Charmed (13 page)

“That’s terrible.”

“It was a nightmare. As a young boy, Adam tried to protect her, getting injured many times by interceding. But he was too small to stand up to his father. And to Claudio, his son was a moneymaking machine; that was all Adam ever was to him. So he didn’t want to hurt him physically, and would never do anything that kept Adam from his computer work.

“But he hurt him emotionally. You are the best thing that ever happened to Adam. He is a special person, as I’m sure you know. He’s sensitive and loving. Strange as it may seem, his peers taunted him for that, and for being the weird smart boy. ‘Um Estranho,’ or ‘odd one,’ they called him. So Adam was outcast. No woman wanted to be associated with him, not publicly.”

“Didn’t he have girlfriends?”

“Not really, not like you are thinking. There was one…not really a girlfriend like that, though. I better let Adam tell you when he’s ready.”

Ella’s stomach twisted into a knot. The mere idea of Adam belonging to another woman distressed her, even if it was a long time ago. “But what did Claudio do to Serena?”

“Domestic abuse. He had a bad temper, and if things didn’t go his way, he was violent.”

“Didn’t she press charges?”

“It’s not easy in Brazil. She was his wife. Who would believe her over her husband? And she was afraid. She wanted to leave, but where would she go? How would she live? She devoted her life to her family and her church, always very active in the community. But she never had a job outside the home. Careers weren’t readily available for women here.

“Claudio finally left us. He was unfit as a husband and a father anyway. The only money he ever made was either from his criminal endeavors, which we never learned all the details of. Or through Adam’s good work. That’s why he’s so desperate to get his hands on Adam. It’s driving him crazy. He’s unpredictable.”

“But why would he hurt you or Serena now? Isn’t that over?”

“No, unfortunately. He blames Serena for his son turning against him, never able to see his own handiwork. It’s always someone else; the fault never lies with him.”

“The scar I saw on her cheek?”

“Yes, that’s why Adam came back. In his rage to find Adam, my father attacked Serena.”

“But isn’t she guarded?”

“You cannot guard someone every second of the day. He took advantage when she went alone to a public restroom.”

Ella was beginning to see the magnitude of the problem. No wonder Adam feared for her, for all of them. The threat was not just emotional, but physical. Emotional abuse Ella understood. But rage inciting a man to physical violence was new for her. The only time she’d come close to experiencing that was with Doug, her former boyfriend, when he’d became so frustrated with her that he’d lifted his hand to strike her. But he never had. To live in a home, frightened and physically abused, must be a living hell. Outraged by the violation of all that was decent, Ella’s resolve to see Claudio’s reign of terror come to an end strengthened.

Ella and Fiorella shopped for hours, stopping for lunch later in the afternoon. But Ella couldn’t get her mind off what they’d talked about. She tried to get into the spirit, trying on clothes, and getting Fiorella’s expert opinion. However, she was always so transparent and didn’t think she did so well at hiding her emotions.

Still, it was a good day, and Ella felt closer to Fiorella than she did to her own sister. The warmth and sincerity broke through any walls Ella had erected long ago to block emotional pain. She was fond of Fiorella, and found her easy to talk to, something she thought would be forever unique to Kaiyla, her only friend for so long.

Miguel put her bags in the trunk and Ella slid into the back seat for the ride back to Adam’s bachelor pad. She had time to think as they made their way home. Miguel, ever the professional, left her in peace, and she was grateful. So absorbed was she in trying to come up with a solution to the danger at hand, she didn’t even notice Nico following in the car behind. Nor did she see the unwelcome presence in a car o
ne lane over and slightly back.

*****

Nico, however, did notice, and reported to Adam through his earpiece the instant he spotted that they were being followed. He followed Miguel into the garage, and stood guard while Miguel escorted her into the house.

Not wanting to alarm Ella more, Adam neglected to tell her that her presence at his home was no longer a secret. Used to torment, he would have taken the news in stride. But the possibility that something bad would happen to Ella because of him was driving him crazy. He’d stepped up security on all fronts, and even had Nico arrange for an alarm and perimeter camera to be set up at Kaiyla’s apartment. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself, nor would Ella ever get over it.

The best thing was not to dwell on it. Everything that could be done was being done, and it would be better to distract Ella so she wouldn’t worry so much. Surfing, always the best escape, would serve as such now. Staying away from the beach couldn’t be good for Ella, and he certainly missed it. Normally, he was at the beach every day. His duty to protect the woman he loved had kept them at home more than he preferred. But he didn’t need to tolerate that, just plan around it.

The shopping outing was supposed to calm Ella and give her an opportunity to enjoy Rio. Hanging around him had its benefits, and he’d keep her by his side every second, given a choice. But it wasn’t healthy for a young woman to stay tucked away indoors, even in an elaborate Brazilian mansion. Fiorella would be the perfect companion; she was always a joy, and had been Adam’s salvation many times in his youth.

Yet something nagged at Adam. As Ella walked in, she’d called to him that she was putting her purchases away and would be right out. But he’d seen her face. It wasn’t the carefree expression he expected to see. Shopping was always a therapy of sorts to women, he was sure. After all, he’d grown up with his mother and sister. He knew a few things about women. But Ella’s expression hadn’t conveyed the thrill of coming home with clothing, however new or expensive.

She looked thoughtful—no, downright tense, even dark. That was very unlike Ella. One of her good qualities was her ability to keep her sense of humor, and her fearlessness in the face of adversity. Her unannounced arrival in Rio was a perfect example of her bold approach to life. To see her dark and unhappy was the opposite of what Adam intended. Could Fiorella have said something?

It was possible. Adam knew he should tell Ella more than he had. Knowing and doing were two different things. Telling the woman he loved about his terrible past seemed the most difficult thing in the world. And not because he cared what she thought of him. No, he was used to ridicule, and accustomed to being the outcast, labeled a weirdo. He knew Ella loved him, not in spite of it, but because she just loved him. That thought was comforting.

The worst part, and the reason he dragged his feet about telling her, was that Ella was so normal. She was normal in a good way. She’d probably scoff at the label “normal,” as if it made her boring. She was anything but boring. No, she was pure of heart, not marred by the ugliness of life. Adam did not want to be the one to change that. How could he tell her the scope of evil he was facing without altering her view of life, of people, forever? I
t was ripping him apart inside.

He knew he needed to talk to her more. Maybe there would be an opportunity. He could no longer keep her hidden away, separate from the pressures he dealt with. Just for the moment he could wrap them in a protective bubble, but soon he would have to tell her everything. It broke his heart, just as it had to see the influence of his father harm his mother and sister. And all because of him. If he didn’t have what Claudio wanted and desperately needed, the problem would have disappeared long ago when his father abandoned the family.

“Adam?”

He looked up to see her standing in the doorway of his office.

“Like it?” she said, twirling in front of him in a blue and white floral dress. Barefoot, her long hair pinned up, and looking adorable, she stole his heart all over again.

“I like you in it,” he said, walking around his desk and pulling her into his arms. He kissed her, feeling so lucky to be with her. He loved her so much it hurt, in a good, painful way, a way he’d never experienced before.

“I have a surprise for you.”

Ella frowned.

“No, a good surprise. Come.” He took her hand and led her out to the back deck, over to a large shed. Opening the door, he turned on the overhead light.

Ella stopped, looking around. Her eyes widened. Walking over to the back wall, she put out her hand and touched the small surfboard balanced against the wall.

“For you,” Adam said. “It’s the same wood as mine is made of. I had one made especially for you.”

“I don’t know what to say. I’ve never had a surfboard this nice before.” She ran her hand along the wood surface, over the grain with the dark and light variations.

“When did you do this?”

“I ordered it the day after you saw mine, there in my kitchen in Newport. I saw how much you liked it.”

“You did?”

“Yes, I wanted you to have one. I think you’ll like it. A custom board like this rides very nice.”

“I’m sure it does.”

“What?” Adam saw tears in her eyes. Women—he thought he understood them. Wasn’t this supposed to make her happy?

“Adam, I’ve never had anyone give me something this nice. And not only that, you thought of it so long ago, and have kept it secret just to surprise me.”

Oh, that was it. She was touched by the gesture. Okay, that was more like it. “Yes, amore mia. It is a special gift. And we are going to try it out tomorrow.”

“Really? I can’t wait to surf the swells here. I’ve read they are amazing.”

“And this is the best time of year; the major swells here are April through October. The beaches won’t even be crowded. The tourists all surf when it’s warmer, although I don’t think of seventy degrees as cold. But it’s fine with me if they want to stay away. More beach for us.”

“But you don’t have your board,” Ella said.

“What do you mean?”

“Your board is in Newport. I saw it when Ray let me into the house.”

“Oh. Not to worry. I have another one here. Look up.”

Ella craned her neck to see what was on the shelf above, and sure enough there was another board, just like the one in Newport. “You have two?”

“Sure. Nobody carries boards back and forth from Brazil to California. Even the tourists buy a new one here, as they are pretty cheap in Brazil.”

“But yours isn’t cheap.”

“No, mine is not cheap. But I like that board and want to ride it whether I’m in California or here.”

Ella grinned.

“What?”

“You’ll have to get me another, then.”

“Getting greedy now, are we?”

“You know it. So, where are we going to surf?”

“Floripa.”

“You mean Florianopolis.”

“Yes, Florianopolis, what we locals call Floripa.”

“It has forty-two beaches,” Ella said, “so you’ll have to be more specific.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I did some research, that’s all.”

“Uh huh. Well then, how does Praia Mole sound?”

“Ah, the beach with the soft, deep sand. Perfect. In fact, Praia Mole means ‘soft beach.’ And that’s where they host the WCT Surfing Championships.”

“Okay, smarty pants. You are right. I guess you would watch the Association of Professional Surfing Tour. And, as long as we are there, we can take advantage of the nightclubs and restaurants.”

Ella furrowed her brow.

“Now what?”

“So we are just going to roam the beaches and hit up the nightclubs.”

“You have a problem with that?”

“Is it safe?”

Adam had hoped to keep the conversation away from the subject of Claudio, but it seemed to pervade his life. “It’s safer than here.”

“Why is that?”

“My father hates water. Surfing was my escape for many reasons; one of them being that my father would never venture near the waves. He hasn’t changed. His turf is dark meeting places or abandoned warehouses.”

Ella laughed. “I think you’ve been watching too many movies.”

“You’re probably right. Anyway, he will wait for a time and place that’s to his advantage. He was never one to inconvenience himself. So, he will wait. We’ll be safe enough in the coastal city.”

“Because you’ll have a staff of bodyguards?”

“Yes, that too. Now let’s go see if we can find some beer in this place. I’m sure Eli left some food for us too.”

“I’m sure he did.” Ella lifted her surfboard and began to walk to the door.

“What are you doing?”

“You don’t think I’m leaving it out here, do you? In this dingy shed?”

“I hope you don’t plan to sleep with it. Maybe I should rethink my gift giving.”

“I wasn’t going to sleep with it, but you better behave yourself. Things could change.”

Adam swatted her on the butt as she walked by, and she laughed.

In fact, Eli had not only left food—it was a gourmet meal of huge proportions that needed only to be heated up. “They must eat a lot in Germany.”

Adam looked over the spread that had been left for them. “They must,” he said. “What do you say we drink first?”

“Deal.”

Drinking beer on the patio with Brazilian music playing through the speakers was Adam’s idea of a good time; especially with Ella on his lap. He began singing some of the lyrics and teaching the Portuguese words to Ella. They forgot about dinner. Singing became laughing and laughing became kissing. Adam took Ella indoors, unable to wait until after dinner to have her for his own. Food, gourmet or not, was the last thing on his mind.

Eventually, they ate dinner. It must have been midnight. Adam was glad to see Ella relaxed again, and relieved not to have to discuss certain subjects he’d rather avoid. The email response she’d received from Kaiyla had gone a long way toward reassuring her. Her friend was smart and got up to speed quickly, letting Ella know she’d be careful, and would report back as soon as the security systems were set up at the apartment. And she’d call once she got the phone Adam sent.

The few hours of sleep Ella got didn’t seem to affect her; to Adam she looked refreshed and rejuvenated the next morning. Surfing the huge swells of the Brazilian coastline always excited Adam, and he was looking forward to it, sleep or not. It would be a two-day trip. They would spend the first night in town near São Paulo.

Ella stepped into the garage to see a bright red minivan. She walked around it to check it out.

“Grand Caravan,” Adam said.

“I never saw this before.”

“No, it’s new. I thought it would be comfortable for the long drive. And it doesn’t hurt that the thugs watching us will be waiting for the Chrysler to leave the property. It gives me perverse pleasure to think of them staking out my home for the next few days with no action. Eventually, they will realize we aren’t here.”

“Not a bad idea.”

Miguel had loaded the surfboards onto the roof rack, and Eli had packed snacks, towels, and other necessities. Ella and Adam were in the backseat, on their way before first light. Ella thought leaving so early made the trip all the more exciting. Nico followed in a black sedan.

After dawn, Adam worked on his laptop while Ella, with her tablet on her lap, worked on her romance novel. Many emotions rose inside her as she wrote. Her time with Adam had recently been exciting, romantic—and distressing as well. Pouring her feelings into the fictional tale was working quite well, and she was happy with how her story was progressing. By the time Adam stopped working and announced they were almost there, she was pleased with her progress.

Along the way, she’d glanced out the windows, not wanting to miss the scenery. They’d take the scenic route along the Costa Verde. Adam had opted to drive instead of fly so Ella could see more of Brazil, and she was grateful. Bordering the road were vivid purple and white flowers, and the route they took followed bending roads through the forest. It seemed to Ella the beauty of Brazil never ended.