Chapter Six
When the cab stopped in front of a hotel, Erika inhaled. They had left the car, and he had called a cab from a local payphone. Emanuel had insisted on dropping the car, and going back to the shack to pick up his rental wasn’t a possibility. Those thugs had probably used his rental anyway.
“We’ve arrived at the hotel,” Emanuel announced.
The cab came to a stop on the side lot of a white building with a distinguished green tile pattern on the side. She reached for the door handle, but before she could pull it, he had gone around the car and opened her door. Chivalry? She shrugged. He probably would keep her even closer after her last escape attempt. Although…how could they be closer? I kissed his dick. That’s pretty freaking close.
They walked into the lobby, and she scanned the ample area. Her shoes squeaked against the polished, shining wood floor. A couple of tourists spoke in French and pointed at one of the pamphlets they picked from the rack. She wished she wore something a little fancier. A dash of regal, old money surrounded the place.
The receptionist talked to Emanuel, who showed her the fake passports as identification, and he paid with cash. They were the same passports he’d used for their entry in the country. Did he even know he kept breaking the laws? He must really believe in his cause.
Did she? She swallowed. A nagging feeling stabbed at her like a lurking fly she couldn’t swat. If she had believed her father’s innocence, she wouldn’t be here. Yet, the last day had turned into a puzzle with missing pieces.
Emanuel said something to the receptionist and squeezed her shoulder. Her mind screamed at her to jerk away and give him a clear message that seduction no longer had a place in this game, but her body seared with longing. Heat coiled low in her belly, brewing into blatant desire.
The female clerk smiled and handed them the keycards. “Enjoy your stay. And congratulations,” she said in heavily accented English.
“Congratulations?” she whispered to Emanuel, frowning.
“The only suite they had was the honeymoon one. I joked and said we’re newlyweds anyway.”
“Excuse me? Do we need to be married to have that suite?”
“No, but I’d rather the staff think of us as a couple who’s traveling to celebrate a month wedding anniversary than two outcasts who are on the run.”
“Makes sense. How big is said suite?” she asked, unable to hide the fear from her voice. The last time they’d shared a room… She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. What if he wanted to punish her for her behavior? Worse, what if she liked the punishment?
“We’ll find out.” He placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the hallways. A floor to ceiling glass wall showcased the lush green trees and bushes outside. A couple of monkeys hung out on the branches, and she wondered if they enjoyed or dreaded human interaction.
A group of young folks and children ate at the lobby restaurant. They all chattered, taking pictures and exchanging glances. A little girl whispered something in her mother’s ear, and the mother’s lips broke into a delighted smile. Longing twisted hard in her chest, and sadness clogged her throat. She would give up anything for one more moment with her mother.
“Are you okay?” Emanuel asked, maybe sensing her change of mood.
She nodded quickly, glanced at the ramp ahead. He gestured for her to go. Vulnerability blazed in her stomach, and she quivered. He never trusted her, but after all that went down, they’d have to spend time together. Still, she willed herself to walk and followed him to the end of the hallway on the upper level.
He opened the door for her. “This way.”
She sucked in her breath, then let out a long exhale. A white sofa stretched along the space. The wood from the floors and wall blended with the pastel drapes quite harmoniously. A leather folder containing flyers and menus sat on the oval coffee table. The uncluttered, minimalist, chic style accentuated the large four-poster bed on the end.
Emanuel dropped the backpack on the floor, tossed the keycard on the couch, and started to remove his shoes. She remained still, her eyes glued to that dreamy ambiance—for honeymooners. To them, the idea of sharing that impossibly romantic room should be repulsive.
A basket of fresh fruit and a couple of bottles of water occupied the old-world writing desk. She expected a suite, by definition, to have a small room leading up to the bedroom. Nope. Not this one.
This one offered a large, airy place. Of course couples celebrating anniversaries or special dates wouldn’t need much privacy from each other.
“What’s troubling you, Erika? You changed when you saw those people at the restaurant.”
“I’m good.”
“I need to know. Did you recognize anyone there?”
Not in the way you think. What kind of sappy, pathetic girl would he peg her for if she admitted she saw herself in that little girl, exchanging secrets with her mom? And she missed her mother. Missed anyone who would listen to her, care for her. God. Tears filled her eyes, burning her lids, but she blinked them back. If she fell apart right now, she would never piece herself together again. “No. Just this whole thing is taking a toll on me,” she said, settling for generalization.
He opened his mouth and quickly shut it. Shaking his head more to himself than to her, he ran his fingers through his hair. Did he have something to get off his chest, too? Did she imagine the compassion flickering in his eyes and softening his features for a moment?
“You should take it easy today. I don’t know what the next few days hold for us, but for now we are staying put. And if you make any attempt to contact your father, you will sabotage your own discovery.”
Whatever happened, she would deal with it. Denial was a luxury she couldn’t afford. “I won’t. I promise.”
“Good. I want to give him some time to understand we’re not a sure thing. He can’t just send his goons and expect us not to react.”
“You don’t have children or a significant other, right?” she asked, even though her blood cooled in apprehension. A little bit too late to ask that, wasn’t it? When she was engaged to Bruno, he’d told her all his siblings were unmarried.
“No.”
“Then you must not know what it’s like to worry about someone. Despite my father’s many flaws, I’m his daughter, and I’m sure he worries about me. That’s what you do when you care for someone. What would you have done if your wife or daughter went missing?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t dwell on hypotheses. Besides, I’m not marrying or having children.”
How original. “And you have a crystal ball to know that for sure?”
“I just know myself.”
“Well, good for you. At least you’ll keep from breaking someone’s heart,” she said, and hoped he didn’t detect the pang of annoyance in her voice. What difference did his views on marriage and children make for her? It had no impact on her life whatsoever.
Emanuel inhaled and gave her a lingering glance. Nostalgia darkened his hazel irises, and she wished she knew why. “Exactly. I like to be honest,” he said.
What a convenient time for him to be honest. Why did guys think it was cool to be complete jerks as long as they waved the honesty flag? “Except when you’re kidnapping someone and need to use false pretenses to get her into the van,” she said, her voice more bitter than she would have intended.
He gave her a carefree smile that sent a thrill of excitement down her body. “Exceptions occur.”
She shrugged. “Of course.” She had to remind herself when it came to getting close to Emanuel, she was the rule and not the exception, even if such truth bothered her a little more than it should.
…
Emanuel checked his messages. Damn it. Several texts from Addie and a few from Bruno flashed on his screen. At this point he doubted they hadn’t discovered he had Erika with him. Shit. He grabbed the untraceable phone and dialed his brother’s cell. He would do anything to keep from talking to Addie about this for the time being. Addie’s skillful ability to drill anyone in the family for answers was her trademark. They usually teased her about it at gatherings and birthday parties.
“What’s going on?” Bruno asked when he picked up the phone on the second ring, allowing no dilly-dallying. “Silas contacted me about Erika, and Addie said you’re MIA. If you have anything to tell me, Emanuel, do so now.”
Emanuel sighed into the phone. Oh shit. Erika had gone to take a shower in the lavish bathroom. “Calm down, man. I’ve got it under control.”
“Where are you?”
Emanuel toyed with the edges of the in-room dining menu. If he told his brother, not only would he compromise his goal, but he’d also put his family in danger. Emanuel banked on Silas not sending his people to search for them at a resort. “I can’t say. I’m safe and so is Erika. I guarantee it, brother.”
He heard Bruno inhale on the other end of the line. “Emanuel, what the fuck have you gotten yourself into? Silas isn’t known for his forgiving character. He could throw you in jail for kidnapping and God knows what.”
Such fear never crossed his mind. He tossed the menu to the other side of the bed. If Silas wanted to expose Emanuel as the prime suspect in a kidnapping, he would have done so already. Silas was a smart man…who knew if he brought Emanuel down, he’d be vulnerable, too. His business. His freedom. “Won’t happen. He threatened Raul, and now the engineer has disappeared. I won’t release Erika until he admits to it. That’s the least I can give Raul’s family.” A vulnerable family who had no chance unless he helped them. When he’d been a kid, he’d known those feelings well. But he couldn’t count on anyone and didn’t want to burden his ailing mother, overworked father, or stressed out siblings. Every man must fight his own war.
“Why didn’t you tell me about your plans?”
“Because you have a wife and a daughter.” And I don’t. The words tingled at the tip of his tongue. He had the time to dedicate to causes without worrying about the repercussions on his lifestyle. He didn’t need additional responsibilities to complicate his life.
“How do you think your business partners will react when they find out you’re moonlighting as an outlaw?” Bruno said. He hated when his brother had a point. If the story went public, it would look bad for him and certainly discredit his ability to make sound decisions—a must for the head of one of the country’s largest investment firms. Thankfully for him, if he had his career destroyed overnight, he’d still be in a very comfortable financial situation—and hopefully not behind bars.
“They won’t. Trust me on this,” Emanuel said, clinging to confidence. Why would Silas want to smear his public imagine just to bring someone else down?
“I’m trying, meu irmão. But you have to understand, it’s tricky.”
“Tricky it is.”
Bruno sighed into the phone. “Put Erika on the phone. I need to know she’s okay.”
Emanuel glanced at the steam filtering the door. No way he’d let his brother talk to Erika with so much tension between them. What if she gave Bruno their location or blurted out his plans? His brother didn’t like to sit and wait, but Emanuel would make him. He cleared his throat. “She can’t come now. She’s in the shower.”
Silence.
“You’re not hiding anything from me, are you?” Bruno asked.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I’ll find out.”
Emanuel bit back a smile. “You’re starting to sound like Addie.”
“She wants to talk to you,” Bruno said.
“I’ll call her later when we can discuss everything, including business stuff. Tchau.” He hung up and flicked the phone off. He supposed at some point he would talk things over with Addie. He owed it to her for showing him a new world. Before her he was too busy making money to make a difference. Thankfully, she slowly introduced him to nonprofit organizations, and after helping her when she was pregnant, he’d formed his own foundation.
Erika stepped out of the bathroom, and he squared his shoulders. He’d called reception and had them send up a couple of outfits from the small boutique downstairs. The yellow dress with an embroidered white pattern didn’t cling to her curves like a sexy nightgown. Yet, somehow the effect on his body was even worse. Fresh faced and with her hair damp and falling down her shoulders, Erika couldn’t possibly look more delightful. Perhaps sensing his gaze on her, she fixed the spaghetti straps, then smoothed her hand over the fabric.
She twirled around. “This dress makes me feel young and carefree.”
As long as I’m not carefree. He needed his every cell to be on high alert around her like she held the key to open a gate he preferred nicely shut. “Looks good.”
“Thanks. What’s the plan?”
“We’ll stay here for today, and leave tomorrow,” he said, opting to tell her as little as possible.
She rubbed her palms together, eyes looking up. “When are we calling my father again? I just want him to know I’m good. Alive.”
“Oh trust me, he knows that, princesa. Those guys filled him in by now.” He walked up to her. “He knows I’m not going to do you any harm. You are far too precious to me.”
“I guess.” Her shoulders sagged a notch and disappointment leaked into her voice. Damn it. “One way or another that’s all I am to men. A hot commodity, a way to get to my father and his wealth.”
“That’s not true,” he rushed to say. Was he lying to her or to himself?
She waved him off. “Forget it.”
Crap. His chest tightened. “Let’s go out to eat.”
“Really?” she said, eyes widening at his suggestion.
Keeping her locked in that room would be easier, but a strange need to distract her from bitterness and show her a brighter side to things filled him. He couldn’t deny he needed her to get to her father. Why did he want to show her she was more to him than just a commodity when he didn’t know what that meant? Didn’t want to know—shouldn’t want to.
“Yeah, we could both use some time off.” It’s just food. That’s all it is.
“Are you going to handcuff me to you?”
Desire stirred in his groins. “No. You’ll be a willing participant in…the events of the day.” He cleared his throat. She chewed on her lower lip, as if expecting him to take that sexual innuendo further. He shook his head. Focus. “You’re a smart woman. If you are who you say you are—someone who has been misled by her own father—you won’t spoil my plan and call him before my approval. Because you want to see for yourself what’s going on.”
She curled her lip. “Of course.”
He hoped she’d be able to deal once she found out the truth.
…
“This is pretty amazing,” Erika said, as they strolled on the deck overlooking the Amazon River. They had shared dinner at the hotel restaurant, and after feasting on grilled seafood, he decided they should go for a walk to stretch out.
What he really wanted was to be in a public setting to avoid staying alone in the room with her. Every time she flashed him an easy smile or commented on the vibrant surroundings with genuine interest, his blood thrummed in his veins. Why couldn’t his mind and dick ever agree about Erika Lancaster? That’d make things so much easier.
“If you come earlier in the year, the water in the river is high, but not too high. It’s better for floating around.”
“That sounds heavenly. Do you come often?”
“Not as a tourist. I oversee some nonprofit organizations in the state,” he said, glancing around them. A few couples snapped some pictures while a teenage girl sold handmade jewelry. As far as he could tell, no one followed them. His plan had worked—Silas’s men had probably driven in the opposite direction.
“Does your charity work have happy endings often?”
He gazed at her. Unsaid truths clogged his throat. He never talked much to women he dated about his own hard days. He wanted to avoid getting too personal and giving them the wrong idea. His neck vein pulsed, and the need to tell her about a carefully hidden part of himself vibrated through him. But why? Was it because she was a temporary aberration? God. They didn’t even live in the same country. “Sometimes. Every day is different.”
She shrugged. “Sometimes it’s tough visiting the children’s hospitals. When you go to their beds, you can see the ones who are part of a loving family. They have letters, stuffed animals, handmade quilts.” She smiled a little. “Then a few are from not so lucky backgrounds. Or maybe they are in foster care. They have the blankets and books from charities or the hospital ward.”
“It must be difficult. But they have you.”
“Yes, but will they still have me? If my father goes down, so will the Amelia Lancaster Foundation.”
“You can visit them, even when you’re not writing the checks. They will still like to see you.” They’ll still want you without the money and the last name. The words dangled at the tip of his tongue, but he bit the inside of his cheek hard to keep from going there.
“You have a solution for everything, don’t you Emanuel Duarte?” She nudged his elbow, but what should have been simple teasing turned into the start of a roar in his body.
Whatever she might think, he still had no good solution for the type of longing burning in his chest. Their intimate conversation—something that usually sent him running for the hills—only made her more endearing. “I’m resourceful.”
She slowed her pace, contemplating him with her pretty brown eyes. “You’re different than your brother. He uses his charm to get his way. You’re more straightforward.”
What the hell did she mean? Didn’t he have an ounce of charm in him? “I really don’t want to talk about Bruno. Neither should you. He’s married now.” Despite knowing Bruno and Erika’s brief engagement had been more of a business venture than a love affair, a strange possessiveness assailed him. It was something he’d never experienced before, and that unnerved him more than he’d expected.
She furrowed her brows. “I’m aware he’s married. You’re not jealous, are you?”
What a stupid concept. Why would he waste time being jealous of things he wouldn’t want anyway? Well, he wanted her of course. He couldn’t possibly care about her past relationships because that wasn’t in his DNA. “Me? Jealous? Nope. Never happened. Isn’t happening now.”
She smiled and nudged his elbow again. If only she knew what her touch did to him. “Good, because that would be ridiculous.”
He squared his shoulders. “Yeah.”
“Since that’s settled, can we move on?”
“Of course.”
They continued their stroll, and he allowed her to walk a couple of steps ahead. Not because of any gentlemanly reasons, but because he wanted to keep an eye on her. That the soft sway of her hips excited him was an added bonus.
Jealous. He snorted. What a fucking joke. He dated one woman at a time and expected the same. But he had never pondered on his former girlfriends’ past lovers.
He curled his fingers into a ball.
“Did you love him?” he asked before he could stop himself. “I know you called it off, but some emotions are as powerful as love. Some people…evoke certain reactions in others.”
She raised her gaze to his, the combination of defiance and honesty cutting the last thread of self-control holding him together. “Like the ones you evoke in me?”
His jaw clenched, and his body stiffened like a concrete wall. Inside, the barriers melted and boiled. She lifted her chin, hands perched at her waist. Challenging him to own up to that crazy pull between them.
“Last time you told me that you tried to escape.”
“I’m not handcuffed now. Are you attracted to me? Will sleeping with me make you feel like you’re screwing your enemy’s daughter? Because if that’s the reason behind it…then I don’t want it.”