Cherished (Adam & Ella) (2 page)

Adam looked at her, his amber eyes piercing into her. “
You
are the woman I love.”

Ella lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek. “Still, don’t you wish I was that beautiful?”

“You don’t have any idea how beautiful you are, even though I tell you every day? Remember what I said, when you opened your heart to me that night in Newport? Remember, I made you promise never to doubt yourself, to know how beautiful you are?”

Ella cringed. She was doing pretty lousy at that. “It’s not that easy, Adam.”

“Look at me.”

Ella looked, and reflected in his eyes she could see what he saw when he looked at her. He really did think she was beautiful, and when she was with him, she did feel so. The shock of meeting
Violetta and the threat she posed, no matter how false it had turned out to be, had shaken her to the core. The mere idea of another woman trying to take Adam crushed her heart, just as if a hand reached inside and squeezed it.

“Beautiful Ella, there is no one but you.” Adam pulled her onto his lap and she nuzzled her head under his chin. If other guests noticed, she didn’t care. In his embrace, secure and loved, life was good. Adam made her feel like no other man ever could. Rubbing her hand across his chest, hard under the light cotton shirt, arousal flooded her.

“Want to get out of here?”

“Yes, let’s go,” Ella said.

Adam made good on his promise to take Ella to Sugarloaf. Every day, she could see it from Adam’s patio. Standing in line in the Red Beach District waiting for their turn, Ella fidgeted, anxious to get going. Climbing into the one of the cable cars she’d only seen from a distance gave her a new perspective. Peering through the tinted Plexiglas window, Ella looked up at the mountain, noting how much bigger it looked so close.

As the cable car ascended, unobstructed sights of Rio came into view. The small crowd seated in their car chatted and pointed out places they recognized. The noise level was such that Ella had to lean close to Adam for him to hear anything she said. She pressed her cheek to the window to gain a better view and Adam leaned back to say something to
Nico, who was sitting directly behind them.

Talking and laughing from the passengers drowned out his words. She assumed he was just pointing out something to
Nico, or giving him instructions. It was a clear day and Ella twisted in her seat, trying to see through the passengers on the other side of the car, not wanting to miss anything. Slowly, they ascended to the summit of Urca Mountain, over seven hundred feet above sea level. First stop was the plateau at the top of the mountain, full of shops and restaurants—even an amphitheater.

Adam took her hand, helping her out, and they toured the area. The confined mountaintop venue didn’t allow
Nico to blend into the background, as was his custom. However, Ella was used to having him around her, wherever she went, and didn’t mind seeing him close by. It was comforting.

Glad she’d brought her camera, Ella snapped a bunch of pictures of the spectacular views, thinking she’d email the good ones to Cameron. After all, she’d promised to get him some photos, and he’d be impressed with the pictures she’d just taken. Turning every direction and leading Adam to new angles for better shots, she focused on the aerial views of Copacabana, the Christ statue, Niteroi Bridge, and Guanabara Bay. Often she had to wait for tourists to move so she could get a clear shot.

“Be right back,” she said, ducking off to the restroom. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adam nod toward Nico, who followed her. The facilities were the minimum one could expect and she was out quickly, noting Nico standing guard just outside the ladies’ room door, and smiling at him in acknowledgement.

Nico
stayed behind, keeping her in sight. Stepping into the bright light, she put her sunglasses back on, and saw a strange man in a crowd of people look directly at her. Her heart raced, and then she felt silly. Nobody was watching her.

Walking away, she glanced back and the man was talking with another person in the group. Nevertheless, she noted what he was wearing and his general description. It was just a precaution. Spotting Adam, she hurried, wanting to be with him.

“Hey,” he said. “Okay?”

“Sure.”

“How about a drink? We aren’t in any rush. We could try that bar,” Adam said, pointing to the door just a few steps away.

“That would be great.”

With his arm around her, Adam waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light inside the bar. “I’ve been to this one before. Let’s see if we can find a seat.”

Finding a place near the back, they slid into a booth. Looking across at her, Adam smiled. “Okay, what will it be? They have pretty much everything.”

“A caipirinha.”

“Ah, feeling brave, huh?”

“In the mood. I’m having so much fun.”

The waitress took their order and was back with their drinks quickly. The place was bustling and service had to be fast to keep up.

Ella took a sip of the tangy drink. “Yum, these things are good.”

Adam swigged his. “They do them well here.”

The waitress swooped by again, plunking their cheese pastries in front of them. “Anything else?”

Adam shook his head and she disappeared.

“How is it?”

“Good,” Ella said with a mouthful of cheesy pastry. “Eating has taken on a whole new meaning since I’ve been here. Everything is delicious.”

As she took another sip of her drink, her spine tingled—but not from the alcohol. Something about the way that man had looked at her outside the bathroom bugged her. She didn’t want to tell Adam because she knew he’d worry. It was nothing, she was sure.

But it reminded her of Claudio. It seemed no matter where they went or what they did, he cast a dark shadow over them. “So, what kind of stuff is Claudio involved in?”

Adam took a gulp of his drink. “Well, a bit of everything. When I was growing up, I didn’t know specifically. He always disappeared, doing stuff he didn’t talk about. I found out later he was smuggling.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Narcotics, mostly. Brazil is a heavy importer of cocaine.”

“Was he on cocaine?”

“I’m sure he was. That partially explains his erratic, aggressive behavior. And his need for money. Sure, since he transported it, he had access to it. Still, it doesn’t come free to anyone.”

“Is that why there is so much crime in Brazil?”

“That’s a lot of it. Crime is often traced back to the drug trade.”

“Isn’t it a felony to smuggle cocaine across the border?”

“Sure, and it’s liable for judgment in international courts; but you have to get caught first. And there’s another factor.”

“What’s that?”

“Who you know. In Brazil you have be to friends with entrepreneurs in order to do business with them. In my international deals, foreign businessmen are astonished by that fact. But here, a business owner is a citizen and the company at the same time. So being friends assists negotiations and creates trust.”

“I can kind of see that. Still, does that mean they allow criminality?”

“It depends. Many things here are done based on exchange of favors. There is a saying, ‘For my friends, everything—for my enemies, the law,’ and that’s how it works. Think about it. Everything flows, based on friendship, even if your friends aren’t model citizens.”

“How do they get the drugs in?”

“Paraguay. The flow of people along the Paraguay-Brazil border is enormous. So much is brought in illegally that anything from Paraguay is suspect. It’s unfair, but you can see how that would happen.”

“Yes, but you don’t just stroll across the border with drugs, do you?”

“The preferred types of transport are buses and cars, because the roads have less supervision and a large flow of people. Plus, they need space to carry the items.”

“Wouldn’t the drugs be confiscated?”

“There’s just so much traffic, it’s not feasible to stop everyone. The spot most vulnerable is along the International Friendship Bridge, which connects Brazil and Paraguay. With a population in the Rio area of eleven million, you see the problem.”

“Too many people, too much traffic.”

“That’s it. Eventually, I’m sure Claudio will get caught. He’s too short-tempered, tends to be irrational. He will make a mistake. But I can’t wait for that.”

“You sure know a lot about it.”

“I’ve made it my business to know. I intend to beat him at his game.”

“How exactly?”

“Good question. I don’t have the answer yet. But I’m getting closer. Learning of his huge gambling debts was encouraging. He’s tightening the noose around his own neck. All we have to do is push things in the right direction.”

Ella’s head was buzzing. Between the
caipirinha, the revelations about Adam’s father, and the nagging trepidation about the man who’d watched her, Ella felt strange; not scared really, just strange. It was like she’d been dropped into the underworld of Rio and was sinking deeper.

“I’d like to go now.”

“Are you okay? I wouldn’t have told you all that, but you keep reminding me that you want to know everything. Maybe you are changing your mind.”

“No, I do want you to tell me. I am glad you did. I just want to continue our ride up to Sugarloaf,” she said, trying to sound normal and more relaxed than she felt. “I haven’t seen the top yet.” She wasn’t sure if he believed her pretended lightheartedness, but she laced her arm in his and began walking toward the door, feeling trapped in the confines of the tiny space. She needed air, and she shouldn’t have had that drink. It was really affecting her.

Stepping into the bright light, Ella felt more secure. Out in the open was better than inside the dark bar. It would be okay, she thought. She was just overreacting, just a bit tipsy. The fresh air would snap her out of it. Taking Adam’s hand, she led him back to the cable car with renewed interest in making it to the top of Sugarloaf.

But somehow, she couldn’t get back into the spirit of it. Something worried her. She pushed the foreboding image of the strange man out of her mind. She was there to have fun, finally seeing Sugarloaf. There would be plenty of time to think it through later, when she was home.

The second cable car took them from Urca to the top of Sugarloaf and they followed a trail around the top of the hill, enjoying the 360-degree view. Ella tried to capture the jaw-dropping scenes with her camera, but knowing no picture would be as good as the real thing. Adam had planned it so they’d be there by sunset. Sitting with their arms around each other, they witnessed some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.

Leaning against Adam, far above the city, Ella felt on top of the world. They were perched so high, it was exhilarating. As the sun dipped lower, it turned bright orange, burning the sky with its color. A few clouds swept across the expanse illuminated by the sunset, turning white, gold, and deep rust. They watched in awe until the last light faded.

Holding her close, Adam leaned over and kissed her. The touch of his lips to hers, at such a great height, in such setting, made her weak. Kissing him back, she dipped her tongue into his mouth, feeling for his. His hands roamed her body, along her spine and neck. Fisting his hand in her hair, he pressed her to him, kissing harder. Ignoring the other tourists, Ella was lost in the kiss; no one but Adam existed.

Rubbing his hand over her thigh, she felt his warmth through the thin fabric of her pants. With one hand still in her hair, his other slid over her ribs and up to her breasts. He squeezed one possessively. Aroused and needing Adam as much as he needed her, Ella felt his strong shoulders and down his arms, his bicep too big for her hand to fit around. He was so built, so impossibly sexy.

Pulling back, he mouthed, “I want you, Ella.”

She noticed the bulge in his pants, wanting to feel him, put her mouth on him. The urge to rip his clothes off and ravage him at the top of the mountain—regardless of others who would observe—pushed her toward the irrational act fueled by passion. “Adam…
take me home.”

Lost in desire for Adam, longing to be alone with him, Ella was anxious to get back. She’d forgotten about the frightening man, until she caught a glimpse of him getting into a cable car. Convinced she’d imagined the whole thing, she would have brushed it off, except he turned to look back at her. His dark eyes startled her and she put her hand over her mouth.

“What, amore mia?”

Ella had stopped walking and buried her face in his chest. “Adam, don’t look right now. I’m not sure, but I think that man is watching me.”

“What man?”

Ella peeked around, but all the passengers were in the car and the door was closed. “There was a man. He’s in that car. I’m sure he was watching me.”

“When?”

“Now, and before too.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just didn’t think…I just thought I was imagining it.”

“Okay, okay, let me alert Nico.” Adam waved his hand and Nico appeared next to them.

“Tell us what happened,” Adam said with one arm around her.

“Earlier, when I went to the bathroom—you remember, Nico, you waited for me.”

Nico
nodded and Adam frowned.

“Well, when I came out, I saw him, a man. I’ve never seen him before. He was watching me, but then I blew it off. He started talking to some person in a group of people, so I assumed he was just another tourist. I guess I’m a little jumpy.”

“And you saw him again, a moment ago?” Nico inquired.

“Yes. We were walking toward the cable car and all of a sudden, there he was. He was just about to get in, but he looked back. He looked right at me. And it wasn’t a friendly look. I’m sure he was the guy I saw earlier.”

“Can you describe him?” Nico said, his calm voice settling her nerves.

“Sure, I didn’t get a really good look, just a glance, but he was tall, over six feet, and had graying hair. He wore jeans and a beige polo shirt.”

“Okay, amore mia,” Adam said, wrapping her in a secure embrace. “He just left in that last cable car.”

“Let’s catch the next car. I need to get you both out of here,”
Nico said. His commanding tone and steely gray eyes brooked no argument. Not that Ella thought to argue. All she wanted was to get off the mountain, to get home safely. The idea that someone had been watching her, near enough to touch, was alarming.

Riding down the mountain didn’t compare to riding up. The excitement was gone; the lights of the city gleamed in the distance, ignored by Ella. Leaning against Adam, she felt shaky. It was comforting to know
Nico was with them, but she shivered with a new realization. There was no way to keep danger away. If Claudio wanted them, he’d find a weak point. It was only a matter of time.