Theo ran his fingers down his face. A pang of regret darkened his eyes to a matte black, and she angled closer, curiosity lumping in her throat. Whatever secret he’d kept from her, it seemed big. Too big.
“Horace, my uncle, was the driver who killed your parents.”
…
“Your uncle?”
Theo shortened the gap between them, but she stepped away, covering her mouth. Fuck. He could tell his father hadn’t meant to mention it as a cheap shot, but what option did Theo have but to finally tell her? With one week left with Amaya, he didn’t want to spoil their time together. He’d avoided the subject—but now, he owed her the truth.
She held the arm of the chair before sitting down, her eyes glossy. “How did it happen?”
“Horace said it was an accident. He used to travel to Vegas once a month to meet with big-shot business partners, and during one of those trips, he had too much to drink one night.”
Amaya crossed her legs, then uncrossed them. “As rich as your uncle is, he didn’t think of calling a cab?”
“I’m not justifying his actions.” Hell, as far as he knew, he wasn’t even sure it was an accident. But then again, why would his uncle kill strangers on purpose? Probably in his shallow mindset, their lives didn’t mean much because they weren’t famous or rich. Still, it’d be irresponsible and it’d cost people’s lives. “It’s his fault.”
“When did you find out?” she asked, her voice wavering.
“A couple weeks ago, by accident. I caught him speaking with someone on the phone. He doesn’t know how you and I met, so he thought I brought you here for revenge.”
She looked away from him, threading her fingers together and shifting in the seat. She exuded nervous energy, and his instinct was to rush to her and embrace her until she calmed down. Hell, until he calmed down. He flexed and unflexed his fingers.
“It’s a small world. What are the chances?” she said in a low voice.
“Well, slim. With him not traveling to Vegas anymore, I was the one filling his place,” he said. Bile floated up his throat, and he swallowed it hard. His uncle had fucked up in a major way—and he must have ensured whatever traces could lead to him had been deleted.
Her gaze collided with his, pain flashing in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
His gut tightened, as if a skilled street fighter punched him. “Because I wanted to have a solution first, and it’s not an easy thing to say to someone.”
“Solution? He killed my parents.”
“I understand, but it’s more complicated than that. It’ll be a long process to prosecute him and get him arrested. He’s not an American citizen. Besides—”
She stood, the planes of her face hard and stern. Never had he seen her so angry—or hurt. His family had ended hers. The reality sat a weight on his heart. How could he think this wouldn’t matter one day? “Besides, it probably wasn’t good for business to get him arrested, right? While on a work trip. The president of the empire you want to save. The empire you want to run.”
“Of course I kept this in mind, but—”
She lifted her hand in disagreement. “No. I can’t do this.”
A flicker of apprehension coursed through him. “Do what?”
A blend of anger and disappointment lit her eyes. “You. You didn’t tell me because that would make things harder for you.”
He leaned closer, but she stepped back. “I was trying to protect—”
“You were protecting yourself and your interests. When it comes down to it, you’re no different than your uncle. Maybe your words are more diplomatic, but in the action department, you’re lacking.”
“I just told my father I’m not marrying Talia,” he said, his voice losing energy in the end. What if she had a point? Hadn’t he chosen the most convenient route? He’d intended on accusing his uncle and making him pay, but how could she believe him?
The golden specks of regret in her brown irises matched the sadness in her voice. “Which means jack now that I found out you’d have kept the truth about my parents’ death from me. After all, if you have dirt on your uncle, you can use it against him. You don’t have to marry Talia anymore to get those stocks. So, you don’t get to be the hero who saves the day.”
“Amaya…” he started, unsure about how to finish it. Damn it. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he’d not only managed to hurt her, he’d also…lose her.
She took a step forward. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them off before they fell down her cheeks. “I want to go home. Now. You have one week left, and if you want to discount it from the total amount, please do it. I can’t stay here one more minute.”
Chapter Seventeen
