Soldier's Redemption (18 page)

He rubbed his temple with the heel of his hand. “I didn’t have to tell you any of this. I could have just done what needs to be done and gone my merry way and you never would have known.”

“And I wish you had,” she said.

“Do you? You think a man capable of destroying people, of murdering his pregnant mistress, of manipulating the police and being involved in trafficking human beings—”

“That again!”

“If your uncle could forge identities thirty years ago for me and my brothers, he can do it now.”

“If that’s true, it’s Ian Banderas’s doing.”

“Do you really think Banderas could get away with a scheme like that without your uncle’s knowledge?”

“Of course, he could.”

“No, Skylar. He couldn’t.”

“Why do you hate Uncle Luca so much? Is it because you can’t face what your father did?”

He took a deep breath. When he looked at her, she had to glance away. “You refuse to listen. I told you that the man whose daughter was murdered didn’t send the bomb. He was framed, his sons killed during their supposed arrest.”

“You want me to believe hearsay and the story of a complete stranger and disbelieve a man I’ve known my whole life. I can’t do that.”

He walked up to her and she backed away, unwilling to be close to him, but that ended when she bumped into the wall and had to stop. He loomed above her, his arms extended, his hands against the walls at either side of her head. “I want you to keep an open mind.”

“That’s ripe coming from you,” she said.

“I know you don’t want to face what he is. I don’t blame you.”

“You don’t blame me?” She ducked under his arm and walked away.

“Skylar?”

She whirled around. “I don’t know who you really are. I only know from this minute on that I never want to see you again. I’ll call my uncle to come get me or arrange transportation. I hope I’m making it very clear that I’m asking you to have nothing to do with me or any of my family.”

“I can’t do that,” he said. “I can’t let Futura get away with this.”

“You came here with your mind made up.”

His face grew rigid. “Do you think it gives me any joy to tell you these things? And do you think I went through all this on a whim? All the leads have led my brothers and the police officer they’re working with here to this man. The story I just told you is true. It’s a composite of what many people have unearthed. Tyler even had himself hypnotized in order to recover his lost memories. At the very least, your uncle’s past has to be investigated, and frankly, I don’t care how you feel about that.”

“What about my aunt?”

“I’m terribly sorry for her. If she really doesn’t know the kind of man she’s married to, this is going to be awful. You and she will be yet another family he’s destroyed, but at least you’ll have each other.”

“You’re doing the destroying now.”

“And you’re allowing your own self-interests to blind you to the truth.”

“And you’re not?”

His eyes hardened. “There’s nothing left for us to talk about.” A muscle worked in his jaw, and he added, “I doubt you really want to wait here for hours while someone comes to get you. You’re welcome to come with me. I’m going to go settle the bill and get the car. Make up your mind. Your decision.”

And with that, he left the room.

* * *

T
HEY DROVE IN SILENCE
colder than the icy snow outside.

Cole had often felt alone in his life but never really like this. He’d always been self-reliant, able to lead or follow depending on the situation and his orders, but a loner at heart. Last night he’d connected with another human being in a way he’d only read about, only half understood. Last night he finally “got” it. And it wasn’t about sex—well, not entirely. It was so much more than that.

He’d always assumed the idea of a soul mate, someone destined to be yours, someone who would love you no matter what, was a fairy tale, but last night he’d stumbled into that dream right there with Skylar. Finding her in the snow, scared she’d never wake up again, helping her bathe. And then later... Well, he’d do anything to keep her safe.

Anything except walk away from what had to be done
.

But none of her reactions came as too big of a surprise. He’d known all along there was going to be a stiff price to pay for growing attached to her. Of course she thought he was a louse who had used her for his own means. And in so many ways, she was right—he had.

She didn’t say a word until they were almost to her uncle’s place. Then she turned in her seat but averted her glance. “Stop here.”

He pulled over to the curb. They were three or four blocks away. She grasped the door handle but before working it spoke again. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go public,” he said. The idea just popped into his head, but it stuck there. “I’m going to talk to anyone who will listen to me. I’m going to crush this man just as he’s crushed everyone I care about—and that includes you.”

“You won’t let the past go?”

“You still don’t get it. I believe this is ongoing. But in all fairness, you’re right. I do aim to settle the past, as well. You were all for that until you realized who was responsible.”

“This will destroy my aunt. Even if it isn’t true, she won’t live through the scandal. You’re wrong about my uncle, and I’m going to prove it.”

He reached for her hand. “Don’t try to prove anything. He’s dangerous.”

“Listen to yourself. He’s my uncle!”

“Then think beyond that. Think beyond him. Think of the other people he’s harmed.”

She stared hard at him. “You do the same,” she said. “If you’re going to ruin him and half my family along with him, then at least have solid proof beyond the word of an old man who could have a whole other agenda you don’t know a thing about.”

“Like what?”

“Like clearing his name before he dies. Like getting back at my uncle because of a reason you don’t know.”

He sat back in his seat. Had he been so willing to believe the worst that he’d sacrificed judgment?

She pulled free and got out of the car, stuffing her hands in her pockets and walking away without looking back, a slight figure, no bigger than a schoolgirl.

She was no longer his. Truth was, she’d never been his.

Chapter Fourteen

Skylar used the security code to let herself in the front door of her aunt and uncle’s house. Not even the butler greeted her, and she was relieved. She desperately needed a few minutes alone as the past few hours had been hell. She would retreat to her room and collect herself before putting on a brave face for her aunt and deciding what to do about Cole.

The one and only issue that concerned her now was how much she should tell her uncle of what Cole had said about him. The prospect of that conversation made her stomach roll over and sink. And the fact she would have to admit she’d played right into Cole’s hands was like admitting she threw the first punch.

She escaped upstairs where she applied a little makeup to cover the scratch on her forehead. Then she went directly to her aunt’s room where she found her sitting up in bed eating a small meal.

“I’m glad you’ve come home,” Aunt Eleanor said, her wan face pleased.

“How are you?”

“Okay. Have you seen your uncle?”

“Not yet.”

“You will talk to him, won’t you?” she asked, her voice revealing how deeply she wanted them to get along.

“Of course I will.”

“He only has your best interests at heart. I know this about him. Family is everything. If you are his, he will do whatever it takes to protect you.”

“Don’t worry,” Skylar assured her, but her aunt’s words just made her more uneasy than ever. She didn’t want her uncle to protect her at the expense of hurting Cole.

“Meanwhile, guess what?” her aunt continued and when Skylar shook her head, she continued, “An old friend of mine heard what happened to Aneta and knew I would be shorthanded. She just retired a few months ago. She owned a stationery store. Anyway, she has offered to take over the gallery until I am well enough to come back. Her daughter is going to help out.”

“That is great news,” Skylar said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I know Luca thinks it’s time we let you get back to your own life in the States. I couldn’t agree more. Now you can.”

Skylar felt a wave of relief and an equal one of disappointment. It was hard to believe that she’d had everything she ever wanted just twelve hours before and now it was all gone. “Let me tell you about the museum I visited,” she said, determined to wash away the worry lines creasing her aunt’s brow.

Halfway through the recital, her food barely touched, her aunt fell asleep. Skylar left the room quietly.

Downstairs, she found her uncle standing at the open front door. He closed it immediately when he heard Skylar behind him. “I’m glad to see you’ve come to your senses,” he said. “Have you seen your aunt?”

“I was just with her. I need to talk to you, Uncle Luca.”

“Let’s go into the den,” he said, leading the way across the foyer. Skylar glanced out the bank of windows and saw a man walking away from the house. The wind tousled his blond hair.

Ian Banderas. At the house—again. “What was he doing here?” she said, pausing to stare after Banderas.

“I beg your pardon?” her uncle said.

“Ian Banderas. I thought you didn’t like him coming to the house.”

The look he cast her made Skylar back off. “I’m sorry if I sound like an inquisition,” she said.

“Come in here a moment,” he replied, and they continued into his office.

After sitting behind his desk, he steepled his hands together and rested his chin on his fingertips. “Things have gotten rather...awkward between us as of late,” he said.

She glanced behind him at the wedding portrait of him and her aunt. “Tell me about your ring,” she said, eyeing the gold and black encircling his finger both in the painting and in real life. She’d always just assumed it was a keepsake of some kind, not some symbol of dark intent.

“The owl? They’re amazing birds, you know. They hunt by stealth and surprise, almost blind when it comes to something very close by but extremely adept at long-range vision. They blend in. They usually operate under the cover of darkness. There’s a lot to admire about an owl.”

Skylar had remained standing, the thought of sitting and chatting at odds with the anxiety spitting acid in her gut. She paced a little before asking, “Does Ian Banderas have a ring like yours?”

He appeared surprised by her question. “Of course not.”

“I heard the ring was once a symbol of a secret club.”

“Oh, that. Someone has been filling your head with old rumors. Yes, once upon a time a few of us had a club, but that was the old days. I’m the only one left.”

She couldn’t bring herself to accuse him of the things Cole said he did. If he was innocent, she would forever damage their relationship. If he was guilty, what was the point?

“I think I can guess who’s been talking to you,” he said, his voice crisp with disapproval. “Cole Bennett.”

“Cole Bennett is no longer in the picture,” she said.

He narrowed his eyes as he studied her. “What happened to your face? Did that man strike you?”

“No, nothing like that.” She paused before adding, “Uncle, what can you tell me about your old friend, Ambassador Oates, and his family?”

Irritation curled his upper lip. “No, Skylar, I am not going to discuss the past with you. It’s water under the bridge, best left alone.”

“But please. There was another family, too, right? I mean, the murdered girl’s family. They were hell-bent on revenge. Isn’t that what you said? They sent a bomb—”

“I am not—repeat, not—going to talk about the Roman clan. They’re all dead and gone. Good riddance to them.”

Roman. That’s the name Cole had mentioned then asked her not to repeat. “What if it isn’t? What if the girls I keep telling you are missing—”

“Girls? There is more than that one unfortunate waif?”

“I found out Aneta’s sister is missing under similar circumstances and that Ian Banderas was known to her family.”

He shook his head. “I asked you to let the police take care of this. I told you I would talk to Ian.”

“What did he say?”

“Just what I suspected. Malina Dacho was an opportunistic cheat. Plain and simple. They come and go, these girls. They run off. They put themselves in harm’s way. In this case, the mother is trying to extort money from anyone who will listen to her story and fall for her lies.”

Skylar stared at her uncle and tried to connect the girl Svetlana believed her daughter to be with the girl her uncle just described. And this glib response didn’t explain the money she’d left behind, either.

At least Ian had confirmed he knew of Malina Dacho, which meant Cole hadn’t created that situation to advance his plan. So why wasn’t Svetlana answering her phone?

“Again,” her uncle said, “I’m asking you what happened to your face? There are scratches on your arms, as well.”

“I was attacked by a woman,” she said.

He stood abruptly. “What?”

“A woman threw a blanket over me and kicked me. I fell, but I’m okay—just a little sore and battered. Someone doesn’t want me asking questions.”

“That does it,” he said. She’d never witnessed his eyes so narrow or his nostrils as flared. “Your aunt has an offer from an old friend willing to take care of the gallery. I’m seeing to it that you go home as early as next week, and until then, please confine yourself to this house. I have calls to make now. You may go.”

* * *

S
KYLAR GRABBED HER
red coat from the downstairs closet and left the house before her uncle could bar her way. More than ever, she wished she could talk to Cole. The conversation with her uncle had left her confused and nervous. Ian Banderas, who days before hadn’t been welcome in her aunt and uncle’s home, was now there frequently. Why?

Could Cole be right?

It took her a few tries with a patient cab driver to find the neighborhood she’d gone to just once—and then in the dead of night with Svetlana giving directions. The house itself turned out to be easy to identify as there were two ambulances and several police cars pulled up outside and what appeared to be a television news crew unloading their gear.