She knew Edward was right. No one could ever prove what she had done.
But Sophia decided that she had to confess and ask for forgiveness. Not only God’s, but from the families of the deceased men.
She hadn’t killed them. She hadn’t started the war, but she felt responsible for their deaths, even though she knew that eventually they would have been killed, just for trespassing on a rival drug lord’s territory.
Resolutely, she finished her bath, got dressed and sat at her desk, listing what she had to do to achieve her goal.
She grabbed the iPhone to talk to Edward. She knew he would try to dissuade her, but she would not give in, not this time. I will appeal to his common sense.
Her hand hesitated over the screen and she decided to call Dr. Kent first. Mina will understand and she’ll help me with a strategy to convince Edward.
She dialed her therapist’s phone number and left an urgent message on her voicemail.
Galewick Townhouse.
8.49 p.m.
He gulped down the rest of his whisky and surveyed the women at his sister’s surprise birthday party. He scowled. He was in no mood for parties, but he couldn’t have refused Elena’s invitation. He was going mad pondering over what Tavish had said. I shouldn’t have been so hasty. She was always telling me to take things slow.
During his brooding, Leonard had been saying something to him. Alistair sighed impatiently and drawled, “I beg your pardon?”
“I said that you look like you’ll start quoting Dante any minute. So, here,” Leonard took the glass of whisky from his hand and gave him a glass of water. “Either you start drinking water or go home. The kids are awake and I don’t want them to see their uncle drunk.”
“Water?” Alistair eyed the glass and snorted. “I’d rather kill myself. I need that bottle of whisky. And by the way, I do not spout quotes when I’m drunk.”
“You do. Even when you’re not drunk,” said Leonard. “In fact, you and Sophia spill quotes whenever possible. Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Dante.”
Just the mention of her name made his heart squeeze painfully in his chest. “Oh, that. Aye. Maybe.”
“Your sister is appalled.” Leonard pushed the glass onto his lips and mocked, “Drink. There. Better.”
Tavish chuckled, “You’ll find another woman, quickly. One you can-”
“I. Don’t. Want. Another woman,” Alistair hissed through clenched teeth, “I want Sophia. Only Sophia will do.”
Leonard watched amazed as Alistair’s gaze surveyed the women in the room with disdain.
“There isn’t a woman that equals her. No one comes even close. She is special.”
“So don’t treat her like you did Heather,” Leonard said, throwing the truth in Alistair’s face.
His face darkened, “You speak out of turn, Leo.”
“Everyone does, but you, right, Alistair? You know, you should be less arrogant and conceited or you really will lose Sophia, forever.”
Alistair sighed deeply and drank the rest of the water. “I think I’d better go home. I don’t want to spoil Alice’s surprise party.”
Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema. Fasano Hotel, Fasano al Mare.
11 p.m.
“Could you bring us our check, please, Marcos,” Sophia asked the restaurant’s maître d’ and grabbed Ethan’s wrist when his hand delved inside his jacket for his wallet. “You are my guest today.”
What? Never. “Baby, no woman has ever paid a bill when I’m around. It’s not-”
“Let me be the first, then,” she smiled candidly at him.
“You are the first and only, Sophia.” He gave her a crooked smile, entwined his fingers with hers and purred, “I’ll let you do much more than that, darling.”
Sophia laughed, embarrassed. “Ethan, you are incorrigible. I thought we had decided to be just friends.”
The arrival of the maître d’ interrupted them.
Ethan looked around the stylish restaurant designed by Phillipe Starck, with comfortable leather armchairs arranged around Scandinavian wooden tables under splendid Murano chandeliers. The famous Ipanema beach sidewalk could be seen through the glass windows.
The low and polite conversation buzz spoke of money. Wealthy tourists mingled with Carioca’s tycoons and gorgeous, fashionable women.
“Cariocas are beautiful, aren’t they?” Sophia was studying Ethan as he examined the room.
To me, you are the only beautiful one. I have eyes for no one else. “Yes. Definitely. There’s something different. A certain... healthy air, even in older women.”
“It’s the beach and the weather,” Sophia mused as she put her credit card back in her Valentino black purse. “We walk around almost naked all year round. We have lots of open spaces to practice sports,” she shrugged. “Shall we go?”
Yes. Up to my room. He shifted in the armchair, sitting more comfortably, and cocked his head, with his azure eyes sparkling. “Do you want to come up to my suite for a night cap?”
Aren’t we insistent today? Sophia stifled a sigh and picked up her glass, swirling the rest of her wine in it and drinking it, gaining time. “Ethan-”
“I’ll behave. It’s still early. Just stay with me a bit longer,” he bent toward her, holding her right hand in his, squeezing it gently. “I like your company, Sophia.”
This time she sighed outloud. “I like yours too, Ethan. But I- I get the impression that we are not talking about the same thing.”
He raised her hand to his lips and looked at her. When he spoke, his breath caressed her skin. “I won’t lie: I want you. My love hasn’t diminished. But I prefer your friendship to nothing. I won’t jeopardize it. That I promise you.”
Sophia tilted her head to the side and bit her lip, unsure.
“Ah-ah.” He released her hand and cupped her chin, his thumb caressing the lip her teeth just released. “You mustn’t do that. Or I won’t answer for my actions.”
God! Seriously! “Ethan. Can I be frank?”
His fingers brushed her neck and he gripped her hand again. “Always.”
“When you tell me you still have feelings for me, and I keep accepting your invitations to go out, I- I feel like I’m leading you on. Like I’m an easy woman, a slut-”
His hand flew to her mouth and his eyes darkened, “Don’t ever refer to yourself like that again.” You’re Sophia, not Eve!
Sophia’s eyes widened at his harsh tone.
“Understood?” He commanded an answer. He needed an answer. “Understood, Sophia?”
She nodded and he took his hand away from her mouth. “I don’t want to hear you say those words again.” He flung his napkin on the table, raised and moved to help her stand. “Come with me. We can continue this upstairs.”
“Ethan-”
“I will not take no for an answer,” he murmured and put a firm hand on her waist, steering her to the lifts.
An awkward silence descended on them as they climbed to his suite and he paused to open his door.
Sophia stepped back from the door he held open for her. “Ethan-”
“Please. I’ll behave.” He stretched his hand and looked at her with serious eyes. “I give you my word.”
“Okay, then.” Dammit, Sophia. You should know better. She entered the living room of the suite and her eyes were immediately drawn to the king size bed that had been turned down for the night.
The door clicked shut behind her and she jumped in fright.
“Jesus, Sophia! I am not going to attack you,” Ethan walked stiffly to the white linen curtains that separated the bedroom from the living room and closed them. When he turned to look at her, his face was contorted with a painful expression. “Better now?”