Chapter 4
G enevieve
“I need to know what happened,” I repeated as I stormed through the house, finding it even more difficult to breathe. I’d been forced away from my father, whisked back to a home where it no longer felt as if I belonged.
I’d been separated from Bella and had yet to hear from my brother. For all I knew, he’d been taken or killed. My mind was a fucking blur of thoughts and anger that I’d yet to control.
And fear.
So much fear.
Every soldier I’d passed had kept eye contact, none offering their condolences. In their eyes, I was merely a lost little girl they likely felt no sadness for.
Fuck them.
“You need to calm down,” Emiliano said quietly.
“How am I supposed to?” I was close to being hysterical, forcing myself to take several deep breaths. My father’s office door was closed. I hesitated once I reached it, holding my hand on the knob. I sensed I was being watched, my behavior resonating throughout the estate.
After taking another deep breath, I opened the door, only to find my younger brother already inside. “Marco. You’re alive.”
He snorted. “Of course I’m alive.”
The heady round of arrogance I’d left had only intensified.
“What are you doing in here?” I asked, trying to remember he was still a child, at least in the eyes of the law.
“Our father is dead. What do you think? We need to regain control. We need to hunt down the men responsible.”
Marco was seventeen, the mirror of our father in looks and in demeanor except he had a cruel streak tempered by almost nothing.
“I will. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Before he had a chance to argue with me, Bella swept into the room. My little sister was a true angel, protected from the brutality our world offered. She had tears in her eyes and she flung herself at me.
“Oh, sissy. What are we going to do?”
I wrapped my arms around her, closing my eyes briefly, envisioning the horrible tragedy for the tenth time. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart. I promise you.”
“You can’t promise anything. You don’t know what’s been happening,” Marco insisted.
He was right, although his disrespect only added fuel to the fire, which I didn’t need right now. I had to maintain some level of control or chaos would ensue. “I will do what it takes, Marco. Now, we all need to calm down. I have things to do.”
“You have things to do,” he challenged. “What could you possibly know?”
“Just shut up!” Bella yelled. “Our father is dead. Dead!” Her sobs continued, the wretched sound breaking my heart.
I pulled her away, rubbing tears from under her eyes. “Why don’t you go up to your room. I’ll be there in a little while. Everything will work out.” It was at that moment I regretted leaving her for so many years. I also hated the fact I could be lying to her.
She nodded, sucking in her breath and hugging me tightly again. When she finally let go, I glanced at Emiliano. He knew what was at stake. A strike would need to occur quickly, or my father’s business would be threatened.
She ran off just as Antonio walked into the room. He wore no expression, but I knew the man well enough to know I should brace myself.
“What is it?” I asked.
“The shooter was found.”
“Good. Bring him to me.”
“I don’t think you want me to do that.”
“Antonio. Do not argue with me. Not now. Not ever. Do you understand?” I tried to keep an authoritative voice, but I was shaking and likely visibly. The last thing I needed to do was to show any sign of weakness.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ma’am. By birthright, I was now the drug lord, although I had no idea what you called a female plunged into this position. It was unchartered territory. Still, I should be offered the same respect as my father.
He skulked out and Emiliano immediately walked toward me. I threw my hand out, shaking my head.
While he stopped in his tracks, I could tell he was worried and annoyed.
“You don’t know what you’re doing,” Marco added, his chiding words irritating me.
“Maybe not in the way you’re thinking, Marco, but right now, I’m the one in charge.”
“Not for long.”
I controlled my emotions and my anger while turning my head toward him. With his pinched face and hate-filled eyes, I was reminded once again of his age, certainly not ready to run an organization where violence and death were constants.
“Leave, Marco,” I told my brother.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I sighed. It was truly getting difficult controlling my anger around him. I was standing in a fancy dress and heels, our father’s blood covering me, and he wanted to argue who was better suited to run the empire.
“Go. Now.” I snapped my head in his direction.
He huffed, but thankfully, stormed from the room. Only then did I take a deep breath.
As I heard footsteps, I steeled myself. I’d need to act quickly, doling out punishment without wincing or reacting in any way.
How in the hell was I going to do that? I was no fucking leader, at least not in the eyes of men who used women, tossing them away when they were finished with their fun and games.
As several of the hitmen entered and I didn’t see an enemy soldier being dragged in, I glanced at my commander who shrugged.
I’d seen many horrible things in my youth, although my father had done everything in his power to shield me from the worst of his required actions. What I didn’t expect was for one or more of the men to take my earlier command as gospel.
Antonio was watching my reaction as were all the others as the large silver platter was brought into the room.
It was a test of my willpower and strength.
My stomach immediately did flip-flops, bile rising up from my throat, but I forced myself to keep from reacting.
With sheer determination, I walked closer, taking my time doing so.
Once standing in front of the repulsive gift, I glanced from one to another of the men in the room, locking eyes with them.
Goddamn all of them. They wanted and expected me to break.
“Make certain pictures are taken and sent out to all our enemies. I want people to know what happens to anyone who fucks with the Morales Cartel. And I want the person responsible found. That’s your main objective. Find him.” With that, I spit on the head and took a decided step away.
No one said anything.
“Did I make myself clear? You do not want me to repeat myself.”
“Yes, Madame Morales. We’ll take care of it,” Emiliano answered for all of them, but that wasn’t good enough for me.
I offered one more look at every man until they all lowered their heads out of respect.
Point one for me.
Meanwhile, I was shaking like a leaf in a heavy thunderstorm.
I stood right where I was, daring anyone to defy me.
Fortunately, no one did, but I sensed utter disappointment I hadn’t fallen apart. I was furious they were testing me, hoping to prove I was nothing but a weak little girl.
Fuck them.
The sadness was extreme, my chest aching from doing nothing more than trying to breathe normally.
Any sign I’d fallen into despair would send a signal I would be unable to recover from.
Sadly, I needed time to regroup and grieve.
I also needed some time to develop a plan, but who the hell in my organization could I trust?
“Go. Leave me,” I demanded, both raising and deepening my voice. After the soldiers glanced from one to the other, they started filing out one at a time. When the room had mostly emptied, only Emiliano and Antonio remained.
As soon as the door was closed, I slowly lowered my head.
The quiet was deafening, something I hadn’t understood until this moment.
There were at least fifty people in and around the grounds, staff members keeping the inner workings on a typical schedule while hitmen walked the exterior of the estate, yet I’d never felt so lonely in my life.
My legs were heavy as I walked toward the set of doors leading to the outside. My father had loved his view of the fountain just outside. In the warm weather, he’d open them, allowing both fresh air and the sound of rippling water to penetrate the room. It was his calming mechanism.
“My father used to lock himself inside his office after a difficult day. He told me more than once only the sound of the fountain managed to ease his rage.” I unlocked the doors, taking my time opening them.
The light breeze was chilly, but the breath of fresh air ate away at the horrible stench of blood remaining in my nose.
I honestly wondered if the odor would ever completely leave.
I sensed Emiliano’s presence behind me while Antonio remained standing near the office door like a statue.
He’d been with my father since I could remember, a tough man on the exterior, his horrible scars an indication of the brutality he’d been a part of.
But he’d always been kind to me. What now?
What should I expect from him after all these years?
I’d left Barcelona a girl eager to visit another country and explore new things.
I’d returned a woman and now one with an entirely new purpose forced on me.
When Emiliano was right behind me, I took comfort in his large frame. “What am I going to do?” I whispered, uncertain I wanted Antonio to hear anything.
“You’re going to be your father’s daughter.”
He didn’t need to explain the statement. I knew exactly what he was insinuating. I had to be tougher than any man, highlighting savagery without feeling remorse. I’d need to change my personality, finding my inner resolve.
If I didn’t, I would place my remaining family in harm’s way. Not just from enemies who were waiting in the shadows like bloodthirsty vultures, but also from within. The next forty-eight hours would be a good indication of what I was facing.
“Overtures will begin tomorrow,” Antonio said as he dared walk closer.
“Overtures?” I tipped my head over my shoulder.
He took a few steps closer. I sensed his tension. “Yes, ma’am. Your father had many enemies. The news about his death has already leaked.”