Page 23 of Midnight Revelations

She shook her head. “He makes me afraid, but maybe that’s why I liked him in the first place.” Catarina flashed me that too bright smile that said she was fighting for control.

“I’m no expert, but if he frightens you, then maybe you should speak to Papa, or Xavier if you think he’ll not go on a murderous rampage.”

She returned to staring out the window. “I always wanted a man who screamed danger with every step he took. In my head, I craved a jealous, possessive type who would steal me away from the world and claim me as his.” She shrugged and leaned her head against the window. “Maybe it’s time for me to grow up.”

I desperately wanted to confide in Catarina, but how did you tell your sister when she was miserable, that you were in love?

“Maybe normal sex is better than a hairy dick in your mouth or stuck up your ass.” She tried to laugh, but instead a sob emerged.

“Oh, Cat. Just tell him no.”

“He took pictures of me when I was asleep and naked. He’s threatened to put them on the internet.”

My sister bear instinct took over and I turned and stomped toward the door.

“Please.” Catarina caught my hand. “I need to find a way to deal with this myself. Threatening him will do no good, and neither will trying to negotiate with him.”

I wished there was someone to protect her. Someone who would show Tom exactly what happened when you hurt a vulnerable woman.

“Why don’t you sleep in my bed for the next few days?” I suggested. “We can say that I’m feeling unwell and I need you close the way we were as children.”

She smiled. “You used to sneak into my bed and hide from the monsters.”

“The monsters are real now, Cat. We just need to find a way to slay them.”

“Thanks, I think I’ll take you up on your offer.”

Lunch was a strained affair. “Xavier has been in touch, and I have been summoned back to London on family business,” Papa said. “Lucrezia, you will travel with me so that you do not have to be there alone on business. You can sort what you need while we are there.”

“Is Cat not coming?” I asked, needing to keep my sister safe.

“Madison has suggested taking Catarina on a girls-only spa trip. You could go with them if you gave up this notion of being a businesswoman.” He was trying to tempt me, but if he was going to London, then so was I.

Perhaps Madison had noticed Catarina was troubled?

“No, thank you, Papa. I need some more materials.” I gave him an indulgent smile. “Perhaps you would like to help me?”

His shoulders lifting for a brief moment was the only sign of his shock. “You want me to help you?”

I sighed and rested my head on my hand. “I asked Xavier for help because I was lost in a world where men take advantage of women. If you had trained us in your world, that would never have happened, Papa. I want to be independent and to do that I need skills.”

He studied me silently. “Perhaps I have been too severe in keeping my girls behind my walls.”

“We are your heirs, Papa,” I replied in a low tone. “Not Xavier. Maybe it’s time you showed us what it means to be a Black in the business world.”

“I never wanted any of you to get hurt,” he said as if speaking to himself.

“My inexperience got me hurt.”

He nodded slowly. “I will speak to some of my contacts when we are in London.”

“Thank you.” My heart thudded so loudly in my chest I was sure everyone would hear it in the quiet of the room.

London meant Ash.

I knew we couldn’t see each other, and I was on a strict business-only via phone order, but even being closer to him made breathing a little easier.

After lunch, I went in search of Madison. She was the beating heart of our family, the person who had been a constant throughout my life. She saw more than any of us ever realised and cared more than an employee should. Madison and her brother Francis were family and were my confidants.

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