“At the moment, bands of renegade Apache are making Texas a rather dangerous place. With the current situation of raids on farms and even large ranches, Mexico is just as safe as Texas.” Ginny glanced up at the sommelier who had brought a bottle of chilled white wine to their table.

Silence fell between them as the wine replaced coffee, and when the waiter had retreated, Ginny leaned forward. “If you have valid reasons for your concerns, please share them with me, Sonya. I know we have never been true friends, but I always thought you generous enough to confide in me.”

For a moment, Sonya did not reply, but sipped at her wine, no hint of her thoughts showing on her face. When at last she lifted her gaze, her eyes were troubled.

“I don’t know why I feel so…so apprehensive, but I do. Have you spoken with your father lately?”

“No, not since I last saw him in San Antonio. He looked unwell.” She lay her fork against the edge of the plate, her salmon mousse barely touched. “Is he still in Texas?”

Instead of answering, Sonya looked down at her hands. A linen napkin in her lap was twisted into a coil as she wrung it with surprising ferocity. Then she looked up, her mouth thinned into a determined line.

“I don’t know where he is, Ginny. He’s disappeared. I’m afraid he has done something—inexcusable.”

“What are you talking about? If you’re referring to his business dealings in Mexico, I know all about that now. Steve told me what I hadn’t already guessed. But I’ve always known how unscrupulous he can be, how ruthless, when it comes to power and money. He’s not very different from most men, I’ve observed.”

“No, no, that’s not what I mean.” Genuine distress made her voice quiver. “William may be ruthless when it comes to money and prestige, but he has never been…cruel before.”

“Cruel? Sonya, tell me what you’re talking about. You are frightening me.”

“Oh God, Ginny, I don’t know for certain. And even if it’s true, I don’t know what he intends. It’s only a guess on my part. I never thought he would stoop to such duplicity and I’m certain I’m wrong…”

“About what! You’ve got to stop babbling and tell me exactly what you mean.”

“William sent for your children several weeks ago.”

Ginny stared at her. The implications did not hit her at once, only a sense of perplexity that he would take it upon himself to send for Laura and Franco. Then, as she saw the distress in Sonya’s eyes, she knew what he intended. Her hand convulsed on the stem of her wineglass.

In a voice as brittle as breaking ice, she said, “If any harm comes to my children, I will ruin him.”