23. CARLOS
CARLOS
A fter leaving Simon at the fountain, I tell Lucas what has happened and task him to keep an eye on Si. I had to walk away.
My hands are shaking, my head hurts from frowning too hard, my body aches from restraining myself as anger burns in my chest, it burns in my throat and stings my eyes.
It's not aimed at Simon.
It's aimed at the man who built this hell. The father who breaks everything he touches.
I want to tear him apart, rip him open. Destroy his life as I make him watch it all fall apart around him. I’ve never had a weak point before, never had any leverage for an enemy to use on me. But I have now and its fucking frustrating because I don’t know how to deal with it.
I’m consumed by Simon. I want him with me at all times. I can’t bear the idea of anyone touching him or even looking at him in the wrong way. I knew he stirred something different inside of me when we met, but it has multiplied and turned me into a hothead who is out for pain and blood.
While I’m appreciative to Simon for lying and putting on a great performance just now, I know we’re not done.
We never will be. His actions are opposite to his words.
His hate will be my claim. Claim over his soul and body.
He can lie as much as he wants but I can read him like a book. That little fucker is going nowhere.
Just as I walk inside, Enrico appears out of nowhere.
I haven’t seen him since we arrived, assuming he was in his room sulking.
It appears I was wrong as he stands in front of me in a light blue fitted shirt with tailored white pants.
His hair is neatly styled. He looks a thousand times better than he did in the states.
“Nice dinner with Father?” he asks.
“No.”
He scoffs like I’m the annoying child in the family who is always an issue.
“Why am I not surprised? You really do think you’re something. Who would turn down all this?” he asks, arms stretched out wide, signalling the room around us. “For working in a shitty country, on a shitty dock alongside the dumbest people.”
“I assume you are including yourself with those people.”
“You think you’re so clever. Like you’re the only one with a brain, the only one with plans.”
“Am I supposed to care what you think?”
“You should. You’ve been so wrapped up in your pathetic insignificant business and that gay guard, that you couldn’t see what was happening,” he says, mouth spitting with absolute hatred for me. The feeling is mutual.
“And what was that?”
“You know I’ve been waiting so patiently for this day. Waiting to pull the rug from underneath your self righteous feet.”
“Are you going to spit it out or drone on in code? You got something to say, fucking say it.”
Enrico steps closer to me.
“Come on, Carlos. Did you really think all that shit going wrong back in the States was just bad luck? That your people started turning on you?”
I think back to when I started my business. The issues of stealing and betrayal within my men. The amount of times I’ve had to involve the Kozlovs to help.
“You were behind it?”
He smiles, and for the first time it looks real. Ugly.
“Not alone. I had orders.”
The door from the main lounge opened into the entrance hallway and we both turn to see our father step into the room. Slowly moving toward us, I can tell he’s been listening to the conversation.
“Enrico, you weren't supposed to say anything,” he says sharply, voice like a whip.
“So it's true.”
“You refused to return home. You thought you were free, that you could just do what you wanted. I had to remind you where you belong.”
The temperature in the room is as cold as a freezer. My ears buzz louder with every word they spit out. How did I not see this?
“So you turned this idiot against me?”
“He volunteered.”
Enrico's smile flickers with pride. “You always thought I was the failure. The impulsive one. The weak one. Turns out I just knew how to play the part.”
“I defended you from him for years. Protected you from his wrath.”
“And you were good at it. Always the perfect older brother. The one who left and ripped me away from my home with you. Using me to follow your dreams. You think you are better than us. So I made sure you’d feel what it’s like when everything you built starts to fall.
My heart is pounding in my chest as the pieces click into place. The betrayals, the losses, the impossible pressure. All of it was orchestrated. A performance. I’d been the fool in the spotlight, trusting the wrong actors.
I move before thinking, grabbing Enrico by the collar and slamming him into the wall behind me.
“You think this wins you something?” I growl at him. “You think this earns you his love? His favor? He’ll use you until there is nothing left.”
Our father doesn’t intervene. Just watches with cold detachment, like this was what he had planned all along.
“At least I didn’t run away from my responsibilities.”
With disgust coiling in my gut like poison, I release the nasty shit with a shove, and face my father for the second time tonight.
“You want me back? Your golden son? Careful what you wish for.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he stands tall and defiant. “Don’t speak threats you’re not ready to back up.”
“Oh, I’m ready. But I’m not your loyal dog on a lead. So the next time you send your dogs, make sure they bite harder,” I hiss.
Walking past them both and running up the stairs, Enrico calls after me and I can think of nothing but making them both pay.
“See you soon, brother.”
I don’t answer.
The only thing I take from this is that I will never be made a fool of again.