Page 99 of In Love and Revenge

‘I can give you a million,’ she argues.

We’re silent for a few seconds, just the sounds of two sets of laboured breathing echoing on the line.

But she hasn’t hung up.

‘Beauty,’ I murmur, pinching the bridge of my nose, my voice dropping to a soft exhale. ‘I miss you.Please.’

‘Don’t call me that,’ she whispers back, her fight making way for something stronger.Desire. Desire for me. For us. For the way I’m praying she feels when she’s with me. Judging by the way shekissed me and slept so contentedly in my arms, I’d say she does feel it. Even if she doesn’t want to.

Because I need her to feel the same damn way I feel – obsessed, out of control,complete.

‘Rafael, we ...’ She falters, and I hear it. The way she breathes my name, like it feels right on her lips.

‘We ...’ I repeat, bringing us together as one, uniting us in a singular word. ‘We should talk about things. I want to ask you something.’

‘What?’

‘Not now.’

‘I’m not playing games with you. You want to ask me something, you can ask me now,’ she says.

I bring my phone away from my ear and press the screen to switch to video. Mistrusting eyes appear, framed by soft golden strands, blowing around her face as she walks. I study the buildings behind her for clues about where she is.

‘You’re so bloody beautiful.’

Her cheeks flush and she glances away, her attention on the street ahead.

‘Ask me then,’ she says.

‘I need to look into your eyes. Stop walking.’

She sighs, annoyed.

‘Good girl,’ I murmur as she comes to a standstill and looks directly at her phone’s camera.

‘What is it?’

The flush deepens on her cheeks as I take a few moments to gaze at her, admiring each curve of her face.

‘I need you to tell me the truth,’ I say slowly.

‘Okay.’

Wide, innocent aquamarine eyes blink at me as I lose myself in their depths. Sunlight on top of a glistening, calm ocean.

‘Do you know where it is?’

‘Do I know wherewhatis?’

Her brow furrows in confusion. I’ve never asked her outright. And I know the answer now, after visiting her father. But I need to hear it from her. After all these months, I need to look into her eyes and hear it from her.

‘The money I was investing with your father’s old firm. The money that was stolen from me. Aurora, do you know where it is?’

Chapter 26

Aurora

‘Arsehole!’ I screech, stomping through my front door and tossing my bag on my old tatty sofa.