A series of locking mechanisms being undone clanged and clinked against the wood before the door burst open.
A man with thick, dark hair, assessing brown eyes, and a rounded stomach stood gobsmacked, mouth agape, at the threshold of his home.
“Faith.” His tone was pure disbelief. He reached out and pulled his daughter into his arms, hugging her as though he hadn’t seen her in years.
I watched in silence as he kissed the crown of her head, each of her cheeks, and then pressed his forehead to hers. “You are here. In the flesh. This is not a dream.” His voice cracked, and tears filled his dark gaze.
“I’m here, Dad. For now,” she said, clinging to her father.
This reunion should have felt wonderful, beautiful even. And yet I knew their response was a desperate one—after not having seen one another in too long. I couldn’t imagine being away from my family back home. Especially my daughter, Penny. Once my travels hit two weeks in length, I yearned to be near her. It wasn’t natural for a parent to be away from their offspring for too long. Which was also why I needed to get back. The love of my family called to me, even from a continent away.
Once again, I had to hold back the growing rage that had been simmering underneath the surface since I’d read the threatening text Faith received back at the auction. That anger grew with each new experience I had with my intended.
Was this how she lived her life day to day? In fear? Checking over her shoulder? Worried Aiden would jump out of the darkness and imprison her in another gilded cage?
A primal growl rumbled low in my throat, as each horrifying possibility my bride faced daily teetered back and forth in my mind.
Faith must have heard me because she shifted from her father’s arms and turned around. “Dad, I have someone I want you to meet. My…”
“Fiancé, Joel Castellanos. I’m delighted to meet you, sir. Even under the circumstances…such as they are.” I offered my hand.
Her father shook my hand but kept his daughter tucked at his side. “Robert Marino.”
“Mimi!” A child’s squeal came from deeper in the house.
Faith let go of her father, dashed ten feet into the home, and fell to her knees, the stunning dress she wore of absolutely no concern to her.
I watched captivated as a girl no more than three or four clung to Faith’s neck, her eyes squeezed tight as she held on.
“Eden, buttercup,” Faith gasped, her arm around the small child’s body, her hand cupping the girl’s light-brown hair. She placed kisses on the girl’s face and down her neck until she giggled hopelessly. “I missed you! ”
“I missed you, Mimi.” The little girl smiled hugely.
“Mimi?” I murmured out loud.
“Auntie was hard for her to say in the beginning. The word evolved into Mimi and stuck,” Robert explained.
I nodded and slipped my hands into my pockets, not having a clue what to do in this awkward situation.
Faith played with the girl’s hair, pushing the long lengths out of her face.
“You stay, Mimi?” the little one asked.
I noted how Faith’s shoulders drooped, and she shook her head. “No, buttercup. Mimi has to go away for a while on another trip.”
The little girl’s bottom lip started to tremble, and her eyes filled with tears. “Want you stay. Stay with me, Mimi. Me and Papa.”
Faith’s body seemed to convulse as she pushed a finger to the small girl’s lips. “Remember what I promised? That I’d visit as much as I could? But your place is with Papa now.”
She shook her head. “Papa and Mimi, please,” she begged, as tears fell down her cheeks in huge drops I couldn’t stand seeing. If it was Penny, I’d buy her a pony, a car…hell, an island to remove the depth of sadness this small girl was showing.
Faith held up three fingers. “How many is this, Eden?”
“Three! Like me.” She pointed to her belly sniffing against the tears that fell unimpeded.
“That’s right. Though you’ll be four very soon. And Mimi will be back to live with you in three.” She lifted her fingers again. “Three years,” she croaked, the emotion getting the best of her.
I shook my head. “No, no you will not,” I announced to the room, my heart lurching at the sight of such extreme devastation. I would not have it. Anyone could see how deeply Faith was invested in this child and her well-being. There was no need for her to wait years upon years to be with her family again. Not when I could better the situation so easily.
I turned to Faith’s father. “Mr. Marino, I understand you take care of this child while running a business?”
Faith’s father nodded and lifted his chin. “I do.”
“Joel, what are you doing?” Faith asked, her arms still wrapped around the small girl.
“What would you say if we took on the brunt of caring for your grandchild?” I offered.
“I…I…I’m not sure I understand.” Mr. Marino’s brows furrowed, and a leeriness overcame his expression.
Faith stood up and put her hand to my elbow. “Joel.” Her tone was beseeching and filled with fear.
I clenched my jaw. I’d not have her fear me. That was the first thing I intended to cure prior to our wedding.
“Who is the guardian of this child?” My tone was direct and unflinching. In business, I got right to the center of the issue regardless of what emotions and feelings lay under the surface.
“Legally, Faith. Due to the danger surrounding my daughter, I’ve been the primary caregiver on and off since Eden was a year old.”
Faith closed her eyes and dropped her hand from me as though the truth fileted her wide open. She’d had to leave her niece with her father because her ex-fiancé was a despicable excuse for a human being. Wrath slithered through my frame, the desire to ruin Aiden Bradford and everything he’d ever loved a palpable throb against my temples. I inhaled sharply, focusing on my breath for a single moment in order to calm myself. It wouldn’t do for any of these people to see me lose my cool.
“If you would be agreeable, I’d like to take Faith and Eden to my home in Greece. Get to know them both before the wedding. Of course, you are welcome to come on my personal jet. My home has plenty of empty rooms. I will take care of everything.” I stretched out my arms and adjusted my cuffs, feeling far more at peace making bold and important decisions that I knew would be better for everyone.
Her father shook his head. “I have our family restaurant. The staff… They need me. And I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t feeding Las Vegas each night. And of course, there’s Grace…”
“Joel, you can’t be serious,” Faith interrupted her father while lifting the girl and placing her on her hip. The child snuggled against Faith’s neck, and I imagined my own daughter doing the same. Having a woman in her life to cling to other than my mother would be such a gift. Something I could have never even hoped for. But all of it was possible now. With Faith.
“I am always serious. You will learn that about me soon enough.”