“It appears we will be familia soon, eh!” Cesar rises from his chair and walks around to give my father a hug and pats him on the back.
“I will get our lawyer to draft up the contract tonight and we’ll both meet in the morning to sign it before you head back.” Father tells Cesar.
“May I suggest something?” I state, looking to both men as I stand. In a few moments I’ll take my leave and go see my brother. If he’s going to hear this news, it might as well be from me.
“Certainly,” Father answers.
“Cesar, you seem worried that Fatima is so young. So, why don’t we put a clause in the contract that she will not be married to Angel until her twenty-third birthday? This way it will ease your worries and allow the girl to get some things out of her system before she marries my brother.” In reality, I’m doing this for Angel. It will give him four more years before he’s trapped forever.
“I like this one. Such a shame he will be married off.” Cesar jokes, smacking my father on the back yet again.
“We will add this clause if it makes you feel better.” Father says to Cesar, who gives his immediate nod.
“Well, I must get going. I have quite a bit to get done.” I state, making my goodbyes and head out of the restaurant quickly. I don’t mean to be so rushed, though it is better if I get to the house as soon as possible.
Within a matter of ten minutes I’m pulling past the gate of our estate. I park the car in the garage and spot Angel smoking a cigar out back by the pond. I approach him slowly, trying to think of just the right words to say . . . though I fear there won’t be any.
“Angel,” I say his name softly, almost as if I’m trying to give him a warning of what’s to come.
“Starting off a conversation like this can’t be good,” He chuckles, taking a puff of his cigar.
“We met with Cesar Alonzo today.”
“Ah, the meeting for the marriage agreement between you and one of his daughters?” This meeting had been planned for over a year. Only, Amara wasn’t in my life at that time. Angel knows I was the one who was going to marry one of the girls . . . but now it will be him. This is why I have to be the one who breaks the news to him.
I shake my head, “No, I’m marrying Amara. She is from the Ramirez Cartel . . . so Father believes it’s fitting I tie off that end. Plus, I fall more in love with her every day I’m with her.” It’s been almost a week since I told Amara I didn’t want her moving back to the United States. I truly can’t imagine my life without her now that she’s here.
Angel blinks a few times, putting the pieces together. “No. You didn’t do this to me.”
“You are going to marry Fatima Alonzo when she turns twenty-three, Angel. I did what I could. I bought you four years to live your life before you—” I’m knocked back out of nowhere and sense a burning sensation coming from my lip. Wiping my hand, I can tell I’m bleeding. He just fucking hit me.
“You were supposed to be the one, not me. It’s what you said. You said you’d do this. You told me you’d be the one to marry for the Cartel. But Amara came into the picture and you decided to pass the baton over to me without even giving me a heads up. God, what a joke of a brother you are. Javier wouldn’t even pull this shit.”
“No, Javi would get locked up again and leave his wife alone. You and I both know it. Javi doesn’t think, Angel. We are the only two with heads. You know there wasn’t another choice for this. Javi would’ve brought another war our way.”
Angel huffs, “Say whatever you need to sleep better at night. You’re the most selfish bastard in this familia, brother. I hope you never forget it.” Angel walks off, heading toward the garage.
“Where the fuck are you going?” I ask, calling out to him.
He stops dead in his tracks. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be back in four years. Until then, don’t fucking call. Don’t fucking look for me. Just leave me the fuck alone.” Angel proceeds to walk into the garage and before I know it one of the bays is opening and he’s pulling out in a Maserati.
I stand here filled with guilt. Guilt because I promised him I’d protect him from this, though I could never turn my back on her. Amara is my future, and I won’t ever jeopardize it.
Chapter Twenty
The way people treat you is a statement about who they are as a human being. It’s not a statement about you.
~ QuoteDiary
Amara
The sound of a car racing off causes me to get up from the chair I’m sitting in and head over to the window. I can spot Dante standing over by the garages with his hand on his head, appearing to be a bit perplexed. I don’t know who just sped off, though I’m sure it wasn’t a good interaction. Dante begins to walk toward the house, so I go over to the small bar area we have on this side of the house and grab a short glass. Picking up his favorite brand of tequila I pour a hefty drink and then fetch three ice cubes to go in it. By the time he gets in here, it should be chilled to his liking.
He comes in through the door that leads into the area where we’ve been living and immediately spots me with his drink in hand. “Fuck. You are the perfect woman, I swear.” He states, giving me a quick kiss
