40. Daniela

When I get to Valentina’s room, she’s not there. Santi and Mia have been glued to her all day, but I go downstairs to see for myself.

Duarte is at the bottom of the stairs in a black tux with a red bow tie.

“You look very handsome. I didn’t get a chance earlier to thank you for not telling Antonio that I left the main tent without informing you.” My thoughtlessness put him in a really bad position, and I still feel terrible about it.

He nods. “When I was assigned to your protection detail, your husband told me I had one job, and that was to protect you. To do my job well, I need you to trust me. While I can’t promise, I will always do my best to never betray your trust.” He’s earnest, and he means every word.

The difference between Duarte and Alvarez is night and day. But protecting me from Antonio’s wrath is too much to ask of him. Plus, I don’t really need that kind of protection.

“I appreciate your loyalty, but please don’t feel you have to cover for me with my husband. I know it puts you in a terrible position. Believe it or not, I can handle him quite well. But that’s our little secret.”

Duarte pretends to zip his lips.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Lara asks, aghast, interrupting the sweet moment with my guard.

“Yes,” I say brightly. “Do you like it?”

Her mouth is open. “Uh—”

“You can relax. I’m not wearing a sundress to a black-tie event. I’m looking for Valentina.”

“Her little friends just arrived, and she’s introducing them to Senhora Lydia.”

Duarte nods, indicating that this is correct. I’ve known him for less time, but I trust him more than I trust Lara.

“Is she dressed?”

Lara smiles. “To the nines. She looks beautiful. The color of her gown brings out the purple in her eyes.”

My heart drops into my stomach. Relax, Daniela.Tomas is dead. Most people here won’t remember Vera as a child. And if they do, they can think what they want. No one would ever say a word to her.

“Paula won’t be with us this evening, so there’s no one to do a last-minute check of the tent. Would you mind doing it before you change?” I ask Lara.

“I don’t mind at all.” She tips her head to the side. “Is she okay?”

“I believe so.”

“Are you okay? You look a bit wan.”

Thanks.“Nothing a bit more blush can’t cure. It’s been a long day.”

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” I force myself to say. I’m not in the mood for a private chat with Lara. “But let’s not go far. We both need to get dressed.”

We move a few feet away from Duarte, although I’m certain he can hear us.

“Did Paula have something to do with what happened in the staging tent?” Lara probes shamelessly.

I don’t know how to reply, so I take a page out of my husband’s book. “Why do you ask?”

She shrugs. “A guard took her to be questioned, and I haven’t seen her since. Everyone else who was questioned has been released.”

“I’m sure Paula didn’t have anything to do with what happened.” Lara is always so unkind when it comes to Paula that I feel the need to defend her.

“Paula has always had a reputation as a sneak. Even when she worked in the caves. She would spy on people and then turn them in to Jacinto to curry favor. That’s how she got the job as your personal maid. She certainly wasn’t qualified.” Lara huffs. “She looks out for herself. It’s only one step further to accept money to get a bad man inside.”

After this week is over, Lara needs to be fired. She can go back to Jacinto, but I don’t want her on my staff. “Do you know that she did that?”

“Well, no. But—”

“No buts, Lara. It can irreparably damage someone’s reputation to spread rumors. I don’t like it.”

“I would never spread rumors. I’m just making you aware. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go and do a last-minute check of the tent.”

What if Paula is an issue?I can’t let my feelings about Lara influence how I feel about Paula, one way or another. I need to keep them separate.

“Hey,” Cristiano says, coming up behind me as Lara leaves.

I smile at my husband’s handsome friend. “This place is swarming with hot guys in tuxes.”

He chuckles.

“Let me ask you something.”

He shuts one eye. “Save me, Duarte.” He groans.

Duarte puts up both his hands. “You’re on your own, brother.”

“Ask. I’ll try to answer.”

Sure you will.“Do you remember the day I snuck off the property? A few weeks after I got here.”

He raises his brow. “I don’t think anyone who was around Antonio while you were on the run will ever forget it.”

I doubt I’ll ever forget it, either.

“Who told you I left?”

He pauses to think. “The guards told us. Lucas, actually. But I don’t remember who alerted them. I can check. Is there a problem?”

“No. I just wondered if it was Paula.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I didn’t tell her, but she had to suspect something was up. To be honest, I never gave it much thought, but Lara just said something, and it got me thinking.”

“What did she say?” he asks in that disarming way he uses to get people to spill their guts before they realize they said too much.

“She said—” I stop, because Paula is under a lot of scrutiny, and if I tell Cristiano what Lara said, it will likely become worse. It’s true she sneaked around with her boyfriend in a way that would have gotten them in trouble—or at least him in trouble—but it’s a huge leap from sneaking to have lunch with your boyfriend to assisting a hitman.

This is exactly what Lara was hoping to accomplish.

“It’s nothing. Lara’s always putting down Paula, and she was spreading gossip.”

He nods. “I supported Lara for the assistant position. I thought she’d make a good companion for you. But the more I’m around her, the less enamored I am with her.”

If Cristiano doesn’t like you, there’s probably something about you that’s not worth liking. “What’s changed your mind?”

He slips his hand in his trouser pocket. “Not sure.”

“Not sure, or not sharing?”

The corners of his mouth curl slightly. “I’ll try to find out who ratted you out,” he says with a wink.