{"id":2252,"date":"2017-02-05T15:46:29","date_gmt":"2017-02-05T15:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/?post_type=portfolio&#038;p=2252"},"modified":"2017-03-01T09:41:10","modified_gmt":"2017-03-01T09:41:10","slug":"claimed-de-carrillo-twins","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/claimed-de-carrillo-twins\/","title":{"rendered":"Claimed For The De Carrillo Twins"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-d18d8c2c81d10022ebd21ffa95322c35 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2252'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb av_one_half  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-f2619c749b07206e5e955c4c3cd34fa7\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-f2619c749b07206e5e955c4c3cd34fa7{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-f2619c749b07206e5e955c4c3cd34fa7 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-f2619c749b07206e5e955c4c3cd34fa7 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-f2619c749b07206e5e955c4c3cd34fa7 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >She\u2019d just whispered one word. <span class='special_amp'>&#8220;<\/span>Please.<span class='special_amp'>&#8221;<\/span><\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Cruz De Carrillo cannot forget the searing kiss he shared with his shy maid, Trinity Adams. For the moment the Spanish billionaire walked away, horrified at losing his legendary control, Trinity quickly moved on\u2014to become nanny, guardian and\u00a0<em>stepmother<\/em>\u00a0to his brother&#8217;s sons!<\/p>\n<p>Now Cruz must protect his orphaned nephews. When Trinity refuses to leave them, he knows there is one solution\u2014a ring on her finger! It&#8217;s the only way Cruz can keep her in his\u00a0<em>castillo<\/em>, under his watchful eye, and finish what he started\u2014this time in his bed!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-av_button-c92618446e5c68b64e558e8e19060c32-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_hr '><a href='#excerpt'  class='avia-button av-av_button-c92618446e5c68b64e558e8e19060c32 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-left avia-color-dark'  ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read an Excerpt<\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd{\nheight:30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr 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itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Harlequin Presents<\/strong><br \/>\nMarch 2017<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN:<\/strong>\u00a00373060467<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-a8bc5e061680e88183cfe806bb138603\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-a8bc5e061680e88183cfe806bb138603 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-a8bc5e061680e88183cfe806bb138603 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Claimed-Carrillo-Twins-Wedlocked-Green\/dp\/0373060467\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1488303561&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=claimed+for+the+de+carrillo+twins\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1486308851&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=claimed+for+the+de+carrillo+twins' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY\u00a0NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-7d3af73214b730618649965c8453f459\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-7d3af73214b730618649965c8453f459 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-7d3af73214b730618649965c8453f459 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-7d3af73214b730618649965c8453f459 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2249 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2249 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9781474052177-187x300.jpg\" alt='' title='9781474052177'  height=\"300\" width=\"187\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9781474052177-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9781474052177.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Mills &amp; Boon<\/strong><br \/>\nMarch 2017<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-6f5db6c442bc7b8a11d370f5c742e638\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-6f5db6c442bc7b8a11d370f5c742e638 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-6f5db6c442bc7b8a11d370f5c742e638 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Claimed-Carrillo-Twins-Wedlocked-Book\/dp\/0263924041\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1488361206&amp;sr=8-1' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY\u00a0NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b{\nbackground-color:#f6f6f6;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='excerpt'  class='avia-section av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b main_color avia-section-large avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2252'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-16  el_before_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fifth-16b6c90d55d7f1aa8be9bd43e81fe658\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fifth-16b6c90d55d7f1aa8be9bd43e81fe658{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_three_fifth-16b6c90d55d7f1aa8be9bd43e81fe658 av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_one_fifth  el_before_av_one_fifth  excerpt flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c\">\n#top .hr.av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c hr-custom  avia-builder-el-18  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a{\npadding-bottom:10px;\nfont-size:42px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:42px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a .av-subheading{\nfont-size:22px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-2dcd482fb33f40602bb151cb34f6973a av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-inherit-size'><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_above'><p>Excerpt from<\/p>\n<\/div><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Claimed For The De Carrillo Twins<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Cruz De Carrillo surveyed the thronged reception room in his London home, filled with a veritable who\u2019s who of London\u2019s most powerful players and beautiful people, all there to celebrate his return to Europe.<\/p>\n<p>He felt no sense of accomplishment though, to be riding high on the crest of his stratospheric success in North America, having tripled his eponymous bank\u2019s fortunes in less than a year \u2013 because he knew his zealous focus on work had had more to do with avoiding <em>this<\/em>, than the burning ambition he\u2019d harboured for years, to turn his family bank\u2019s fortune and reputation around.<\/p>\n<p>And it killed him to admit it.<\/p>\n<p><em>This, <\/em>was standing just feet away from him now \u2013 tall and slender yet with generous curves. Pale skin. Too much pale skin, exposed in a dress that left far too little to the imagination. Cruz\u2019s mouth compressed with distaste even as his blood ran hot, mocking him for the desire which time hadn\u2019t diminished \u2013 much to his intense irritation. It was unwelcome and completely inappropriate. Now more than ever. She was his sister \u2013 in \u2013 law.<\/p>\n<p>Her blonde hair was up in a sleek chignon and a chain of glittering gold trailed tantalisingly down her naked back, bared in the daring royal &#8211; blue backless dress. She turned slightly in Cruz\u2019s direction and he had to tense every muscle to stave off the surge of fresh desire when he saw the provocative curves of her high full breasts, barely disguised by the thin draped satin.<\/p>\n<p>She looked almost vulnerable, set apart from the crowd slightly but he knew it was just a mirage.<\/p>\n<p>He cursed her. And he cursed himself. If he hadn\u2019t been so weak, he wouldn\u2019t know how incendiary it had felt to have those curves pressed against his body. He wouldn\u2019t remember the way her eyes had turned a stormy darker blue as he\u2019d plundered the sweetness she\u2019d offered up to him that fateful night almost eighteen months ago in this very house, when she\u2019d worked for him as a house &#8211; maid.<\/p>\n<p>He wouldn\u2019t still hear her soft breathy moans in his dreams, forcing him awake, sweating, with his hand wrapped around himself and every part of him straining for release&#8230;aching to know the intimate clasp of her body, milking him into sweet oblivion.<\/p>\n<p><em>Sweet<\/em>. That was just it. There was nothing sweet about this woman. He might have thought so at one time \u2013 she used to blush if he so much as glanced at her. But it had all been an elaborate artifice, because his younger half \u2013 brother, Rio, had told him the truth about what she really was, and she was no innocent.<\/p>\n<p>Her seduction of Cruz had obviously been far more calculated than he\u2019d believed, and when that hadn\u2019t worked, she\u2019d diverted her sights onto Rio &#8211; his illegitimate brother, with whom Cruz had a complicated relationship \u2013 to put it mildly. A chasm had been forged between the brothers since they were children, when Cruz had been afforded every privilege as the legitimate heir to the De Carrillo fortune, and Rio, who had been born to a house \u2013 maid of the family castillo, had been afforded nothing \u2013 not even the De Carrillo name.<\/p>\n<p>But Cruz had never felt that Rio should be punished for their charismatic and far too handsome father\u2019s inability to control his base appetites. So he had done everything in his power after their father had died some ten years previously to make amends &#8211; going against their father\u2019s will which had left Rio nothing \u2013 by becoming his guardian, giving him his rightful paternalistic name and paying for him to complete his education.<\/p>\n<p>Then when he had come of age, Cruz had given him a fair share of his inheritance; <em>and <\/em>a job, first in the De Carrillo bank in Madrid, and now London, much to his conservative board\u2019s displeasure.<\/p>\n<p>At the age of twenty &#8211; one, Rio had become one of Europe\u2019s newest millionaires, the centre of feverish media attention with his dark good looks and mysterious past. And he had lapped it up, displaying an appetite for the kind of playboy lifestyle Cruz had never indulged in; quickly marrying one of the world\u2019s top supermodels in a lavish wedding that had gone on for days, only for it to end in tragedy nearly a year later when she\u2019d died in an accident shortly after giving birth to twin boys.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, as much as Rio\u2019s full \u2013 throttle existence had unnerved Cruz, could he have begrudged him that? His conscience pricked. By giving Rio his due inheritance and his rightful name, perhaps he\u2019d made his brother a target for gold \u2013 diggers? Rio\u2019s first wife had certainly reveled in her husband\u2019s luxurious lifestyle, and it would appear as if nothing had changed with his second wife.<\/p>\n<p>As if sensing his intense regard, his sister \u2013 in &#8211; law turned now and saw him. Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. Cruz\u2019s anger spiked. She could still turn it on. Even now. When he knew her real capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>She faced him in that provocative dress and her luscious body filled his vision, and made his blood thrum with need. He hated her for it. She moved towards him, almost hesitantly, the slippery stain material moving sinuously around her long legs.<\/p>\n<p>He called on every atom of control he had and schooled his body not to respond to her proximity, even as her tantalising scent tickled his nostrils, threatening to weaken him all over again. It was all at once innocent yet seductive. As if he needed reminding that she presented one face to the world while hiding her other, far more mercenary one.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Trinity.\u2019 His voice sounded unbearably curt to his ears and he tried to ignore the striking light \u2013 blue eyes. And how lush her mouth was, adding a distinctly sensual edge to her pale blonde innocence. An innocence that was skin \u2013 deep.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Cruz&#8230;it\u2019s nice to see you again.\u2019 Her voice was husky, reminding him vividly of how it had sounded in his ear that night, <em>please&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>His dry tone disguised his banked rage. \u2018You\u2019ve come up in the world since we last met.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She swallowed, the long delicate column of her pale throat moving. \u2018Wh &#8211; what do you mean?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Cruz\u2019s jaw tightened at the faux innocence. \u2018I\u2019m talking about your rapid ascent from the position of nanny to wife and stepmother to my nephews.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>That brought back the unwelcome reminder that he\u2019d only been informed about the low \u2013 key wedding by a text from Rio: <em>I have you to thank for sending this beautiful woman into my life. I hope you\u2019ll be very happy for us, brother<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The news had precipitated shock, and something much darker into Cruz\u2019s gut. And yet, he hadn\u2019t had any reason at that point not to cautiously believe it was a good idea, in spite of his own previous experience with Trinity, which he\u2019d blamed himself for. Rio was a widower and he and Trinity had obviously forged a bond based on caring for his nephews. Cruz had believed that she was a million light years away from Rio\u2019s glamorous hedonistic first wife. <em>Then<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that he\u2019d had dreams for weeks afterwards of being held back and forced to watch a faceless blonde woman making love to countless men was something that made him burn inwardly with shame, even now.<\/p>\n<p>Trinity looked pale now. Hesitant. \u2018I was looking for you actually. Could we have a private word?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Cruz crushed the unwelcome memory and arched a brow. \u2018A private word?\u2019 He flicked a glance at the crowd behind her and then back to her, wondering what the hell she was up to. Surely she wouldn\u2019t have the gall to try and seduce him under the same roof she had before, with her husband just feet away?<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We\u2019re private enough here. No \u2013 one is listening.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She flushed and then glanced behind her, and back, clearly reluctant now. \u2018Perhaps this isn\u2019t the best time or place&#8230;\u2019<\/p>\n<p>So he\u2019d been right. Disgust settled in his belly. \u2018Spit it out, Trinity. Unless it\u2019s not talking you\u2019re interested in.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She blanched, the delicate flush disappearing. Once, her ability to display emotions intrigued him. Now it incensed him.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What do you mean?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u2018You know very well what I mean. You tried to seduce me in this very house and when it didn\u2019t work, you transferred your attentions to my brother and he obviously proved to be more susceptible to your wiles.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She shook her head and frowned, a visibly trembling hand coming up to her chest as if to contain shock, disbelief. \u2018I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Disgust filled Cruz that she could stand here and so blatantly lie while her enormous rock of an engagement ring glinted at him mockingly. All he could see was her and her treachery. But he had to crush the recriminations that rose up inside him, it was too late for them now.<\/p>\n<p>Rio had revealed to Cruz on his return to the UK a few days before that he was on the verge of bankruptcy \u2013 his huge inheritance all but wiped out. And Trinity De Carrillo\u2019s name was all over nearly every receipt and docket that had led his brother further and further into the mire. The extent how badly Cruz had misread her was galling.<\/p>\n<p>An insidious thought occurred to him and it made his blood boil. \u2018Your innocent act is past its sell by date. I might not have realised what you were up to, more fool me, but I know now. Rio told me how you\u2019ve single \u2013 handedly run through almost every cent he has to his name in a bid to satisfy your greedy nature, and now you\u2019re realising his fortune isn\u2019t a bottomless pit perhaps you\u2019re looking for a way out, or even a new benefactor?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Before she could respond, he continued in a low bitter voice, \u2018I underestimated your capacity to play the long game, Trinity. You lulled Rio into a false sense of trust by manipulating his biggest vulnerability, his sons. I\u2019m very well aware of how my actions pushed you in the direction of my brother, and that is not something I will ever forgive myself for. Needless to say, if he requires financial help, he will receive it, but your days of bankrupting him are over. If you\u2019re hoping to bargain your way out of this predicament, then think again, you\u2019ll get no sympathy from me.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Trinity was so white now, Cruz fancied he could see the blood vessels under her skin. A part of him wished she would break out of character and get angry with him for confronting her with who she really was.<\/p>\n<p>Her hand dropped back to her side, she shook her head. \u2018You have it all wrong.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u2018That\u2019s the best you can come up with?\u2019 he sneered, \u2018<em>I have it all wrong<\/em>? If I have it all wrong then please, tell me what you wanted to discuss.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Cruz could see the pulse at the base of her neck beating hectically. His own pulse \u2013 rate doubled.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I wanted to talk to you about Rio&#8230;about his behaviour. It\u2019s been growing more and more erratic&#8230;I\u2019m worried about the boys.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Cruz let out a short incredulous laugh, \u2018Worried about the boys? You\u2019re really trying to play the concerned stepmother card in a bid to deflect attention from the fact that you\u2019re more concerned about your lavish lifestyle coming to an end?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Bitterness filled Cruz. He knew better than most how the biological bond of a parent didn\u2019t guarantee love and security. Far from it. \u2018You\u2019re not even related to them, you\u2019ve just used them as pawns to manipulate your way into my brother\u2019s bed and get a ring on your finger.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Trinity took a step back, eyes wide with feigned shock. He had to hand it to her. She was a good actress. Almost as if she was talking to herself now, she said, \u2018I should have known he\u2019d protect himself somehow, of course you\u2019d believe him over me.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>A sliver of unease pierced Cruz\u2019s anger but he pushed it aside. \u2018I\u2019ve known Rio all of his twenty \u2013 five years. I think it\u2019s safe to say I\u2019d trust my brother over a conniving gold \u2013 digger any day of the week.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Hectic colour came back into Trinity\u2019s cheeks. She looked at him, big blue eyes beseeching with commendable authenticity. \u2018I\u2019m not a gold \u2013 digger. You don\u2019t understand, everything you\u2019re saying is all wrong \u2013 my marriage with Rio is not what you \u2013\u2018<\/p>\n<p>\u2018<em>There<\/em> you are, darling. I\u2019ve been looking for you. Charlotte Lacey wants to talk to you about next week\u2019s charity function.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Cruz blanched. He hadn\u2019t even noticed Rio joining them, he\u2019d been so consumed with the woman in front of him, whose arm was now taken firmly in her husband\u2019s hand. Rio\u2019s dark brown eyes met Cruz\u2019s over Trinity\u2019s head, they were hard. Trinity had gone even paler, if that was possible. \u2018If you don\u2019t mind, brother, I need to steal my wife away.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Cruz could see it in Rio\u2019s eyes then, a familiar resentment. And intense shame and anger. Futility choked him. There was nothing he could do, he knew Rio would already be despising the fact that he\u2019d allowed Cruz to see him be brought so low at this woman\u2019s greedy hands.<\/p>\n<p>He watched as they walked back into the crowd and it wasn\u2019t long before they left for the evening, without saying good \u2013 bye. Rio might have shown Cruz a chink of vulnerability by revealing his financial problems, but if anything it only demonstrated how much Trinity had got to him, because he\u2019d never before allowed his brother to see a moment\u2019s weakness. Cruz\u2019s sense that his determination to see Rio treated fairly had been futile rose up again &#8211; it had never truly bridged the gap between them.<\/p>\n<p>A short while later, Cruz stood at the window in his drawing \u2013 room and watched his brother handing Trinity into the passenger seat of a dark Jeep in the forecourt outside the house, before he got into the driver\u2019s seat himself.<\/p>\n<p>He felt grim. All he could do now was be there to pick up the pieces of Rio\u2019s financial meltdown and do his best to ensure that Rio got a chance to start again, and that his wife didn\u2019t get her grasping hands on another cent.<\/p>\n<p>At the last second, as if hearing his thoughts, Trinity turned her head to look at Cruz through the ground \u2013 floor window. For a fleeting moment their eyes met and he could have sworn he saw hers shimmer with moisture, even from this distance.<\/p>\n<p>He told himself it had to be tears of anger to know that she\u2019d been found out. To know that she was trapped in a situation of her own making, and it should have filled Cruz with a sense of satisfaction but instead all he felt was a heavy weight in his chest.<\/p>\n<p>Rio\u2019s Jeep took off with a spurt of gravel and Cruz didn\u2019t realise it then, but it would be the last time he saw his brother alive.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":2238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[21],"portfolio_entries":[23],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - 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