CHAPTER NINETEEN
LILIANA
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
I repeat the words like a mantra in my head as I’m led outside towards a black tinted SUV in the middle of a row of cars. I’m helped inside by one of Ignacio’s bodyguards and he climbs into the car after me.
The drive is silent. But not in an awkward way. He can tell I’m emotional and he’s giving me the space to come to terms with what happened. I’m grateful for it.
Soon enough we arrive at our destination. And the sight of it momentarily distracts me from my thoughts and the emotions raging through me.
The estate looks like something torn from the pages of a magazine. I stare out the window as the gates swing open, revealing acres upon acres of endless land. A long driveway curves through perfectly manicured gardens before leading to a sprawling mansion that makes Rafaelle's home look modest.
And that's saying something. This house is enormous. Cream-colored stone glows beneath the setting sun. Fountains spill crystal water into marble basins. Tall windows stretch across three floors, catching the dying light.
It's also beautiful. All of it.
Beautiful and completely alien to me.
The SUV rolls to a stop beneath a covered entrance. The door is opened for us and my father steps out.
My father.
The thought still feels strange.
Ignacio smiles. Not the cold smile I'd expected. And it’s warmer than I’d been expecting. He’s really not anything I thought he would be. I had been expecting a menacing drug lord. One with a scar across his face and skull rings on his fingers.
He’s nothing like that. He actually looks normal and non-threatening. Although I’m sure that’s all a facade.
"Pasa, mi estrella,” he says, beckoning for me to come.
My star.
The endearment catches me off guard.
His smile widens.
"I can tell you are overwhelmed but not to worry. We’ll take things slow."
I force myself to smile back.
Part of me wants to. The other part is still standing in that warehouse. Still staring at dark eyes that looked at me as though I'd ripped his heart from his chest.
I push the thought away and I follow Ignacio inside.
The entrance hall looks like that of a hotel. Polished floors stretch beneath my feet. A sweeping staircase curves upward and paintings line the walls.
Fresh flowers sit atop tables. Everywhere I look, there's evidence of wealth and luxury. It’s intimidating as hell.
People in uniforms stand against the walls, guards, others walk past taking care of one thing or the other in the house.
Some stand a couple feet away from us, hanging on Ignacio’s word and waiting for orders.
"Your room is upstairs," he says to me. “But before that, there's someone you should meet."
I follow him through the house. The deeper we go, the more nervous I become. Eventually we enter a study.
A man rises from behind a desk. Dark hair. Dark eyes. He’s tall with broad shoulders and younger than I'd expected. Early thirties perhaps. And he looks exactly like our father.
His gaze lands on me. Evaluating. Careful. It’s not unfriendly but it’s definitely not welcoming.
"This is Santiago."
Your brother.
The word sends a strange ache through me.
I spent my entire life believing all I had was my mother. Now suddenly, I have family appearing from every direction.
Santiago studies me for several long seconds. Then nods once.
"Liliana."
His voice is polite. Nothing more.
"Hi."
Awkward silence follows before Ignacio sighs dramatically.
“I hope the two of you will get along, Santi. Liliana is your little sister after all,” he states.
"Up until a couple of days ago she was nothing but a stranger."
I wince.
At least he's honest. And he’s right. This entire situation is bizarre. I have no clue how to feel or navigate it.
“Just try, Santiago,” Ignacio insists.
“We’ll see,” he murmurs, his dark eyes still poring. “You look a lot like Loretta.”
“Another sibling?” I question, feeling my heart pound in my chest.
He tilts his head to the side, “No one bothered to provide you with information about your shiny new family?”
“They were too busy negotiating how best to use me,” I reply.
I feel a pang in my chest as I say the words. Except Rafaelle.
He wanted nothing more than to save me.
My words provoke a smile from my elder brother though. A genuine one. He rounds the desk and takes a seat on the edge, facing me directly.
“You have three siblings, including me. Loretta is 28 years old, I’m 30, and Gabriel is 22.”
An elder sister and a younger brother. This just keeps getting better and better.
“Where are they?”
A shadow passes over Santiago’s expression. Then disappears just as quickly.
“Neither of them live in the city. Loretta’s currently in Thailand or Japan, I’ve stopped keeping track of our sister’s whereabouts considering they change quicker than the weather. Gabriel is-”
“Enough, Santiago,” Ignacio interrupts. “There’s no need to overwhelm her with information. She’ll learn more in time.”
A muscle ticks in the younger Navarro’s jaw but he keeps quiet. Something weird is definitely going on. And as curious as I am, I can’t find it in me to immerse myself in family drama just yet.
“Would you like to have dinner, Liliana?” Ignacio questions.
“Actually, I was hoping we could discuss that matter now,” I remind him, trying to keep my voice steady, despite the nerves rolling through me.
He arches an eyebrow. When he pulled me aside at the warehouse, he had simply wanted to know if I was unhurt. And he had seemed so genuine, I ended up asking if he would be willing to grant me a favor.
I’m antsy at the thought of his reaction.
“Ah yes. You said you needed something,” he drawls. “What is it?”
My stomach twists. This is the moment where I find out if I made the absolute wrong choice. I betrayed Rafaelle because of my daughter. Because I wanted to be with her more than anything in the world.
Ignacio Navarro might just be the key to achieving that.
“My daughter.”
The room is silent in the wake of my confession. I bite down on my bottom lip nervously, my gaze swinging from Santiago to Ignacio. I mostly gauge Ignacio’s reaction. It’s not surprise per se. I’m not exactly sure what he’s thinking. It takes a couple of seconds before he speaks.
“Well, this is a surprise. Are you telling me I have a granddaughter?”
I nod slowly.
“I had a background check done and I couldn’t find any traces of her.”
“That’s because I had to keep her birth a secret,” I explain, knowing I’ll have to tell them the reason why.
“What’s her name?” Santiago questions, a quiet curiosity in his expression that feels all too familiar.
“Milagro. But I call her Mila. She’s nine months old.”
“And who’s the father?” Ignacio asks.
I don’t immediately answer, fighting the urge to wring my fingers together. This is the moment that’s going to determine what the dynamic is going to be with my new family.
“Rafaelle Vitale,” I say softly. “He’s the father.”
Another terse silence envelops the room. But I do glimpse some amusement in Santiago’s eyes.
“You’re pretty interesting, aren’t you, little sister?” he muses.
Ignacio’s voice is slightly chilled when he speaks, “You have a child with Rafaelle Vitale?”
“He doesn’t know about her,” I hurriedly say. “We met once, about a year and a half ago. And I got pregnant. I didn’t tell him and instead left the city to keep her a secret because I didn’t think I wanted to raise my daughter in his world.”
“Hmm.” Ignacio’s mouth twists. “You really are your mother’s daughter.”
I look down, the words landing harder than I want to admit. “She was scared,” I mutter. “And… so was I.”
“Smart choice,” Santiago says. “But you’re hiding the daughter of the Vitale family’s enforcer. When he finds out, I’m pretty sure he’ll kill you.”
“He seems to care for her, though,” Ignacio states, brown eyes piercing, seemingly seeing more than I’m comfortable with. “You weren’t at the meeting, Santiago. He fought hard to keep her.” He looks toward me, “What is it you would like me to do, Liliana?”
“I want to bring Mila here with me. I haven’t seen my daughter in weeks, and we’ve never been apart. I feel like I’m going crazy.”
“That’s not a problem. I’ll have her brought here tomorrow,” he says simply.
Relief has my knees nearly buckling. But then another thought strikes.
“My mother,” I start. “What are you going to do to her?”
Anger flashes in Ignacio’s expression for a second. But then I blink and it’s gone. He seems to compose himself fast, pretending away his true feelings.
“You can’t hurt her,” I say worriedly.
“I’m not going to,” he tells me. “Believe it or not but I’m anticipating seeing Marisol again.”
He must see the wariness in my expression because he chuckles lightly.
“You don’t know the full story, Liliana.
When your mother ran away, she ran more from my late wife than me.
We had our differences, but she believed you would be harmed because of my late wife’s jealousy.
And while a part of me is angry that she kept you away from me for so long.
I am glad that you grew up safe. She seems to have done a good job raising you. ”
Oh.
My chest loosens as I look at the man standing in front of me in an entirely new light. Carlos was right. He does seem very family-oriented. And surprisingly forgiving. I don’t know whether to trust him or be suspicious.
The dark look in Santiago’s eyes doesn’t escape my notice. But I choose to focus on Ignacio’s assurances instead.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“You are my daughter, Liliana. I would do anything for you,” he reaches for my shoulder, squeezing it gently.
“I’d like to go tomorrow. To pick up Mila and mama.”
“Of course. And don’t you worry about the Vitales, Liliana. I’ll make sure they can never hurt you again. You’re home now.”
The words should bring me relief. And yet my heart aches, the pain impossible to ignore.
Hours later, as I sit alone in my bedroom staring out at unfamiliar gardens beneath the moonlight, all I can think about are dark eyes.
The estate is silent. The bed is soft. The room is beautiful.