Chapter Ten

Elena

The day after our little shopping spree had been cold, silent, and distant. We'd had fun - laughing, teasing, even flirting. I'd felt a spark, something almost real beginning to form between us. I loved how I felt about it and I was confident he felt it too.

When we got home, he excused himself to go make a call, and he was in his study for hours. I have never been in his study, even after exploring almost everywhere in the house. When he came back down for dinner, he was polite, attentive even, but distant. Like he was somewhere far away. Tense. Guarded.

Part of me wondered if I had done something wrong. Had I been too forward? Too comfortable? But then I’d catch him looking at me with something soft in his eyes, and I’d tell myself it wasn’t me. Still, something felt off.

With the masquerade ball just a day away, I should be happy about this sudden change, right? Maybe he wanted to call the wedding off and I could return to my father, my friends, my old life. So why did the thought of leaving make my stomach tighten?

I padded downstairs barefoot, drawn by the rich scent of coffee and something sweet baking in the oven. Maria was already in the kitchen, humming to herself as she stirred something on the stove.

She turned as I walked in. "Buenos días, Elena. You look tired. Are you okay?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Just needed some caffeine."

She studied me for a second, then nodded. "Coffee's almost ready. Want breakfast?"

I shook my head. "Not hungry. Is Diego around?"

"He left early for a meeting in the city," she replied, pouring hot coffee into a mug and sliding it across the counter to me.

"Thanks." I wrapped my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my skin.

I hesitated. "Maria, have you noticed anything... off about him lately?"

Before she could answer, a burst of footsteps thundered down the stairs.

"Aunty Elena!" Calah came racing into the kitchen, her curls bouncing with every step. "I had the coolest dream! We were in rocket ships! Flying! Like whoosh!"

I laughed, grateful for the distraction. "Rocket ships? That sounds amazing. Where were we going?"

"To the moon! And Daddy was the captain. You were the doctor, and I was the queen of space!"

Maria chuckled, pausing her stirring to listen. "What kind of crown does the queen of space wear, mi amor?"

"A shiny one! With stars and everything!"

Calah went on excitedly, jumping from one detail to the next, barely pausing for breath. Her joy was infectious. I found myself smiling as I sipped my coffee, letting her energy wash over the morning's unease.

But then the front door opened. I heard heavy footsteps, uneven and hurried. Maria turned, frowning slightly.

Diego walked in, his shirt wrinkled and smeared with dirt. There was blood on his hand—dripping from a gash along his palm.

"Oh my God," I gasped, setting my mug down. "Maria, take Calah upstairs."

Calah, seeing her father, started to run toward him. "Daddy!"

Diego crouched quickly, hiding his injured hand behind his back. He kissed her on the forehead. "Upstairs, mi princesa. I'll be up in a bit."

She beamed. "Okay!"

As soon as she was gone, I rushed to him.

"What happened? Diego, you're bleeding. Come here."

He didn't resist as I led him to the sink. I turned on the faucet and gently took his hand, letting the water rinse the blood away.

"It's not deep," he said finally, voice low.

"It's bleeding enough to need stitches," I muttered, grabbing a clean towel. "Sit down. I'll get the first aid kit."

I found it in the storage closet and returned, kneeling in front of him. He sat silently, watching me as I opened the kit and took out what I needed.

I dabbed antiseptic on the wound.

He winced.

"Sorry."

"Don't be."

I wrapped the bandage around his hand, smoothing it carefully.

"You want to tell me what happened?" I asked, not looking up.

Silence stretched between us.

I packed up the kit, turning to put it away, when he caught my hand.

"Stay."

He pulled me gently onto his lap. I didn’t resist.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, his face pressing into the crook of mine. He exhaled, slow and shaky.

"Someone blew up one of my warehouses," he whispered.

I froze.

"What? Who?"

"Someone on the inside. It's a message."

My fingers tightened around him.

He lifted his head, and the look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. Anger. Pain. Betrayal.

"It’s not the warehouse," he said. "It’s what it means. Someone close to me is working against me. Someone I trusted."

He looked away, jaw tight.

"I built this family with loyalty. I gave everything to protect them. And now—"

He didn't finish.

"Diego," I said softly, brushing my hand over his cheek. "We'll find out who did it."

His gaze snapped back to mine. "We?"

I nodded.

"I'm with you. I know what that means now, and it scares me. But I'm not walking away."

He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, they were softer, like he was seeing me for the first time.

"I don't deserve you."

"Maybe not," I teased lightly. "But you have me anyway."

He smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

"They think I won’t find them. That I’ll back down. But when I do find them, Elena..."

I didn’t flinch.

"Then they’ll learn not to cross you."

He held me tighter.

"This life isn’t easy," he murmured. "You still want in?"

I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I didn't think I did. But now... I don’t think I could leave you if I tried."

For a long while, we sat in silence. His hand rested on my back, my fingers curled in his shirt.

I could feel the storm building inside him. But for now, I was his anchor and I didn’t want to let go.