Page 16 of Of Vows and Betrayal

“When you said you were coming today, I had to make your favorite,” she says, extending a white cardboard box toward me.

I don’t need to open it to know it’s filled with vanilla and cinnamon Danish pastries, my lifelong addiction.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, clutching the box to my chest.

She gives me a half smile, knowing full well that I don’t truly mean that.

“The organization committee of Hope and Harmony Day asked if you were still on the list. I said yes, but with the change of… personnel, I’m wondering.”

Jeremy allowed me to do many things my father would never approve of. I don’t know Javier yet, but based on his reaction this morning, I’m confident he won’t interfere or tell my father.

“No, it’s fine. We have the same understanding. Iwouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll be there.”

She throws another look at Javier’s grim face, clearly unconvinced, but sighs.

“Are you coming back this week?”

“Yes, probably on Saturday.”

“I—” She glances uncomfortably around the store and then at Javier. “I don’t know—I’m not sure, but I saw a few people looking at the store.”

I frown. “Like to vandalize?”

She shakes her head, worry etched on her face. “No, people in suits. I wonder if your father is reconsidering selling.”

“No, he wouldn’t. He promised,” I say with more conviction than I feel. Would he? Would he break my heart like that?

“No, of course, if he promised?—”

I clear my throat. “I have to go. I’ll see you Saturday.”

She seems frazzled by my quick exit, and I can’t blame her. Her words shattered some of my confidence for the day, and I feel an urge to confront my father. But at the same time, I don’t want to reveal where I’ve been.

I walk back to the car and jump in as soon as Javier opens the door. He follows me silently and just sits there, not starting the engine.

After a minute of tense silence, I turn to him. “Is everything okay?”

He turns to me. “I don’t know—you tell me.”

“I’m fine.”

He keeps looking at me. “What’s this Hope and Harmony Day?”

“It’s for the underprivileged kids in the area, and it’s important to me. It helped me sometimes. But you can’t tell my father,” I add quickly.

He arches an eyebrow. “Why would it be a problem?”

“He just thinks these kinds of events are too busy, and there’s not enough security.” I shrug, even though the excuse sounds lame to my own ears.

“Not enough security or not enough control over you?”

His hostility takes me aback. Does he dislike my father that much? If he does, why is he even here?

I’m about to ask when he leans back in his seat. “What are you ready to give me to keep your secret?”

Blackmail… Part of me is disappointed. I imagined this man having a higher moral ground, probably because he jumped into danger to save me. Yet here he is, proving himself no better than any other crook.

“What do you want? Money?” I ask, and my voice sounds as desperate as I feel.

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