The Billionaire's Step - Complete Series (Forbidden Billionaire Stepbrother Romance) (12 page)

Five

              There was a soft ringing sound.

              It reverberated as if it was coming through a large pool of water.

              Slowly she turned her head.

              Feeling like her whole body weighed a thousand pounds, Cora blinked and felt herself drown in white light.

              Echoing voices surrounded her. Cool hands touched her arms. Words slipped in and out of clarity.

Where was she?

Her head pounded with ferocity. She couldn’t be dead if her head hurt. Right?

If she had the energy, she would panic from her sense of confusion but she was just too tired. Even blinking took too much effort. But even as she felt her thoughts race through her mind, she felt the softness underneath her, the coolness around her.

She was somewhere safe. That much she could tell.

But feeling the thumping pain of her head, she wondered if she could trust this feeling of safety. After all, if she truly were safe, why would she be in any kind of pain?

The voices around her grew more fervent. She felt like she was surrounded by a cloud of buzzing bees, each trying to grab a slice of her attention.

Where
was
she?

“Cora.”

Her breath hitched. Her heart skipped.

She remembered that voice. She
knew
that voice.

She
loved
that voice.

“Cora.”

That deep timbre of protection, strength, love. Yes, it was to that voice she would swim towards. It was to that voice she would reach out for.

Her throat felt numb and her tongue swollen. But she could hear her heart cry out,
Julian. Julian.

Six

“
Señorita,
please feel better,” the large police officer said as he rose heavily to his feet. “And we appreciate your statement. It’ll help our case against many of the cartels in this area.”

Cora nodded then immediately stopped, regretting the shaking movement. It was only the second day she was allowed to sit up in bed and she was already feeling quite exhausted from the effort.

The police officer shook her hand and then had a friendly word with a passing nurse before leaving.

Cora looked around the hospital room, still marveling at her surroundings. She hardly had any memories of the last few days. She remembered the shack. Gloria.

She remembered Carlos’s tobacco laden breath tickling her ear as he gripped her tightly against him, the cold metal barrel of his gun pressed against her temple.

And she remembered Julian.

She remembered the love she felt for him and the regret that she would never get a chance to express it.

Then it all went black.

Cora blinked hard to push back the terrifying memories of that night. The fear that she had felt when Julian had faced off against Carlos had been overwhelming.

She looked towards the empty chair next to her bed.

Since regaining consciousness, every moment she woke up, she would see Julian next to her. She would see the hard lines of his face etched deep with worry and what looked like guilt. She wondered hazily why he should feel any kind of guilt. Then she would slip back into a dark sleep, only to wake up to the comfort of Julian’s protective presence.

But this was the first time he was not here.

This was the first time Cora had woken up alone and she felt the ache for Julian’s presence distinctly.

She wondered where he was. Come to think of it, she wondered where Gloria was. Cora had yet to see the woman and she wondered vaguely if she was okay.

This hospital room, the police officer, even the absence of Gloria—Cora somehow knew Julian was behind it all. Cora had lived in Mexico for the better part of her life and the level of care she was receiving spoke of some kind of higher power at work. This was beyond what any typical Mexican patient would receive.

The police officer had come in and asked for her statement of that fateful night’s events. Her memories were still hazy but she gave her full account. She had been worried that her murder charge would be brought back up again. But almost immediately, the officer had put her mind at ease.

“You are very brave,” the officer had said as he finished taking his notes. “After the attack you endured many years ago…and now
this
.” He scratched at his forehead and sighed. “Many men would not have had the courage to return, even to save their own mother. You are
very
brave.”

Cora had been shocked speechless.

The police officer was on
her
side.

He recognized her attack as attempted rape rather than attempted murder.

Tears had immediately sprung to her eyes. Gratitude and relief overwhelmed her.

Julian had done this.

He had somehow cleared things up with the police and made sure that her attempted murder charge was re-investigated. Cora had a sneaking suspicion that Julian had been busy cleaning things up for her while she had been in the hospital.

The Model Millionaire was cleaning up
her
mess.

Cora would’ve laughed if it didn’t ache so.

Julian had overcome a neglectful father to rise into unbelievable prominence in the business world. He had amassed an incredible empire on intellect and guts alone. All the while, he had tortured himself with thoughts of his lost stepsister.

He had probably imagined destitute situations for the lost Karen. Maybe a welfare recipient. Maybe a soup kitchen regular. But in no way could he have possibly imagined her real life—the daughter of a Mexican drug lord’s girlfriend, living in a shack in the middle of cartel territories, having once been as low as a beggar on the streets.

And now, instead of heartfelt reunion, all Cora had brought into Julian’s life was chaos and danger. God, he had almost been
shot
because of her!

But the absolute worst part was something even Cora did not want to admit to herself. But looking down at her hands as they gripped the hospital sheets, she knew she couldn’t deny the truth.

She no longer was Karen Denton.

She was Cora Rámon.

Maybe at some point, she
had
been Karen, the scared and scarred little girl.

But now she was Cora Rámon. She was the street urchin who had grown up around gangs and crooked cops and had saved enough pesos through blood, sweat, and tears to make a new life for herself in America. It was Cora Rámon who had made her way to New York and had gotten job after job till she rose incrementally up the working ladder.

And when Julian met her, it was Cora Rámon he had interviewed.

Not Karen Denton.

Cora sighed and leaned back against her pillow.

Who did Julian expect to pull out of this wreckage? Did he think that with the death of Carlos, Karen would magically reappear to replace Cora? When he flew back to New York, who did he think he would have with him?

Cora’s stomach twisted and sank a little.

She had a feeling it wasn’t her.

Seven

              “Ah it’s Señor Benedict to see you!” the nurse said cheerily. It was clear all the nurses were quite smitten with this American businessman. Cora had caught a few of them tittering in wistful sighs as they saw how protectively Julian had watched over her.

              Cora looked up and had her breath catch in her throat at the sight.

              The nurse had suggested they walk about the small garden behind the hospital. After lying prone in a coma for several days, Cora’s muscles had badly atrophied. The nurses had taken turns in helping her walk to regain some muscle definition.

              Today they had taken several slow turns around the modest garden before taking a much needed break on a bench.

              Cora looked up from her rest at the mention of Julian’s name though.

              And in front her, came strolling virile masculinity itself.

              Tall, broad shouldered, and a face that spoke of a man who always made sure to get things the way he wanted
when
he wanted it—it made Cora’s heart jump in joy and ache in longing at the same time.

              His presence felt so large and encompassing, he seemed to fill up the entire garden with his strength. Just seeing him, Cora felt stronger.

              She gave him a small smile.              

              Julian grinned and gave her a roguish wink, making Cora’s heart leap like a jumping bean.

              For days Julian had sported rough stubble that was crossing into beard territory as he stood over Cora’s hospital bed, murmuring words of love and encouragement for her to pull through.

              Now he had cleaned up and put on a fitted suit. The man sliced through the humdrum Mexican town like a steel cut blade.

              “How’s the patient doing?” Julian asked the nurse in perfect Spanish.

              The nurse beamed, patting Cora’s arm. “Oh just fine! She’s walking with a lot more strength now.” The nurse paused and looked up and asked with hesitant foreboding, “Cora has been discharged. Will you be leaving with her soon?”

              Julian nodded. “That’s why I’m here.”

              The nurse’s face fell. This would be a huge blow to the hospital’s entire female staff.

              Cora tried to smother her smile.

              But not fast enough for Julian. Raising a brow in her direction, Julian then leaned down towards the small nurse and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I can’t say how thankful I am for the care you and the entire staff have given my Cora,” he said, making sure to give the nurse the full benefit of his warm gaze. “I sincerely appreciate it,” he added huskily.

              Cora had never seen a woman melt before but it was quite a sight.

              The nurse quivered and a slow but bright blush crawled up her neck towards her cheeks. Uttering a high nervous tittering laugh, the nurse playfully slapped Julian’s arm.

              Cora couldn’t hide her smile this time around.

              She couldn’t blame the nurse. Who
wouldn’t
blush and melt when faced with the likes of Julian Benedict?

              The nurse kissed Cora’s cheeks and wished her well on her return to America then returned back inside, leaving Cora and Julian alone in the garden.

              After a beat of silence, Cora looked up. “
Are
we heading back?”

              Julian sat down next to her on the bench. Easily taking her hand into his, he nodded. “I have a plane waiting to take us home.”

              Cora bit her lip.
Home
. Was it really as simple as that?

              Julian studied her. “Cora,” he said, “did you want to stay in Mexico a little longer?” His tone indicated that she would not be here alone if she said yes. It would be difficult but she was sure Julian would find a way to conduct his business from here.

              Cora shook her head. No it wasn’t that….

              Then suddenly it hit her. She suddenly realized what she wanted to do.

              “Before we go
home
,” Cora said slowly, “I want to see that house….Our old house.”             

              Julian’s eyebrows rose at her request.

She had no way of knowing if the house was still there. Probably not. And she wasn’t sure if Julian would want to go back to a place of such negative memories. Cora bit her lip harder as she waited for Julian’s response.

              But she didn’t have to wait long. Gently grabbing her chin, Julian swiped his thumb against her lower lip, pulling it free from her teeth.

              “Okay,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Eight

              Julian had parked down the street. “Do you think you can walk the rest of the way there?”

              Cora looked out the window. None of it looked familiar. Of course her memories of that previous life were quite shaky so she couldn’t say for sure. But nothing brought up even an inkling of familiarity.

              Turning around, she nodded with a small smile. “Sure.”

              So together, they walked side by side down a wide gravel path. Cora was positive this used to be a paved road. Could her memories be this bad? It wouldn’t be surprising since she had been trying to erase her childhood from a young age. But why would a residential area have a gravel road rather than paved?

              Large trees lined either side of the road. This was a little more familiar. Upstate New York offered more sprawling nature than the city.

              Cora was sure Julian had been puzzled by her request to visit the old house. But she was touched by how he had immediately agreed without questioning her motives.              

              The road turned and immediately opened up into a small clearing. What had once been a modest cul de sac now was a gravel clearing surrounded by large trees.

              In the middle of the clearing stood only one house.

             
Their
house.

              “It’s still here,” Cora breathed in surprise.

              Julian nodded. “It is.”

              “Where are the other houses?” Cora looked around. It was odd to see the lone house standing by itself. It was as if the house stood in a bubble, enclosed by the trees.

              Julian kicked at some of the gravel, hands in his pockets. He seemed a little reluctant to speak. “This area has been dead for awhile. Most of the homes had stood empty for years as bank-owned properties. A few years back, a property company wanted to buy out this tract of houses and tear them down to build some condos.” Julian shrugged. “As soon as I heard about the deal, I bought the land before they could.”

              Cora looked puzzled. Julian was an impeccable businessman. Having worked as his personal assistant, she knew exactly how shrewd and tactical his business sense was. Why would he buy this huge plot of land and do nothing with it?

              “Then why is this the only hou—?”

              “Because,” Julian interrupted, looking up at the house with an indecipherable expression, “it was the only link I had with you. The house was all I had of you, Cora.”

              Cora’s throat immediately clenched. Cora remembered the pain, the violence Gloria had inflicted in that house. And then the neglect and self-indulgence Julian’s father must have wallowed in after Gloria’s disappearance….And yet Julian had kept the house despite all the pain because of her. Because of Cora.

              No. Because of Karen.

              “Julian,” Cora started, her throat thick with emotion, “I don’t know the pain you must’ve been through to find me.” How much had she ached to have a knight in shining armor to come rescue her? But she would not be so selfish to bring down her knight into the same quagmire she had been stuck in for years. “And I wish I could give you the girl you were looking for. I wish I could give you Karen. But I can’t.”

              Cora’s voice broke. She looked down at her shoes. “I’ve lived a whole life as Cora that Karen never could’ve survived. And that’s good. Cora is not clean. She’s not good. And the last thing I’d want to do is ruin the memory you have of Karen.” A hot tear threatened to spill down her cheek. She hastily swiped at her eye, refusing to cry. “I’m not—”

              Julian lifted her cheek. Cora tried to resist but his hand gently but firmly lifted her face to his. She looked up to see his shocked expression.

              “Cora, you—” He stopped, unsure as to how to express himself.

              Abruptly, he took her hand and led her around the clearing towards the back of the house. Behind the house stood a huge field that was forested with tall, slender young trees. They had been planted awhile back and were quietly growing into maturity. Soon, they’d be big and strong, covering the green field with dappled shade.

              It was beautiful.

              “This was never here,” Cora whispered, overcome by awe at the peaceful little forest.

              Julian pulled her into the field, standing amidst the trees.

              “That’s right,” he said. “It wasn’t.”

              Taking both her hands, he looked up at the slim branches reaching out towards the sky, the light green leaves winking in the sunlight.

              “Cora,” he said, turning his heartstopping gaze back towards her, “I never thought about Karen Denton for the past decade.” He pushed back a stray lock behind her ear. “I thought about the little girl who was stronger and braver than any ten year old needed to be. I thought about the young woman she had probably grown into. I thought about how unfair life had been to saddle her with so much baggage before she was strong enough to carry them. In other words,” he said, pinning her with eyes that only spoke the truth, “I thought about
you.
Not Karen. Not Cora.
You.
”

              It felt as if her heart was being awashed by the warmest waters. Shivers of hopeful pleasure rippled down her spine.

              “But you don’t want to deal with—”

              “With what?” Julian asked. “With Gloria? With Carlos? With your past in Mexico? Cora, I’ve worked hard to make sure there’s nothing more in Mexico that can harm you. And what you lived through while there, that’s nothing to be ashamed about. I’m amazed by you. And now that I’ve found you, I hope I can give you a life deserving of a woman as strong as you.”

              He made a sweeping gesture towards the trees. “You’re like these trees, Cora. Trees are strong. They can’t be moved. They can’t be broken.”

              Cora’s heart skipped a beat.              

              A memory streaked through her mind.

              She remembered a bruised cheek. A cool roof. And the strong, secure arms of the only person who seemed to care about her.

             
“What did you do at school today? Anything fun?”
he had asked, to take her mind off the pain and drama of the house.

              “I drew a tree,” she had whispered.

              “A tree? What kind of tree?”

              “A big one. Big ones can’t be moved.”

              “Why did you draw a big tree?” he had asked, puzzled.

              “I want to be a big tree,” she had whispered, hugging her knobby knees. “If I was a big tree, I couldn’t be moved. I’d get to stay where I wanted and would be too big for someone to push me.” She had squeezed her eyes shut. “I want to be a big tree.”

              Cora felt a breeze rustle through the forest, gently shaking the leaves making them rustle and whisper above her.

              So many years had passed.

              So much pain had been endured.

              So many tears had been shed.

              And yet, Julian had planted his hopes in the only place holding memories of her.

              Letting the hot tears streak down her cheeks, she fell into his arms. “I love you, Julian.”