hovered nearby.
Anger and hurt still defined her existence, but she was learning to live with the pain and regret, along with the constant ache in her heart. Knowing she had only herself to blame was both a blessing and curse. On the one hand, she could have very heated conversations with herself about what went wrong and vow never to be that stupid again. On the other hand, no one else really understood what she was going through.
She drew in a deep breath and was pleased to feel somewhat in control. No more tears-at least not in public- and no more outbursts. She was going to stay in charge and that meant keeping her emotions in check.
The trick was not to think too much. Not to remember how she’d given her heart to a man who had betrayed her.
The long black limo pulled into the driveway. Mia stood. Joe was at her side in an instant, along with six of the guards. As the car moved closer, Mia saw Umberto behind the wheel. Which meant Oliver was in back. Unless Rafael had brought in reinforcements.
“You made sure he wouldn’t have other security, right?” she asked Joe.
He patted her back. “Of course. Everything has been negotiated, from the time he could arrive to how many of my men would be on his men. He knows what will happen if he steps out of line.”
“You’ll kill him?” she asked brightly.
“No, I’ll beat the crap out of him and then I’ll make him leave.”
Not nearly good enough, she thought as the rear door of the limo opened and Oliver stepped out.
Joe motioned to one of his men. Oliver was searched. The same thing happened to Umberto when he exited the vehicle. Mia tensed as Rafael stepped into the afternoon sunlight.
Damn the man, he looked perfect. Well dressed, but casual, still handsome. She half expected to see horns or cloven feet, but there was only his brown hair and expensive leather loafers. His blue eyes seemed as compelling as always and very specific parts of her body were all too happy to have him in close proximity.
“Mia,” he said with a slight bow of his head.
“Judas.” She took a step toward him and squared her shoulders. “Just so we’re all clear, you are being allowed onto this property because it is your son’s fourth birthday and he wants you here. The reason he wants you here is because I didn’t tell him what a lying weasel you are. As you can see, you are severely outnumbered. The guards have been ordered to shoot to kill if you try anything.”
That last bit was a lie, but she didn’t care. Let him be afraid.
“You wouldn’t kill me,” he said calmly. “My being dead doesn’t solve your problem. Daniel is still the heir.”
“True, but your death gets rid of you, and for now that’s enough.”
“You wouldn’t risk the life of your son with flying bullets.”
“You want to make this about logistics, I’m making a point. You are not welcome here. No one likes you or trusts you. One false move and you are gone.”
Joe moved in. “A little FYI-there are more than a dozen security guards on duty.”
Rafael shrugged. “As you wish. I didn’t think I was as dangerous as all that. You are taking this very seriously, Mia.”
His casual attitude made her wish for long nails and a decent shot at his eyes. “You tried to steal my son. It doesn’t get more serious than that.”
Rafael drew in a breath. “I am sorry you are so angry and I am sorry I hurt you. That was never my intent. I should have told you the truth from the beginning.”
“Do you think any of that matters?” she asked, furious he would think an apology would make a difference.
“I was never going to keep you from him. You would have been able to see him whenever you liked.”
“How very generous you are. Give me a moment to catch my breath from the wonderfulness of you.”
His eyes narrowed. “You do not accept my apology?”
“Not even if it came with a couple of diamonds on a gold plate. The only thing you’re sorry about is getting caught before you could put your plan into action. You used me and my family. We trusted you, we believed you, and you repaid us with deception.”
Anger was good, she thought. Anger kept the pain at bay.
She moved right in front of him and poked him in the center of his chest. “I will never trust you again. There is nothing you can say or do that will make me believe a word you say. You played me for a fool. I’ll give you points for originality and effort. You did a hell of a job and told a great story. But you had your chance and you blew it. I don’t know what would have happened if you’d been honest. It’s something we’ll never know. I despise you and I hate that you’re Danny’s father. I will do what is right because I love my son. But you are never getting a piece of me again.”
She turned on her heel and walked away. Rafael watched her go. Even as he resented the situation, he found himself admiring the power of her convictions and the grace in her movements.
She was, he admitted to himself, quite a woman. Also, she was much more angry than he had thought she would be. Daniel was his heir-what did she expect him to do? Allow his son to be raised here? Away from his people?
“Impossible,” he muttered.
Joe smiled insincerely. “That’s what we were saying about you. The party is this way.”
Rafael followed him around to the side of the house, where several large tables had been set up in the shade. There were a dozen or so children, most likely from Danny’s school, a few parents, and much of the Marcelli clan. He recognized Brenna and her husband, Joe’s wife, Francesca, and, of course, the Grands.
They were all watching him as if waiting for him to pull out a weapon and hold them all hostage. He saw the anger in their eyes and knew that he didn’t have to deal with just Mia’s rage.
“Daddy, Daddy!” Danny raced toward him.
Rafael crouched down and reached for the boy. Daniel crashed into him and wrapped his arms around Rafael’s neck.
For a moment, Rafael hugged him just as tightly.
“I missed you,” Danny said. “Why’d you go away?”
He didn’t have an answer for that, and oddly, he found he couldn’t speak. His throat felt tight and thick.
“Daddy?” Daniel stepped back and looked at him. “Why’d you have to go away?”
“Business,” Rafael managed as he stared at the boy. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized he was afraid he would never see him again. “Sometimes it is work to be a prince.”
“I like being the heir.”
“I’m sure you do. Are you having a good party?”
Daniel nodded. “I have so many presents, and there’s cake.” He reached for his father’s hand. “Come see.”
Rafael stood and allowed himself to be tugged toward the gathering. He saw Umberto and Oliver surrounded by several of Joe’s guards. While the other parents smiled warmly at him, the Marcellis all looked as if they were picturing him dead.
Mia wasn’t kidding about protecting her son. She said she would use any means and he believed her. She was strong, but he was stronger. Somehow he would defeat them all.
“I love it, Daddy,” Daniel said as he fingered the new leather saddle Rafael had given him. “There’s a D and a A and a N…” He frowned, then grabbed his mother’s arm. “It’s not Danny. I thought it was Danny.”
Mia glanced at the saddle, then narrowed her eyes. “You’re right. It’s not Danny. It’s Daniel. I’m sorry your daddy got your name wrong.”
“That’s okay,” Daniel told Rafael. “Sometimes I’m Daniel, but mostly when I’ve been bad.”
“In Calandria, you’ll be Daniel all the time,” Rafael said easily. “As the heir, you will go by the more formal version of your name.”
Daniel stared at him for a second, then shrugged and reached for the next present. It was a remote car from Joe. Daniel gasped with delight and raced over to his uncle.
“Can we play tonight? Will you play with me? Please.”
Joe ruffled the boy’s hair. “Sure thing, kid. We’ll have a race.”
Daniel hugged the other man. Rafael watched, uncomfortable with the boy’s obvious affection for the larger man. He turned back to the table of presents and scowled when he realized
