Chapter 22 #2
“We’ll probably get storms later tonight, but by morning, the weather heading to Greece shouldn’t be a problem.”
As excited as I was about this adventure, something told me our plan was going to hit a snag, even without the storms.
“You’re probably ready to get back to your club,” I said.
“I trust my staff, but I’ve been away long enough.”
Three hard knocks at the door jolted me forward. Sebastian ran his hand along my back before he scooted me out of his lap.
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked as another loud knock echoed throughout the suite.
“It was only a matter of time.” Sebastian opened the door without checking to see who was on the other side, but that was in character for a man who didn’t seem to be afraid of anything. “Leo.” He widened the door to reveal my father and Maria standing in the hall. “Come in.”
“Dad.” I got up from the sofa, thankful I was wearing one of the new sundresses Sebastian had delivered for me instead of his dress shirt. “What are you doing here?”
Maria entered with him but neither looked at me. They were too focused on Sebastian. I glanced at the foyer table, spying the gun Sebastian had left there a few hours ago. How long would this take to escalate? Where were Zeus and Atticus?
“I’ve allowed this to go on long enough,” my father said. “If your plan was to come here and get back at me for whatever you’ve conjured in your mind, your mission has been accomplished.”
“We both know I haven’t conjured anything.” Sebastian shut the door. “We know the truth, don’t we?”
“Capri,” my father said. “We can do this the easy way. Leave with me right now and no one has to be subjected to the sins of the past. Sebastian can go back to living his life and you can move forward with yours.”
“Does moving forward mean you expect me to marry Christopher?” I asked. “Because that is never going to happen.”
“We’re not going to discuss this here,” he said. “Say goodbye to the mistake you made in Greece and we’ll go home.”
“Sebastian was never a mistake.” I took Sebastian’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here, because now I can tell you in person that I’m going to Greece with him.”
“You’re unbelievable.” Maria shook her head at us. “You’ve waited a long time to stick it to Leo. Congratulations, you found the most creative way to do that.”
“If I really wanted to get back at Leo,” Sebastian said, “I could have come up with other methods, and I wouldn’t have waited almost twenty years to do it.”
“Capri,” my father said. “Are you going to leave with me now so we can put this behind us or do you need some hard truths?”
“I’m not leaving.” I maneuvered closer to Sebastian, closing any space between us. “I don’t want to leave things between us in a bad place, but I can’t let you dictate my choices any more than you already have.”
“It’s unfortunate that you’ve chosen to share your bed with a killer, but it isn’t all your fault.
” The tone in my father’s voice mocked me.
It was as if he was speaking to the ten-year-old version of me.
“You’re young, naive, and a bit stupid. You are easily manipulated by a man who has no respect for you.
He used you to get to me, and now you can hear the truth and come back home where you belong. ”
“What truth do you believe you have for Capri?” Sebastian asked. “It’s obvious that you’re the one who doesn’t have respect for her and the woman she’s become.”
“No one asked you,” my father said. “Maria, tell my daughter what she needs to hear.”
“It will be my pleasure.” Maria snapped her full, fake lips together and turned them into a smug smile. “I’ve been waiting a long time to share my story.”
“What story would that be?” I asked.
“The man you’re so sure of, the one you refuse to see for who he really is, killed my brother.” She lifted her chin and glared at Sebastian. “You’re not going to be able to deny it anymore or blame Leo.”
“Why do you think that?” Sebastian shook his head. “Because Leo told you I did it?”
“Because I saw you do it,” Maria said. “I was in the church when you murdered an innocent priest.”
“You saw Sebastian do it?” I asked. How could she have witnessed it when he told me he didn’t do it?
“She’s lying,” Sebastian said. “She wasn’t in that church that night.”
“I was, but there was no reason for me to come forward, because everyone knew you were guilty, and now your precious girlfriend will know too.”
Sebastian stepped toward my father, getting in his face. “You put her up to this,” he said. “You ruined my life once, you won’t do it a second time.”
“I have an eyewitness.” My father pointed at Maria. “You murdered her brother. She has no reason to lie.”
“Are you kidding me?” Sebastian yelled. “Maria’s lying because she doesn’t know the truth. If she was really in that church the night her brother died, she wouldn’t be standing up for you right now. Do you want to force my hand, Leo? Or do you want to tell your daughter what really happened?”
“I saw what really happened,” Maria said. “I heard you arguing with my brother.”
“You’re lying.” Sebastian motioned toward her. “Leo put you up to this.”
“Why would you do that?” I asked my father. “That doesn’t make sense. You already let everyone believe Sebastian killed Father Santiago.”
“The one person who needs to believe it is you, and now it’s time for you to hear the truth.” He nodded to Maria. “She’s never come forward about the death of her brother because it was too painful for her to admit that the man she loved killed him.”
“That isn’t what happened,” Sebastian said. “If you were in that church, you would know who killed your brother, and it wasn’t me.” He moved closer to Maria. “You shouldn’t be lying for Leo.”
Maria wouldn’t lie for my father if… I didn’t want to say this out loud, but after all these years, someone had to get the answers.
“You said that you left because dangerous men thought you did it and they wanted you to tell them who hired you.” I looked into Sebastian’s eyes. “You said they assumed you did it, but you couldn’t tell them who hired you because no one did.”
“That’s right.” Sebastian glared at my father. “You’re a smart girl. You can figure it out now that you know who I am.”
“Sebastian was protecting you.” I pointed at my father as a chill ran down my body. “You couldn’t help him because you’re the one who killed Father Santiago.”
“That’s ridiculous,” my father said. “Emilio’s sister just told you what she saw. Maria has no reason to lie to you. You have an eyewitness standing in front of you, and you still choose to believe Hades?”
“I have a liar standing in front of me.” I fought back the tears of betrayal. “You’re a man who cheated his best friend. Sebastian was nothing but loyal to you. He never told anyone it was you. Not even me.”
“Capri.” My father reached for me.
“No!” I shouted. “You’re a liar! Not only did you destroy Sebastian’s life, but you’re trying to sell me to the highest bidder. You’re not at all who I thought you were.”
“That deal is already done,” my father said. “And if Sebastian tries to get in the way, he’ll suffer far more than being banished this time.”