Chapter 47
Present
“You did what ?” Matteo asked in shock as we walked out of the elevator and down the hall of Zane’s underground warehouse.
Zach’s jaw clicked with tension, not even sparing his brother a glance.
“Bought a billboard,” I supplied for him. “And she shot it down.”
“As in called the company to take it down?”
I breathed out in amusement. “As in she literally shot it down with her gun.”
A moment of silence passed before Matteo burst out into a fit of laughter. “I take it back. I like this chick for you after all. Her crazy matches yours.”
Zach pushed through the door to a room filled with monitor screens. One checking around every security camera in the city. Another with a face recognition program, flickering with a different person’s face every millisecond. The third, a black screen with green, cyber font as Zane discussed with yet another assassin connection from his past, regarding the situation.
“What do you have?”
“Not much,” Zane replied, distracted, as he searched through the data.
“ That’s not good enough .”
Zach had every single one of the Cartel’s soldiers, my family’s men, and Zane’s associates cooperating to put an end to this madness. He’d been working non-stop for the past week, trying to find Ruiz and eliminate her.
“She’s been dealing with this shit since she was sixteen. I need to permanently end it for her. Now. ” Zach’s voice carried tension, and everyone in the room could tell he was losing his patience.
He didn’t want to kill Ruiz for being a rat anymore.
He wanted to kill Ruiz to avenge Maria. For all the times that she had no one to fight for her. He wanted to be the one to get rid of her problems.
I knew he hoped that would make her forgive him. I didn’t have the heart to tell him she probably wouldn’t.
Five hours later, we still had nothing.
Trying to find someone who was technically dead, and probably hiding away in some basement, was close to impossible. Not impossible, but definitely close.
“Alright.” Zane glanced up from his phone. “She said she’ll be there in half an hour. Good luck.”
“Thanks, man.” Zach shook his hand. “Appreciate it.”
Zane raised a brow. “Don’t fuck it up. Again .”
“ Won’t .” He grumbled back.
I had no idea how Zach convinced him to text Maria and get her to come to the warehouse location in Brooklyn. The only explanation I could come up with was that Zane felt bad for the guy since he genuinely loved Maria.
Zach ran his hands through his hair as we walked out of Zane’s luxurious gym.
“What now, hermanito ?” Matteo threw his arm around his brother. “What’s the plan? How’re you going to win your girl back?”
“I got something in mind.” Zach sounded less confident than before the billboard fiasco.
“I bet it involves rose petals and candlelights under the stars.” Matteo sighed, motioning to the sky with his free hand.
Zach frowned. “How–”
“I think I might be psychic.”
“He saw the transactions on your bank account,” I cleared up, pulling Matteo off Zach as we turned the corner down the alley where our cars were parked. “You’re coming with me. He’s gotta go beg Maria to take him back.”
“I’m not getting in your shitty car.”
“It’s a fucking Ferrari.”
Matteo shook his head. “Makes me feel fucking claustrophobic.”
“That’s cause you’re a six-five giant like your hermanito . Both of you need SUVs for your fat ass.”
“Fuck off.” Zach flipped me off, closing the door as he got in his G-wagon.
“Just proved my point,” I laughed, getting in my sports car.
“Fucking toy-sized car…” Matteo mumbled, hunching over to get into the low passenger seat of the F8 Spider model.
“Yeah? This toy car does over two hundred miles an hour.”
Matteo raised an eyebrow, about to say something probably about trying the speed out, when a loud honk came from Zach’s Mercedes behind us.
“Don’t know why he’s rushing,” Matteo mumbled, looking into the mirror. “Not like he’s getting his dick wet anytime soon.”
I chuckled, pulling off to the side, giving Zach enough space to overtake us.
Almost as if he heard his older brother, he flipped him off when passing.
I laughed harder while Matteo just sat there looking offended.
“It’s like we broke up all over again.”
“I’m sorry, Em…” I touched her shoulder, trying to be comforting.
I was in my bedroom, getting ready to sleep, when she walked in with tears in her eyes. Apparently, she ran into Zach in Brooklyn – though, I didn’t know the specifics – and they finally had the chance to talk.
“It was so… Intense .” Maria played with her nails while speaking, not looking into my eyes like she usually did. “I didn’t know Zane told him about Cuba. I should’ve probably guessed, but…”
“It’s okay.”
“He almost had me, you know?” A soft breath escaped her. “I was in his arms, crying – like a mess . And he just said everything I wanted to hear, without even realizing.”
“Maria… Are you sure you can’t tell me what happened?”
She took a deep breath. “He broke our trust.”
“Did he cheat on you?” I asked, my tone sharp, and suddenly feeling no remorse for Zach anymore.
“No.” Her answer was definitive and it made my anger disappear. She shook her head. “He lied to me. But I lied to him, too.”
And there it was. The next stage. Bargaining.
“Made me think about what I could have done differently too in the relationship.”
“It’s normal to feel that.”
“Everything could have been avoided if we’d both just been honest and spoken to each other. But I didn’t. I didn’t tell him about my past, and I told myself it was because it was a sad topic. But the reality is I was ashamed. I didn’t want him to see me as weak. Ever .”
“You’ve been through a lot. It’s natural to have reservations.”
She sniffed. “But even after finding everything out, he just saw me as the strongest person he's ever known.”
“Oh, Maria…” I pulled her into my arms.
“I want to forgive him, Nat, but I know I shouldn’t.”
“Do whatever feels right to you,” I spoke sternly, holding her close.
She shook her head, pulling back, her eyes glossy. “That’s not how my brain works.”
I smiled. “What about your heart?”
Maria glanced down again at her nails, touching one of her naked wrists. Sighing, she stood. “It’s late. I’m going to get some sleep.” She stopped in the doorway. “Thank you for everything, Nat. I love you.”
A few days passed with no sign from Zach, and I was starting to get anxiety thinking of whatever grand gesture he had planned next.
Maria had already gone into the penultimate stage of a break-up. Depression.
Her new boyfriends were ice cream and bad TV. She’d done nothing but that for days and it was starting to worry me.
“Alright, that’s enough. I’m putting a lock on the freezer.”
“Oh, come on–”
“Hey!” I clapped my hands in front of her face. “This is your third tub today. Wake up!”
“You’re right. I’m a mess.” She sighed, dropping the spoon onto the coffee table.
I smiled faintly, relieved to see her admit it, even if it was a small step. “How about we go outside? Some fresh air, maybe?”
She shook her head. “Not today, Nat. Maybe tomorrow.”
I sighed and walked over to the windows, pulling back the curtains to open the balcony doors and let some fresh air into the penthouse. The city skyline glowed in the night sky, and that’s when I saw it.
“Um... Maria?”
She didn’t look up from the couch. “Yes?”
“There’s… Something on the balcony.”
Her eyes flicked up to me before turning toward the glass doors that led to the large sitting area outside. That’s when she saw him.
Zach. Standing there, hands in his pockets, his silhouette outlined by the twinkle of hundreds of fairy lights. He was dressed in a sharp, black suit, his tie slightly loosened, looking every bit the criminal-billionaire-romantic.
Behind him, fluffy blankets and pillows covered the outdoor couches. The outside coffee table with candles and a bouquet of pink roses this time.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Do you want me to tell him to leave?” I asked quietly, though part of me doubted he would.
“No,” She said, her voice soft but conflicted. “I’ll handle this myself.”
Maria stood, straightening her oversized hoodie like armor, and walked to the balcony door. She stepped out into the cool evening air, and I stayed back, watching from the shadows.
Maria stepped onto the outside area, folding her arms as the chilly breeze swept through. Her voice was low but firm. “What are you doing here, Zach?”
He took a cautious step closer, his hands still buried in his pockets. “Trying to fix what I broke.”
“I told you…” She shook her head, looking away toward the city lights. “It’s too late.”
“It’s never too late.” His voice softened. “Not for us.”
“You can’t just show up like this and expect me to forget everything.”
“I don’t expect you to forget.” He stepped closer again. “I just need a chance to make it right. Please.”
Maria turned to face him. “You want to make it right?”
“ Yes .”
“Then leave me alone,” She whispered, walking away.
Zach moved in front of her, stopping her. “I can’t do that, Maria.”
“Then you’re not really sorry.” She tried stepping past him, of course, without resolve. “Because if you were, you’d respect what I need.”
My heart clenched when he lowered to one knee, his hands on her waist.
“Tell me what you want, hermosa . I’ll do anything. Give you anything. I’ll beg. I’ll give you a million dollars for every tear I caused. Anything you want from me, you can have it. I’m sorry, baby .”
Her response came in a whisper. “ You can’t buy me, Zach .” She pulled his hands off. “We’re over. You need to accept that.”
The last stage. Acceptance .
As Maria walked away, I couldn’t help but feel like Zach had been too late.
But then, he was stalking after her, determination radiating off him.
“Zach…” I said warily as he followed Maria into my living room, but he only touched my shoulder in assurance. I stayed back, not wanting to intervene further.
He rushed after her, as she headed back down to her bedroom. Zach’s hand managed to catch the door at the last moment. Though, he didn’t barge in; only kept it cracked open for Maria to hear his voice clearly.
“I need you to know I’m not walking away because I’m giving up on us. I’m never going to fucking ‘ accept’ that you’re not mine.” His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, forehead leaning against the door. “I’m walking away to give you space, but I’m never not right by your side. I love you, Maria. I’m sorry, but you’re not getting rid of me.”
A moment passed before Zach closed her bedroom door with a soft click.
When his eyes came up to me, I patted his back, walking him out. “I’m sorry. You two will figure it out.”