Page 38 of Strength in Submission
"Did I hurt you?" I ask, noticing the rope marks on her wrists.
"No," she assures me, snuggling closer. "It was perfect. You were perfect."
"I love you," I say again, needing her to hear it when we're not in the heat of passion. "I know it's fast, but?—"
"It's not too fast," she interrupts. "I've been half in love with you for years. This just made it real."
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, but I ignore it.
"You should check that," Violet says. "What if it's about Derek?"
Reluctantly, I reach for the phone. It's a text from Cruel.
Got him. Clean up on aisle Derek. Won't be bothering anyone again.
Relief floods through me. "It's over. They found Derek."
"What happened?"
I consider how much to tell her. How much she really wants to know. "Let's just say he won't be a problem anymore."
She looks like she wants to ask more questions, but settles for nodding. "Good."
We lay together in silence for a while, her head on my chest, my fingers combing through her hair. Finally, she speaks.
"I want to go back to work on Monday."
"Are you sure you'll be ready?"
"Yes. I can't hide forever. Besides, my bruise should be gone by then, and I have some things I need to take care of."
"Like what?"
She hesitates. "There's something I haven't told you about my job. About why I really took it."
"What is it?"
She takes a deep breath. "My boss, Victorio? I think he might be my father."
I sit up slightly, looking down at her in surprise. "What?"
"My mother had an affair with a journalist when she was young. She never told him she was pregnant. The timing, the location, everything fits. And next week is my birthday—I turn twenty-five—and I've been planning to tell him."
This explains so much about her reluctance to take time off from work. "Vi, that's huge. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wasn't sure if I was going to go through with it. But after everything that's happened, after almost losing—" Her voice breaks. "Life's too short to live with regrets."
I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you. If you want me there when you talk to him, I'll be there."
"You would do that?"
"Baby, I'd do anything for you. Haven't you figured that out by now?"
She tilts her head up to kiss me softly. "I love you, Santiago Mendes."
"I love you too, Violet Martinez. And tomorrow, we start figuring out what comes next."
"What do you mean?"
