by Piper Page
“Krista, hey, it’s me, Diego.”
No answer.
Her mouth started to twitch. I wished I could’ve kissed her and brought her back to life, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the power of Prince Charming. All I could do was shake her by the shoulders and pray that she would wake.
I kept scanning the parking lot, but no one arrived. The guy behind me continued to moan, but Krista didn’t speak.
She must’ve passed out from shock. Because the other guy looked much worse than her. I pressed my fingertips to her pulse and felt a steady beat before I kissed her on the forehead.
“I’m taking you back home.”
Back home, with me, where she belonged. She certainly didn’t belong here.
Her lips twitched again, then her eyelids flickered and her head bobbed as she murmured.
I would take that as a yes. And who knew, maybe my kiss could bring her back to life—maybe I was more Prince Charming than I thought. I would have laughed at that, but my body pooled with worry for Krista. I lifted her and cradled her close before I dropped her down into the passenger seat.
We peeled out of the parking lot. As I hurried down the single lane highway flanked with woods, I called for travel plans through my Bluetooth. The pilot and the crew of my brothers’ private jet would be waiting for me by the time I arrived. I also suggested that we get a medical assistant to check her out for a possible concussion, and they were able to call someone out from an hour away. A night call with a big payout could make anyone hurry, even doctors.
Finally, we came to the foot of the tarmac. She stirred as the car screeched to a halt in front of the jet.
“Wha—Diego?”
“Easy, you’re all right,” I told her. I unhooked her seatbelt and supported her behind her neck, until she could lift up and look around.
“Where are we going?”
I asked her to follow my finger as I waved it back and forth. She followed it perfectly.
“I’m taking you back with me. Is that what you want?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll keep you safe, Krista. This will never happen to you again.”
She tried to respond, only managing to say “okay.”
I parked the rental car and helped her out. She felt weak, dead weight in my arms. The crew members helped her up the steps, and inside, the doctor checked her for a concussion. Luckily, he was a local sports doctor and dealt with concussions all the time.
He reported that she looked fine. What she probably suffered from, like I’d thought, was shock. To be careful, I needed to keep her awake during the flight, then bring her to a hospital for more tests tomorrow.
I thanked him and dismissed him. Now that she was coming with me, I didn’t want to waste any time. I needed her back where she belonged.
For the most part, Krista kept her eyes closed and her hand placed beneath mine. Around an hour into our flight, she came alive and looked up at me, like she wanted to say something.
“What is it?”
Her bottom lip quivered. Her hand went weak in mine again.
“It might be a little late to turn back now,” I said.
A slow smile crossed her lips. “I’m going where I want to. With you. That’s not…”
“What?”
Did that asshole threaten her somehow? “If he tries to do anything to you, I’ll end his life. Or make him wish I’d ended it.”
“Thank you,” she said before shutting her eyes again.
That didn’t sit right with me. She wouldn’t want me to kill him. I knew Krista well enough that she wouldn’t go for that. There must’ve been something else on her mind that she didn’t share with me.
The rest of the flight I let her rest. The pilots booked it and shaved off time; the flight lasted only three hours. Upon our arrival in Puerto Rico, a black Mercedes waited for us on the tarmac. I didn’t want to drive, but instead sit right beside her, to look over her. She started to perk up as we drove into the city. It was early morning by now and everyone except for the craziest party hound was asleep.
“I’ve already booked a hotel for you,” I said.
She clutched my hand. “I don’t want to be alone.”
I saw real fear in her then. “Then you won’t be. You’ll stay with me.”
Krista nuzzled up against me. I snaked my arm around her and pulled her closer after I told the driver to change direction back to my place. We’d been inseparable those few weeks together, and now it felt like everything slid back into its rightful place.
The gates to my beachfront estate opened. We wound our way around the circular drive to the front.
“I’ll take it from here, Al. Thanks a lot.”
“My pleasure, sir,” Al called back as he tipped his head.
I helped Krista out of the Mercedes. She took the white stone steps steadily so I didn’t need to guard her as closely. Admittedly, I liked being close to her, my hands all over her soft body, exploring it again.
The lights turned on automatically when we stepped inside the foyer. She strained under the brightness, so I hurried over and dimmed them.
She’d not been in this mansion before. I’d brought her to a less luxurious one. Now that she knew who I really was, I could show her this. It looked absurd compared to where I’d brought her earlier.
“I’ve got it, thank you, Diego,” she said as we got to the staircase.
“If you need help, I’m right here.”
Right behind you, watching that sexy ass sway.
It must’ve been her last push to get to the bedroom. She dropped down onto it as soon as she saw it, but she seemed unwilling to lay flat until I joined her.
Something bothered me. She settled in much too quickly. Much too easily. Why did I bother her with this now? I walked over to the balcony doors and swung them open, allowing the moonlight to stream in.
I turned to her. “What I am doesn’t scare you?”
“You don’t scare me. It’s good to see you again.”
Did she know what I’d done? What I was capable of? Krista left because of it. And she’d not tried to come back to me. Not a word. Even when I’d been in that hospital bed.
But she looked so sweet and innocent as she waited for me.
I dropped down beside her, and my tension dissipated. I rubbed the back of my awfully tight neck. “I’m worried that you’ll try to run again.”
She said nothing, only stared back. Like I wasn’t really there. But it didn’t hurt me. “This isn’t really the time to have deep discussions, is it?” I noted.
Krista shook her head and her dimples shone with the moonlight beaming in. With me close, she allowed herself to drop back onto the sheets.
She moaned and stretched out.
“Get yourself comfortable.” I grinned.
My mood shifted—all that mattered was that we were close again. I’d been dying to smell her, to taste her, to touch her, to hear her voice lifting me up.
I pressed beside her. I wrapped my arms around my girl, the only girl who could drive me this crazy. I’d flown to the States to get her back, fought for her, and now I’d let her into my secret life.
I trusted her with everything.
After brushing back her hair, I took a deep inhale of her arousing scent. My cock began to respond, but I shut it down. Right now, Krista needed me to protect her. And I would do that tonight. I would be there for her as long as she needed me.
Even if we were from different worlds, we had to make this work.
Chapter 9
Krista
* * *
For the past hour, I’d been pretending to sleep.
Diego had slept soundly against me. Pressed close, warming me, I should’ve felt safe next to him.
Worry knotted in my gut. I twisted my feet together as I racked my brain for answers. He’d saved me, and coming here had seemed like a great idea at the time. Now that I was here, it hit me that I was sleeping next to a drug dealer.
Not on
ly a drug dealer, but a murderer. I felt it in my bones. He’d killed before. And I wasn’t talking about the men who attacked him. That I could understand. That was defense.
My hand rubbed where I’d soon have my baby bump. The baby couldn’t be here. If I couldn’t make up my mind whether to stay, I needed to make it up for the baby.
Carefully, I picked Diego’s heavy arm off me. I dropped it softly on the mattress. When I stood, his eyelids flickered. I thought he would catch me and never let me go.
I’d been out of my mind last night. I clutched my throbbing forehead. Whenever I tried to think about it, it hurt. Large portions of it were still gone, mostly the plane ride, and some of the time outside with Bill.
I remembered clearly telling Diego to take me here, so he would be confused when he woke to find me gone. I crept away and out of the room, taking the grand staircase to the main foyer. In the kitchen, which was as big as my apartment, I found a notepad and pen.
Pain rushed between my temples again. What on Earth would I tell him?
Tell him the truth. Speak from the heart.
Sure, why not. I would try my best.
Emotion welled in me as I put pen to paper.
I wrote, “Thank you for saving my life last night, Diego. I will never forget it. Just like I will never forget what happened between us. It was magical for a time. Staying here would be comfortable, like it was comfortable last night when I let you take me here. I thought everything would be okay.
“I was shaken up. I wasn’t in my right mind. After I woke, I realized that I couldn’t stay here. It would be selfish. I have a baby now that I need to take care of. Take care, Krista.”
I pushed it onto the center of the table. As I crept out, I peered up to the second floor again. I would’ve liked to leave without doubt, but doubt filled me.
It’s easy to go back to him. Doing the right thing is walking away.
The luxury that surrounded me—the diamond chandelier, the fancy artwork, the gold trim on the walls—it reminded me of who he was, a criminal.
I opened the door and stepped outside. The early morning air and the salty smell of the sea wafted toward me, waking me up. It cleared my mind and I set off, opening his gate and then walking down the road until I got about a mile away.
He would come for me. He would try to track me down. Diego never stopped. Diego, if he had any sense left, would read the note, then leave me alone. I spelled it out clearly that he was not to contact me. The next time he heard from me would be if I decided to contact him.
I searched on my phone for a taxi company. I found a number and used a nearby street sign on the corner to place the call. This was a wealthy neighborhood, much nicer than the one I lived in back in New York, so I had nothing to fear as I waited.
Besides, it was early. No one was up yet.
I sat down and waited. Ten minutes later, a black car turned onto my street. The driver picked me and I told him where to go, to Diego’s private beach. My travel plans would need to be arranged, and the beach was a wonderful place to think. I doubted Diego would search for me there. He would check the airports or hotels first.
“Thank you.” I slipped the driver a few bills. He frowned, probably figuring with an American waiting on a random corner, he’d get a better tip.
“Sorry, I don’t have much on me.”
As soon as I got out, he sped off. I took the rocky hillside slowly to the private beach, the only sign of life a few seagulls flapping about. The sun was held at bay, and the ocean breeze woke my morning stupor as I sat down, huddling with my knees against my chest.
I looked out at the steady rolling of the waves, the tide calm and bubbling near my feet.
My worries were dragged away with the tide. I reached into my pocket for my cell phone, a tiny worry re-appearing and gnawing at my gut as I pressed my dad’s name.
It took three rings for him to pick up. He got up early every morning, but I never called him this early.
“Hello? Sweetheart?” He sounded surprised to hear me.
“Hi, Dad.”
“What’s wrong?”
I sputtered. “What do you mean, what’s wrong? I only said hello.”
“I can tell by your tone.”
Dad read me far too well. He’d raised us by himself after Mom went to prison for getting into a fight at the grocery store over cutting in line. It was no excuse, but she was on a bender at the time.
I hardly ever talked to him about my love life. He’d been open and understanding when teaching me about the feminine stuff at a young age, but when it came to guys, that was out of the question.
So when he asked about Bill, I told him everything was fine until our accident. When I told him, he’d gotten furious, his face turning beet red and his fists shaking. I held him back. Like Diego, he was extremely protective of his loved ones.
For a while after, he’d thought I was on the right track. When I told him my plan to go to Puerto Rico, he questioned me. Tina, he thought, was a party girl. In the end, he told me to have a good time.
“Are you feeling okay?” Dad knew about my pregnancy, and all about the pains that went along with it. I’d complained to him daily.
“It’s not like that…” I paused and sighed. “I met with her father again.”
I’d been calling the baby her, because I refused to use “it.”
His voice went cold. “I thought you told me you didn’t want anything to do with him?”
That was before I was attacked and he rescued me, saving the baby. That part I wouldn’t tell my dad. There was only so much drama he could take.
“I’m confused,” I admitted.
“About being with him?” I heard him walking in circles. “If you’re calling me to talk about it, I can tell you really care.”
I did really care about him.
Okay, I inhaled deeply. My dad would have to know the whole truth.
He might not like it—or rather, he definitely wouldn’t like it. But if I didn’t tell him, he’d go on and on about how I should give Diego a second chance.
“There’s something about Diego I need to tell you.”
“Huh?”
What a weird call. Would I be getting calls like this from my kid in twenty years? I seriously hoped not. It would be great karma, though. I paused, cringing at what I’d say next.
“When I got involved, I didn’t know this about him. He’s a criminal, Dad.”
He halted his circling. “What kind of criminal?”
It pained me to say this. “A drug dealer. That’s all that I know.”
“Oh hell,” he said, resuming his nervous pacing. He stopped again and seemed out of breath. “The kid can’t be around him if he’s selling drugs.”
“He’s not a small time drug dealer. Like, he’s not selling weed to college kids. This is a big operation. He’s filthy rich.”
“What? You can’t be serious. You’re messing with me, aren’t you, Krista?”
“Yeah, I wish I was,” I said solemnly. I buried my feet in the sand. I wished I could shove my head underneath and go to sleep.
I pleaded with my dad, not wanting him to think I’d gotten involved on purpose. My heart had been in the right place. “When he came up to me, he was so charming and nice. He was rich, I could tell, but I never thought he’d be involved in crime. Apparently, his family owns the biggest cartel south of Florida. Yeah, yeah, it’s bad, and I’m going to have a kid with him, so my kid’s father is going to be a criminal.”
I almost let the word murderer slip. My father couldn’t handle that. He was breathing heavily on the other line, probably clutching the countertop.
“He wants me to stay,” I said.
“That is no place for a baby, or my baby,” he replied, crystal clear.
“Dad, you can stop calling me your baby. I’m too old for that.”
“Fine, but you know what I’m saying. It’s no place for a child and it’s no place for you. What about college?”
&nb
sp; “I know,” I pouted, “I know.” I sounded so defeated, even I heard it.
There was a long silence on both of our ends.
“You’re going to come back, right?” he asked, his tone shaky.
“I’m coming home. I’m really sorry for putting you through this, Dad. I just needed someone to talk to.”
“Like I said, if you’re calling me, it must really be serious. What about Tina? Don’t you usually talk to her about this?”
“It’s embarrassing. I feel like I’m constantly fucking up, hopping from one mistake to the next.”
I’d broken it off with my drunken ex, only to be impregnated by a career criminal. Nice. I’d thought I was doing better—so did Tina—so I couldn’t look her in the eye and tell her the whole truth.
We’d fought constantly over Bill. She’d been right when she told me to leave him. My heart longed to be back with Diego, yet reason told me to flee back to New York.
I knew what was right. To leave. My father solidified my plan.
“Thanks, Dad, for listening to me. Trust me when I say it, I’m going to be a great mother.”
“I know you will. That’s not what I’m worried about. Now take care of yourself and get back here.”
I thanked him again and then hung up.
This was a new low. I dropped back onto the sand and stared up at the thin clouds flying past me.
I’d make travel plans to leave tomorrow. For now, hollow and searching for answers, I would lay on the beach and stare at the sky.
A few minutes later, the seagulls squawked. Someone approached me. I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Diego.
He’d found me.
Chapter 10
Diego
* * *
I know everyone. It’s my job to know everyone, and if I don’t know them, they want to know me. I called Fernando, the owner of the biggest cab company in all of Puerto Rico. It wasn’t difficult to find where an American girl matching Krista’s appearance went early in the morning. The cab controller called around to every cab, and in a few minutes, he told me they dropped her off at my private beach.