Charlotte
Chapter 17
Charlotte
E ntering the church once more, I can sense the guests getting restless. Javier walks back down to the priest and whispers to him. The priest looks relieved to get this over with.
“Sorry for the disruption, everyone. We are ready now. Though, I suppose it wouldn’t be a cartel wedding without bloodshed and gunfire.” Javier says with a shrug.
Chuckles ripple through the church, and I can’t help but roll my eyes at the guests’ reaction.
Abuela Stella joins me at the doorway. “Sweet girl, I know I’m not your father, but would it be okay if I walk you down the aisle? You are going to make an amazing Reina.”
My heart leaps at hearing her say that. I was so worried what everyone would think of me walking down the aisle alone, but having Stella walk with me is so much better. After everything that just happened, I’m confused and unsure if I should be getting married to Javier. Having Stella with me eases my anxiety a little. My father’s corpse isn’t even cold, and yet, I’m preparing to walk down the aisle towards the man who killed him.
We wait at the door until the traditional wedding march begins. I look over at Stella, and she gives me a warm smile, holding my hand tightly as we walk down the aisle.
When I look up and my eyes meet my husband’s, the tension is palpable. I can’t wait to marry this man. Yes, I know we are already married, but this is my choice, not anyone else’s.
As I approach the altar, Stella hands me off to Javier, who takes my hands.
Stella explained earlier that it’s usually the responsibility of godparents to lay the rosary lasso on the couple.
A rosary lasso, also known as El Lazo is a wedding tradition that symbolizes the unity of the couple through marriage. It’s a large set of rosary beads that Stella places over our head in the shape of a figure eight.
Upon stating our vows to one another, the entire audience claps and cheers. After that, we go to the reception, where Javier and I cut cake and drink champagne. Mine is alcohol-free because my husband swears I’m already pregnant.
I study my new husband from the corner of my eye, and my heart flutters at how strong and handsome he is. Today, I lost my father, but strangely, I don’t feel alone. I have Javier now and Abuela Stella. They’re my new family, and they’ve already treated me better than my blood ever did.
Later in the evening, the DJ calls out that it’s time for the dollar dance. I’ve never been to a wedding with this tradition before, but Abuela suggested it while we were planning, and I figured why not add something fun. All the attendees come up and pin dollar amounts on Javier and me. They are essentially paying to dance with us. There are so many people in attendance, we only manage to dance for a minute with each guest.
After what seems like hours, I’m exhausted and out of breath from all the dancing. I look for my husband, hoping we can go home, and what I see makes my veins turn to ice.
Javier has tons of female attention, all women who have paid for his dollar dance. I notice the women are wearing short dresses, lots of them dressed in red, and they have their hands all over my husband. Rage blazes through my body seeing the whores all over him, purposely trying to seduce him. How dare he allow them to touch what belongs to me?
I’m reminded by our conversation the night he took my virginity. He promised he wouldn’t fuck other women. I’m not stupid, I know statistically that men in the Mafia and Cartel lifestyle are more likely to cheat on their wives; I just hoped Javier would be different.
Since he has a smile on his face and is allowing all the sluts to touch him unnecessarily, I decide to do the same. So, when each male guest comes up and pins their dollar to me, I smile and flirt as we dance. Making sure that my new husband sees everything.
It doesn’t take long before Javier is stalking towards me. He shoves the man who is dancing with me away and bends down, throwing me over his shoulder.
“It’s time to go home, Mrs. Consuelos.”
“I don’t want to leave, Javier. I want to dance,” I lie, even though I definitely don’t want to keep dancing.
“No, the fuck you don’t.”
“Put me down. I need to go to the restroom.”
My husband is pissed but reluctantly lets me down. I run down the hall, and I’m relieved when I get into the women’s restroom and the door closes behind me.
Walking over to the sink, I splash some cold water on my face. As I look in the mirror, I see my face is flame red. I know women showing attention to my husband is something I’m going to have to get used to. Being Catholic, there is no divorce in my future. But I can’t quite believe the intensity of my jealousy tonight.
At that moment, I turn to see a woman enter the restroom. She walks up to the mirror beside the one I’m standing at and pulls out her powder and lipstick.
“Congratulations on your wedding, Mrs. Consuelos.”
Looking back at her, I try to place where I’ve seen her before, but I can’t. “Thanks.”
“You know he’s not going to be faithful to you, don’t you?”
Jolted in shock, I look up in the mirror and see the lady’s reflection. “Why would you say that to me; you are a guest at my wedding.”
The woman is taller and slimmer than I am and has a beautiful complexion with dark brown hair and caramel-colored eyes. She hands me a business card.
Holding it in my shaking hands, I look down to read the name. Federal Agent Rita Gonzalez.
“We can help you, Charlotte. I knew your father. In fact, I’ve been investigating him for close to two years. However, the government is more interested in taking down the bigger fish, and there’s no one bigger than the leader of the Consuelos Cartel—your new husband. If you give us information on what your father and Javier have been doing, I can put your husband away and we can protect you.”
As I stand and look at the card, silently considering if the Feds could actually protect me and keep me safe, I try to make the smart decision. Even seeing Javi with the other women on the dance floor, I still feel a pain in my heart when I consider him going to prison for the rest of his life. I just watched him murder my father. If I give the Feds the details they want, I could be moved and allowed to live freely, marry who I want to marry, and have a chance at a normal life.
My thoughts are racing, but there’s one question that I keep circling back to. Could I betray my husband?
“I need time.”
“Don’t take too long, Mrs. Consuelos. If Javier finds out that we’ve spoken, he will kill you. Call me as soon as you make your decision, and Charlotte, think wisely. You don’t want to be trapped in a loveless marriage with one of these creeps. That man has murdered more men than you can imagine. You could be next.”
The woman leaves out the bathroom door, and I shove the card down into my bra. This dress makes it hard to hide anything, and I can’t be caught with the agent’s card on me.
My hands tremble as I think of what could happen if my husband finds out I’m considering betraying him to the Feds.