Chapter 30

Ramon sat at the table watching Victoria as she served her clientele. She was efficient as always but seemed somewhat distracted. Her broken engagement was not public knowledge but everyone would notice Diego's absence from the tavern sooner or later. "Can I get you anything else, Ramon?"

"No but I would like to talk to you as soon as you are free."

The last of the customers departed as Victoria closed the door to the tavern. The past few days had been difficult but she knew that she had to talk to her brother. He had probably known about Diego's little deception for some time now… "Alright, Ramon. Have you come on Diego's behalf? I am sure that you are aware of his secret. That Diego is Zorro and he has lied to me for years."

"He did not tell me voluntarily. I discovered it on my own. I have known since Jose Moreno was arrested…"

"That was months ago, Ramon. Why didn't you tell me? How could you keep such a secret from your own sister?"

"Telling you would have betrayed a confidence Diego and I shared. He should have told you himself but he was afraid."

"A big, strong man like Diego afraid. Zorro afraid of a simple taverness…"

"After all the remarks that you have made about Diego, I am surprised that he still loves you. Everyone especially you and Alejandro looked down on him because he is a scholar and not a fighter. Have you any idea of the scorn that he endured for years? Having to watch his alter ego be celebrated as a hero...put on a pedestal...not being able to get credit for the things that he has done...Having to hide who he is and what he is...He finally gained your love and respect only to have you turn against him…"

"He lied to me, Ramon. I don't know if I can trust him after what he has done!"

"And you have been a perfect angel, no doubt. Can you blame him for wanting you to love him for himself not for some romantic reputation that he created?"

"I feel so betrayed, Ramon. I love him...I believed in him... How can I ever trust him again?"

"No one is asking you to put your feelings aside, little one. All I ask is that you forgive Diego. He is hurting just as much as you are. He has made mistakes and so have you."

"He will have to earn my trust…"

"Trust can be rebuilt. Talk to him. Listen to than this instance. Has Diego ever lied to you before?"

"No, he has not...I will think about it Ramon. Now if you will excuse me, I would like to rest for a while before dinner…"

The Guardian...

Aria knocked on the door knowing that Diego would probably be there. Victoria was her friend but so was Diego. He supported her desire to start a new life...He was a good man...She knew that he was hurting even though he tried to hide it from those closest to him.

"Aria, if you are looking for Ramon. He is not here."

"I wanted to talk to you, Diego. It is very important. May I come in?"

"If you must but I am very busy."

"I wanted to talk to you about Victoria, Senor Zorro."

"So Victoria has confided in you. I am not surprised."

"It is easy to see, Diego now that I know your secret. Your bearing, your tone of voice is different. You hid your secret quite well."

"I have had a lot of practice over the years but is that really what you wanted to talk to me about or have you come to admonish me for my deception, for being a heartless cad who played with a woman's feelings for years… with empty promises and meaningless words. If you have, I am in no mood for it!"

"You are doing a good job of feeling sorry for yourself. Poor Diego!"

"What do you know about what I have gone through? Having the woman I love think of me as some weak man afraid of his own shadow?" Diego slammed his fist against his desk in frustration. "I wanted her to love me for myself not some image I created."

"Your mistake was to let the deception go on for as long as you did."

"I never expected it to go on for so long...Before I knew it, I was in too deep. I should have courted her as myself. If I had been honest, then none of this would have happened."

"What are you going to do about it? Fret over what could have been? Spend the rest of your life feeling sorry for yourself. Fight for the woman, Diego!"

"You are right...Excuse me, Aria. There is something that I have to do." The don grabbed his brown jacket and headed for the tavern determined to talk to Victoria…One way or the other they would sort things out…