“Katya,” Antonio’s smooth voice startled her out of her head, causing her to jerk toward him. “Shit. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have walked up on you like that. How are you?”
“Alive.” She gave a half-hearted smile. “How about you?”
“Good. Bastian has helped me in ways I’ll never be able to thank him for.”
“Do you blame yourself for what happened?”
“No. Dmitri is an evil man, Katya. I know he was your father, but stealing Matias’ lithium was the least of his crimes.”
“What do you mean?”
“We found evidence at your house that your father is smuggling women. You were not the firstwoman he sold for his gain.” Katya winced at his words, the pain of being treated like a commodity still fresh in her heart. “I’m sorry. That was callous of me to say. Do you think you are somehow to blame for what happened to you?”
Katya dipped her chin to her chest and sighed. “Yes. I can’t help but think if I hadn’t run away from Jorge the first time, none of this would have happened. You wouldn’t have been hurt. I wouldn’t have been ruined.”
“Listen.” Antonio rested against the railing and turned toward her. “No one blames you for Dmitri’s sins. You're not your father. What happened to you was horrific, Katya, but you can’t let it define you. Find someone to talk to, don’t bottle it up or you’ll explode inside.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“Yes, and then I met my future sister-in-law. She is my best friend and lets me be me. She listens when I need to vent and gives me advice when I need it. Find someone like that. I’m going to say this, even if it pisses you off.” Antonio watched her facial expressions before speaking again. “Leave Vegas. This place holds memories that will keep you prisoner. Matias is a good man. He’ll take care of you no matter where you want to be, but this place? No. Go to Chile and heal.”
“Wow. Tired of me already?” she chuckled nervously.
“Not at all. I just think you deserve a chance at new beginnings.”
“What about my father? He’s still out there and he won’t stop coming for me.”
“Between my family, Matias, and Miguel—your father is not getting to you, Katya. You’re safest with Matias.”
Matias smiled as he approached her and Antonio against the railing. She smiled back at him, but not before pulling Antonio into a hug.
“Thank you.” Antonio stiffened beneath her grasp, aware of the growl coming from Matias. “Stop it, Matias, Antonio helped you, too.”
Antonio stepped out of her arms and brushed passed Matias. “Take care of her, Matty.”
“Really? Don’t call me that or I’ll kill you. I don’t care if you're Massimo’s brother.”
“Matias!” Katya gasped.
“Kidding. Thank you for taking care of her, Antonio. You’ll have to come visit the vineyards once Bastian gets them up and running again.”
“Yeah… he mentioned the same thing earlier.”
Matias couldn’t take his eyes off Katya as he waved Antonio inside.
“Are you ok?”
“Yes. I think Antonio is right, though.”
“Right about what?”
“It’s time to leave this place. I can’t stay here and have a constant reminder of my father or Jorge.”
“Are you sure?”
Katya moved closer to Matias and wrapped her arms around his back. She rested her head against his chest and sighed into his shirt. He wasn’t sure how to react as it was the first time she’d gotten physical with him since being reunited.
“Yes. I love you. It’s going to take me time to be myself again, but I’m ready to go home—if you’ll have me.”
