‘He installed loyal friends into the highest military positions, promoted his allies into important political roles. It will take years to gradually weed out troublemakers and ensure our government is working for the good of the people. For his entire regency, his focus was on how he might retain power, even after he was removed.’
‘And has he?’
His eyes glittered. ‘To some extent, yes.’
She blinked.
‘It is one of the reasons I insisted on us sharing my apartment, in the palace.’
‘Because the staff might leak to him?’
He hesitated a little. ‘And because I needed to know you would be safe.’ There was an uneasiness to his voice. Her heart fizzed and popped in her chest. His concern for her was like a firework, but she quickly understood it was notherhe was worried about, but the babies she carried. That thought was confirmed a moment later when he added, ‘Our children are a threat to him. If he could depose me, then he would be King. Once these babies are born…’
‘You can’t seriously think he means to fight you for the throne? Or that he would do anything to hurt our twins?’
His features, for a moment, seemed to tighten with sheer exhaustion. ‘My parents were killed in an accident,’ he said slowly, eyes raking her face, as if trying to understand something. ‘But before they set off on that road trip, a report was issued from the village to the palace that flash flooding was expected. The report never made it to my parents’ driver, nor their security detail.’
Phoebe gasped again, pressing her palm against her mouth. ‘You think Mauricio did that?’
‘I suspect, yes. It would be impossible to prove now. He’s had too long to cover his tracks. But he was at the palace, and eventhen, he was currying favour in the hopes of gaining power in his own right.’
She bit into her lip. ‘Oh, Octavio. I can’t believe anyone would be so cruel.’
‘Rodrigo suspected it. He was asking questions. And so, Mauricio had him exiled.’
She squeezed her eyes shut. It was damning, if circumstantial, evidence.
‘He shut out his own brother, cut him off financially and, as it happened, effectively killed him. I appreciate it might seem far-fetched, but do you understand why I would not take risks with you?’
She nodded slowly.
‘And why we had to marry quickly? Even a week seemed too long to wait, when I imagined what strings Mauricio might be pulling.’
‘But you invited him to the wedding—’
‘To not have done so would have drawn the kind of speculation I prefer to avoid. My intention is to remove Mauricio’s thumbprints, his stranglehold, from the country, from government, and then I shall decide how to deal with him.’
Phoebe shivered. Octavio sounded so resolute, it was easy to believe he could achieve anything he wished.
‘Won’t that cause problems for you with Xiomara?’
He studied Phoebe a long while. ‘I hope not.’
‘But if it does?’
‘I have to do what’s right.’ There was an uneasiness in the admission, and she felt the weight he carried, all on those broad shoulders of his. She stared at him and his eyes locked to hers, the air around them charging with voltage, so she struggled to look away, even as her cells were dancing with little electric shocks.
‘Do you trust Xiomara?’ she asked, trying to focus on their conversation.
‘With my life.’
‘Why, when she’s his daughter?’
‘She is nothing like him,’ he said, as though it were so simple. ‘Xiomara is loyal. She doesn’t speak badly about him, but even as children, when Mauricio would delight in punishing me for no reason, by taking away things of value to me, she would sneak into my room with a treat and sit with me until I felt better.’
Indignation fired her blood. ‘He didwhat?’ Her voice was halfway to a screech.
Octavio shook his head. ‘It was a long time ago.’
