Читать книгу Mr Right All Along - Natalie Anderson - Страница 26

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EDUARDO STALKED ALONG the long corridor back to his apartment. Five hours had passed since their argument and his anger hadn’t lessened any.

She was scared about her pregnancy. That was why she’d called for Dr Russo. She hadn’t wanted to tell him—her husband. She didn’t trust him. Didn’t want to confide in him. Didn’t want to be with him. She’d said he was emotionally stunted.

He was feeling all the emotions now.

‘Stella?’ he called, as soon as he opened his apartment door. But his voice rang out unanswered in the empty atmosphere.

Adrenalin hit, bunching muscles, sharpening focus. Swiftly he sought out her belongings, but her duffel was missing, along with her old jeans and tee shirts and her trainers. She’d left her rings on the table beside the bed. Midnight’s Passion was beside them, the platinum chain coiled around it.

Shocked, he released the breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding.

She’d left him. She’d walked out through the front door. Of course she had. Because she was a damn good soldier, always a survivor, and she’d escaped.

From him.

His breathing quickened, lungs hurting. Heart hurting. He bent his head, screwing up his eyes so the sight of the sapphire wouldn’t mock him.

But it still did. God, it hurt. He wanted her. Needed her back. He loved her.

He swore. Short, pithy, pained. Then he moved. He had to freaking well move. He had to find her.

He picked up his phone. Called a captain he trusted.

‘The Princess. When did you last see her?’ he demanded, the second the guy answered.

‘Uh, the General came to see her and—’

‘When was that?’ Eduardo scowled, sourness sinking into his gut.

‘He arrived just before you left for the hospital,’ the Captain answered warily.

After Eduardo had argued with her and walked out. Had she had a showdown with her father? ‘When did the General leave?’

‘I believe they went out to lunch—’

‘They what?’ Confounded, Eduardo couldn’t believe his ears.

‘Uh...lunch. At a restaurant, I think—’

Eduardo didn’t bother listening to the rest. He turned on his heel and ran to the other end of the palace to General Carlos Zambrano’s quarters. He thudded on the door so hard it rattled the hinges. And sure enough General Carlos himself answered it.

‘Where is Stella?’ He pushed past the man into the room.

‘She’s your wife. Shouldn’t you know?’

‘She is her own person,’ Eduardo clipped an answer as he looked around the lounge. ‘You really had lunch with her?’

‘No, I’ve been in a meeting,’ the General answered.

The old man was lying. Eduardo should have come back to the palace hours ago. But he’d been unable to cancel that last engagement because he hadn’t wanted to let them down at the last minute. Instead he’d let Stella down.

‘My daughter is very strong,’ the General said. ‘She doesn’t grant many people the power to hurt her.’ He looked at him very carefully, his frown deepening. ‘I thought you had hurt her.’

‘I have.’

‘No.’ Carlos moved impatiently. ‘I mean physically. Back when she got pregnant.’

Dumbfounded, Eduardo stared, and then rage seared. ‘I would never—’

‘That’s what she told me.’ Her father raised his hands. ‘She said you are a good man. I was just...protective. And unwilling to trust her judgement.’

‘Good Lord, you really give her a hard time.’ Eduardo breathed hard to recover his equilibrium. He was furious. What had he ever done to make him think that? He might be arrogant and entitled, but he wasn’t a psychopath.

‘I’m sorry.’ The General sighed. ‘No man was ever going to be good enough for her. Not even a prince.’

Eduardo stared at the older man, seeing for the first time the pallor, the anxiety in his eyes. ‘What the hell is going on?’

‘I’m worried about her,’ Carlos admitted gruffly. ‘I lost her mother and it all but destroyed me. All these years I did what I thought was best for Stella. But I think I have been wrong. In sending her away...in protecting her from active duty—’

‘In helping her run away from me. That was wrong.’ Eduardo struggled to stay calm.

The General froze.

‘I know you’ve helped her.’ Eduardo’s anger simmered like a pot of molten lava, yet he was still unable to believe this horrible reality. ‘You might as well tell me where she is now, because I will find her. I have more resources, more patience than you can imagine. I have to know she is okay. I have to see that for myself.’

He realised now just how fragile she was. And just how courageous.

Last night he’d told her she wasn’t alone any more. But the first time she’d questioned it—the first time she’d needed him—he’d walked out. She’d been hurt and he’d hurt her more. Because he’d been so wrapped up in his own insecurity he hadn’t seen how truly upset she’d been.

He was an idiot. She’d never had the emotional security she’d craved. Of course she was going to test him. This morning she’d done what she did best and challenged him. And he’d let her down.

He shouldn’t have left her to wake by herself, because something had happened to set off her doubts. He shouldn’t have stood there silently judging her when she still hadn’t told him her fears about the birth. These were huge fears for her, and she’d needed to feel totally safe before she shared them. He’d needed to earn that trust. And now she’d run away because she was used to being alone. Because she thought she still was.

That broke his heart.

How could he expect her to open up to him the way he wanted when he hadn’t done the same? He’d shut her out from how he really felt. So often when they’d verged on true intimacy he’d turned things physical. Kept her close, but kept that last bit of himself distant. Safe. Until last night.

Those kids he’d seen at the hospital today kept on fighting. They faced things far more fearful. He’d been a coward. After that day on the beach he’d been too proud to chase her—in reality he’d been too much of a chicken. Because he’d been as freaked out by the intensity of that afternoon as she had. Only he hadn’t been man enough to admit it—not even to himself.

Then fate had given him a second chance, and he’d gladly taken advantage of it.

Yet he’d still screwed it up.

So he’d damn well find her. But as soon as he knew she was okay he’d set her free. If she still wanted to, she could live overseas. He’d find her a safe haven. His heart tore at the thought of letting her go, but he’d do whatever was necessary to ensure her happiness.

‘You all right? You’re breathing funny.’

The General was staring at him as if he’d grown an extra head.

‘I need to find her.’

‘You should already know where she is,’ her father said. ‘She’s where she always goes when she needs time to think.’

She wanted to think? Hope bubbled up within him. If she needed to think then it might not be too late.

Now he tried to think. Stella’s answer to everything was exercise. She always went for a run. Or a swim.

The answer hit like a lightning bolt and he almost laughed at the simplicity. The obviousness. More hope bubbled. He didn’t deserve her if he wasn’t right. If he took the Maserati he could get there in less than half an hour...

But his way out of the palace was blocked by his brother, standing in the high-studded, gilded atrium, clad in an Armani tuxedo and adjusting a gleaming cufflink.

‘Are you ready?’ Antonio scowled at Eduardo’s jeans.

He’d forgotten about the opening night of the freaking opera and the damn politicians he was supposed to schmooze. ‘Antonio, I can’t right now.’

His brother looked implacable. ‘All I need you to do is—’

‘I can’t go with you.’ Eduardo interrupted shortly.

His brother’s expressionless eyes narrowed. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s Stella. She’s gone.’

‘Already?’

‘Be human!’ Eduardo shouted. ‘Be human for one goddamn minute.’

Antonio stood so rigid he looked as if he’d been cast in metal.

‘I’m sorry that you lost Alessia.’ Eduardo gazed at his brother and offered his wretched apology. ‘I am so sorry I never told you she was sick. I will always be sorry that I never told you.’

His lungs hurt with the effort of breathing. With the effort of not pushing past Antonio and combing the streets in a desperate, hopeless, fear-filled search.

‘I know you put the Crown first. But I’m not you. I can’t do that. Stella comes first for me now and she always will. I can’t be here. I can’t do this. I have to go after her.’

As he went to go past him Antonio gripped his arm with a vice-like hand. Eduardo turned and looked into his brother’s face. They almost stood eye to eye.

‘I don’t blame you for my not going to see Alessia sooner.’ Antonio spoke with quiet, lethal intensity. ‘I could have gone. So many times. And I didn’t. That was my decision. My fault. My guilt.’

Eduardo shook his head. ‘I should have told you. I should have made you go. I should have been a better brother. To you and to her.’

A muscle jerked in Antonio’s jaw. But then he lifted his hand and ruffled Eduardo’s hair in that old tease of years ago. ‘It’s still too long, but it suits you.’ He released Eduardo with a small, wry smile. ‘Go. Get out of here. Do what’s right.’

Eduardo heard Antonio’s quiet words behind him as he strode away.

‘Do what I didn’t.’