Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Pablo
My heart breaks for Flora as I listen to her argue with her mother. Empathy isn’t a quality I’ve been accused of. I can feel it for those within my family, but I’m never interested in feeling it for others. In my line of work, you reap what you sow, so there’s always been a reason for my actions.
But I’m trying to be understanding for Magdalena’s sake since I hope she’s my future mother-in-law.
It worries me that if this forces Flora into a contentious relationship with her mother, she’ll pick Magdalena over me.
I can’t blame her, and to be honest, it’s the one thing that could drive us apart.
I don’t want to put a wedge between her mother and her.
Even if Flora accepts it for now, eventually it will corrode our relationship too.
“Pablo, leave now. I don’t want a hijo de puta in my house corrupting my daughter, spinning untrue stories that prove my daughter’s gullible.” Son of a bitch.
“Mamá, don’t call him that!”
Flora jumps out of her seat, her face flushed red.
If it were some other situation, the sparks flying from her eyes would be arousing as fuck.
However, this is hardly a moment I want to revel in.
My cock’s ready to shrivel, and my balls want to tuck up inside me.
That’s how far from excited this conversation makes me.
I rise and slide my arm around Flora’s waist.
“Flora, your mother loves you more than anything. For better or for worse, she has dedicated her life to you. You can’t blame her for being protective after the lies she’s heard. She’s reacting the way she should.”
“I don’t need your help with my daughter. I told you to get out. You’re nothing more than a monster.”
I take that in stride since I’ve been called that too many times to count. It’s hardly the first and hardly the last time. I see how it’s hurting Flora, though. I won’t leave without her, but I can try to diffuse things a little.
“Senora Bautista, I will go outside, but the door remains open, and I remain on the steps.”
“You believe the world revolves around you. That’s not how it works. This is my home, and you are intruding. Get off my land and take your shitty family with you.”
“Mamá, if he leaves, I leave too.”
“Flora, you need to resolve this with your mother. I can give you privacy to do that. But like I said, the door remains open, and I stand on the steps. I won’t go where I can’t see or hear you.”
“See? He’s controlling you already.” She turns her fiery gaze on me. “What? Do you believe I’d hurt my daughter?’’
“I think you already are with the way you’re upsetting her. I also won’t relent when it comes to her safety. I’ve promised to protect her, and that’s what I’ll do. I can’t if I’m unable to see and hear her. My promise to Flora comes before anything else.”
“I give it five minutes when the Cartel comes calling for you to break those promises.”
“Mamá, I understand what it means to be involved with a man in the Cartel. I know what Pablo means with each promise he makes. I understand their limitations, and I accept them for what they are. But he’s not lying to me.
He’s endangered his own life to protect me over and over.
I’m sorry it’s come to this, but I’m leaving, and I won’t be back. ”
“You’re picking this hijo de puta over me?”
“I’m picking being safe over likely dying young. I’m picking the person who stands up for me. I’m picking the person who makes me happy.”
We’ve been speaking Spanish so far, but as far as I know her mother doesn’t speak English, unless she’s been hiding that from Flora.
That’s what my chiquita told me in Switzerland.
I switch languages. I know it’s rude, and it’ll antagonize Magdalena more, but it’s the only way to have some semblance of a private conversation.
“Little one, you need to resolve this with your mother. I don’t want you leaving here resentful.
There’s nothing more important to me than family, and you know I consider you part of mine.
Things are testing your loyalty right now, but family’s important to you too.
You’ll regret not coming to peace with your mother.
You know I won’t rescind my protection, but I won’t be what causes you to end the longest relationship you’ve ever had. I won’t break up your family.”
Tears fill her eyes. “You’re the only one trying to keep my family together, Pablo.
I admire you for that, but it’s not your decision whether my mom and I can reconcile.
The ball is in her court. I’ll tell her as much.
I don’t want to destroy things with her, but even if you weren’t in the picture, she still hurt me. ”
Flora takes a breath as she watches me. I hope my expression shows I’m on her side no matter what she decides.
“I know, little one, but I believe she did the best she could. It was a poor set of choices, and I believe some of them were selfish, but I don’t believe she set out to hurt you.
I know she’s spent a lifetime trusting the wrong men, but it’s all she’s known since before she was your age.
Los Aguilar sank their talons in and haven’t let go. Look at it as if they brainwashed her.”
I watch Flora inhale deeply before she turns back toward her mother, and the conversation switches back to Spanish.
“Mamá, please don’t do this. Don’t make me choose between you and Pablo. He’ll walk away before he comes between us, but you need to understand I’ll follow him.”
“He’s willing to give up that easily, or is it he’ll manipulate you into chasing him?”
“Mamá, you insist upon seeing things that aren’t there.
Papá betrayed you by forcing you to be his mistress rather than marrying you once Luciana made her choice.
He could’ve made a happy home with us, but he chose revenge over us.
What kind of man does that? He might’ve claimed he did it for his family, but it proves he never considered you and me a part of that.
You keep siding with a man who lied to you your entire relationship.
You’re choosing to support Abuelo when he risked your only child’s life.
Abuelito and Abuelita have warned you about Abuelo over and over.
They’ve seen what he’s like, but you won’t believe your own parents.
Why does Abuelo have such a hold on you? ”
“He’s all I have left that connects me to Domingo. You never knew your father. Ernesto looks and sounds so much like Domingo. It’s as though every time I’m with Ernesto, I’m with Domingo again.”
Holy fuck!
Does Flora get the implications of what her mother said?
From the way she jerks away and bumps into me, I’d say she understands completely. She shakes her head so vigorously her hair whips around her face.
“Mamá, how could you?”
“It was the price of his supporting us in the beginning. Then it was my chance to keep a part of your father with me.”
“Did Néstor know?”
“Of course. Who do you think introduced me to Néstor? Who do you think suggested I’d be a good match for him?”
“Is that why you didn’t marry Néstor? Because you were sleeping with my abuelo?”
I’m as horrified as Flora. This is not the direction I expected this conversation to go.
Holy hell.
“No. I didn’t love Néstor, but I loved the lifestyle I lived with him. He felt the same way.”
“Do you love Abuelo?”
“No, and he doesn’t love me either. I told you he’s a way for me to remain connected to the man I’ve always loved.”
What kind of twisted mind does Magdalena have?
I can’t imagine Domingo would ever be all right with that from how possessive he was with my tía.
Not because he loved her, but because the idea of another man having what he claimed was his drove him to his death.
Sharing his mistress with his father is something he never would’ve accepted.
From what I heard, much of what drove his jealousy and possessiveness was trying to prove he was better than his father.
I heard he claimed Ernesto was too old to lead the family, and that Domingo was ready to step into his shoes.
“So, you picked Abuelo over me. You could’ve sacrificed for me, but you didn’t.
I gave up my chance for a career in the States and rushed home to you the moment I heard you were sick.
Once you were better, I could’ve gone back, but you asked me not to.
It was never about wanting my company or needing me because of your health.
You did it so I was available to Abuelo.
I can’t believe how you’ve betrayed me, Mamá. ”
“I admit I’ve done plenty of selfish things in my life.
But I had few career options. I got involved with your father when I was nineteen.
He promised I’d never have to work a day in my life.
When I discovered he accepted a marriage contract with Luciana, I tried to break it off with him.
I even got a job. But he was so apologetic and kind to me.
I know Ernesto and Josue forced him. He valued family too. ”
I barely keep from snorting when I hear that bullshit. But I remain quiet since we might actually get somewhere with Magdalena’s confession.
“He was willing to set aside his happiness with me for his duties to his family and to the cartel.”
“Papá was never really cartel. I know the entire story now, Mamá. Even the parts everyone’s always left out.
Los Aguilar tried to overthrow los Diaz.
It didn’t work. That was the whole reason for the marriage contract.
Papá would’ve worked for Josue. It meant he would’ve been an underling to the jefe de jefes.
In exchange, los Diaz agreed not to obliterate Papá’s family.
It wasn’t some great sacrifice on Papá’s part to be the price of peace.
It was to keep himself alive. Yet he still pursued his revenge. Look where it got him. Dead.”