give the   customs guy an eyeful when he boards.'

With a yelp she got up and pulled her clothes on.

Theo's phone started ringing the moment they stepped off the plane. And   it wasn't until they were back home that she remembered what he'd said   on the plane.

'What did you mean-"we have much to do before tonight"? We're not going out, are we?' She groaned.

He took the phone from his pocket and checked it as another text message came through. She waited impatiently for him to finish.

'No, we're not going out. But we have a guest coming.'

'A guest? Who?'

'I've invited your father to dinner.'

Inez staggered as if a bucket of ice had been poured over her.

'My father is coming here?'

'Yes.'

'And you didn't think to inform me of this? What makes you think I want to see him?'

'We have to. It's time to get this thing over and done with, once and for all.'

'And you don't care how I feel about it?'

'I thought we agreed to fix things when we return to Rio?' he asked with a frown.

'Yes, but when you said we, I thought you meant us, you and me. More   fool me. Because there is not me without my father, is there?'

'What are you talking about? Of course there is.'

'Then why would you go behind my back to arrange this?'

A tic started in his temple. 'Because it's my fault you're in the middle   of all this.' He sighed and clawed a hand through his hair. 'I got a   chance to fix things with my mother in Bermuda. We may never get back   what we had but I'll take that over nothing. Whatever relationship you   choose to have with your own father from here on in is up to you. But   this is a hardship I caused in your life and one I have a duty to fix.'

The fight fizzed out of her but the fear that something had gone seriously wrong between the airport and home wouldn't go away.

At seven on the dot, the doorbell rang. She passed her hand over her   black jumpsuit and tucked a lock of hair nervously behind her ear as she   stood by Theo's side.

The butler entered the living room, followed by her father.

Benedicto da Costa drew to a halt. His narrowed gaze slid from Theo to   her, his face a mask of dark anger and cold malice she'd forced herself   to overlook in the past.

Now she saw him for who he really was. Images of Theo's scars flashed through her mind and her hands fisted at her side.

'I won't shake your hand because this isn't a social visit,' he rasped icily to Theo. 'And I won't be dining with you, either.'

'Perfectly fine by me. Frankly, the quicker we get this over with the   better. But let me remind you that you're here only because of Inez. She   may be your daughter but she's under my protection now. I suggest you   don't lose sight of that fact. What business you and I have will be   finished by week's end.'

Her father's gaze swung back to her. 'Are you just going to stand there   and let him speak to your father that way? You disappoint me.'

'That's no surprise. I've been a disappointment from the moment I was born a girl, Pai.'

'Your mother will be rolling in her grave at your behaviour.'

She raised her chin. 'No, actually. Mãe told me every day she was proud   of me. She also encouraged me to follow my dreams. She wanted to be a   sculptor. Did you know that?'                       
       
           



       

'What's your point?'

'She was talented, Pai. But she gave it up for you. It was her, not you,   who taught me what loyalty and family meant. You were only focused on   exploiting that loyalty for your own selfish needs.'

His face tightened and his eyes flickered to Theo, who'd been standing by her with his arms folded, a half smile on his face.

'Is this what I came here for? To be lectured by an ungrateful child?'

Theo shrugged. 'I'm finding it quite entertaining.'

Benedicto growled and shot to his feet. 'If there is a point, son, I suggest you get to it.'

Theo grew marble-still, his smile disappearing in the blink of an eye.   Pure rage vibrated off his body and Inez watched his nostrils flare as   he sucked in a control-sustaining breath.

'I am not your son. And you are not worthy to be a father. It's a shame   you didn't learn how to be a better parent from the mother who gave   birth to you in that favela you deny you grew up in. And don't bother   denying it again. I know everything there is to know about you, da   Costa.'

For the first time since he'd walked in, Benedicto grew wary. He   strolled to the drinks cabinet and took his time examining all the   expensive spirits and liqueurs displayed.

Without asking, he poured a measure of single malt whisky and took a   bold sip. 'So I bent the truth a little. So what? You've already   discredited my campaign. What do you want? My company? Is that your end   game? You want to pick up the shares for Da Costa Holdings for peanuts?   Well, over my dead body.'

Theo's laugh was menacing enough to cause her skin to tingle in alarm.   'Trust me, a few weeks ago it would've been my pleasure to grant you   your wish. But you're wrong on that score. Your company is of no   interest to me.'

His wariness increased. 'What's changed?'

Theo's eyes flicked to her and her heart thudded. 'Your daughter.'

'Really?'

Inez shook her head in astonishment. 'Do you really not know who he is, Pai?' she asked.

Theo's mouth curved in a mirthless smile. 'Oh, he knows who I am. He's   just hoping that I don't know what he did twelve years ago.'

Benedicto swallowed, his gaunt face growing pale until he looked ashen. 'I have no idea what you're talking-'

She rushed towards him, anger, pain and disappointment coiling like   poisonous snakes inside her. 'Don't you dare deny it. Don't you dare!'   Her voice cracked and a sob broke through her chest. 'You had a boy   kidnapped and tortured! For money. How could you?'

Eyes she'd once thought were like her own turned black with sinister   rage. 'How could I? I did it for you. The fancy clothes you strut about   in and that fancy car you drive? Where do you think the money came  from?  I needed it to save the company. Anyway, it was my money. Why did  I  have to go back to farming just because Pantelides couldn't keep it  in  his pants or stop his bit on the side from blowing the whistle on  him?'

Inez's hand flew to her mouth, her insides icing over. 'Santa Maria, you truly are a monster.'

Her father's jaw tightened and he addressed Theo. 'Is this the point   where you hand whatever file you've gathered on me over to the   authorities?'

Theo's mouth twisted. 'So you can bribe your way out of jail? No.'

Benedicto frowned. 'Then what the hell do you want?'

Theo glanced over at her and a look of almost relief washed over his   face, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. 'That's up to   Inez. And only her. I'm done with you.'

Inez raised her suddenly heavy head and looked from one man to the other.

One stood tall, proud and breathtaking. A man she'd been so determined   not to let in. But whose tortured vulnerability had drawn her to him,   made her see beneath his skin to the frightened child who was   desperately seeking answers.

Choking tears filling her eyes, she turned to the monster who was her   father. 'I have nothing else to say to you. I don't want to see you ever   again. Goodbye.'

Turning sharply from both men, she rushed out of the room and fled up the stairs.                       
       
           



       

* * *

Theo wasted no time in throwing Benedicto out once Inez left the room.   He'd meant what he said-he was done with seeking retribution … had been   done almost from the moment he'd met Inez.