Chapter 14
“While growing up, I heard a lot of people call me lucky.
Born with a silver spoon.
Everything in this world has a price, though.
And I’ve paid mine.
I wonder how many people would have wanted to switch places with me if they knew about the nightmares that constantly polluted my mind?
And the only reason I didn’t go insane and lose my head, killing everyone in sight?
Is because of my best friends.
Friendship was the foundation of my sanity.
Until she kissed me.
And then?
She became more important than anyone else.”
Florian
Florian, six years old
“This is so stupid,” Remi complains, huffing and puffing as he drags the shovel with him. We trail him, holding our own tools. “We’re going to get in trouble,” he warns us, and I roll my eyes.
“You always say that, and we never do. You know why?” I adjust my backpack better and wrap my arm around his shoulders, momentarily stilling his movements. “Because we are sneaky and born lucky.”
He shrugs me off and glares at me, wiping away the sweat dripping from his forehead as owls hoot in the distance and crickets chirp in the bushes. The moonlight shines so brightly that it serves as a huge lamp showcasing the beauty of our family garden around us, and the clear sky lit by thousands of stars makes my finger itch to try to recreate the color on the paper.
Yellow diamonds. What if I drew a yellow diamond necklace reminding me of one of the constellations?
Probably difficult, but I want to do it.
“You’re born lucky.” He shifts uncomfortably. “I’m not.”
Annoyance zips through me as his words sour our moods. Remi always finds a way to suck up all the fun from our activities if they go against the rules.
I got out of the hospital shortly after, and Santiago came to visit me right away, believing my story about falling from a tree, and pretending to be just a normal boy was easy. He hugged me a lot and cried over Frederick’s death.
We started hanging out again and invited Octavius more frequently. He relaxed in our company enough to play with us.
Around the same time, Uncle Lucian hired a new gardener who brought a family with him, and Remi joined our group. We were excited to finally have a fourth member.
I felt bad about Octavius not having a pair, and they seemed to hit it off, always hanging out together during our outings and supporting all our ideas.
Remi had some issues at first accepting us and believing our friendship would stick, but Uncle Lucian and Aunt Esme enrolled him in the same school, paid for all his tutors, and made sure he attended all the activities right along with us.
In short, we all became inseparable, and Remi’s difficult father, who loved to drink and hit him, stopped after Uncle Lucian had a long talk with him. I’m not sure how much time they spent talking, though, since he had several new bruises on his face afterward.
Still Remi has this moment of insecurities where he doubts our friendship or still expects us to do something and then blame him if we are caught.
Impossible.
We all take responsibility for our actions no matter who did it. Like the musketeers.
“You must be lucky, amigo. Because you have friends like us.” Santiago ruffles his hair, and Remi shakes his head while he laughs. “We need to still work on your Spanish.” He sighs heavily. “Yesterday, I asked him to bring me some green tea and put a bag on my shoulder. He was all confused, asking me where he was supposed to find a man to put a bag on him.”
“It’s not my fault the words are so similar. Hombro and hombre.”
“Not my problem. Learn it. You need to be in our class.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. How are we going to conquer the world if you have a D in languages? So less complaining and more studying.”
“I study every day!”
“And that’s clearly not enough.” He taps on Remi’s nose, and he drops his shovel, pinching Santiago who steps to the side and delivers another tap before running off to the rose bushes. Remi sprints right after him.
My heart pangs, and that familiar jealousy nags at me that I can’t ignore. I’ve noticed Santiago really took it upon himself to make sure Remi stays on our level education-wise so he can have a great future. As a result, he spends all his time with him at his mansion, and sometimes it feels like Remi is slowly replacing me.
“No one can replace you. He still loves you the most.” Octavius’s voice startles me, and I look at him standing next to me, holding our snacks and drinks. “They just live closer, and he has a big heart.”
I stay silent, not really knowing what to say in the uncomfortable silence that falls on us and how to react at his reassurance.
I never knew how to act around him. After the hospital, I became slightly more aloof, but he hasn’t said a word. And then there was this moment a few weeks back…during our picnic, where we discovered Octavius’s stepfather hits him while his mom watches, allowing for it to happen.
Vicious scars and bruises mar his skin, but to protect his little sister, he doesn’t allow us to say anything. I held his hand as he cried and offered my support because I can’t imagine living in this constant state of fear.
And in some way…I related to his pain because having a heartless mother who hates you is more painful and worse than any bruises could ever be.
For whatever reason, our mothers hate us, and that’s the only thing we have in common besides belonging to wealthy families.
“Does it hurt you?” He blinks at my question in surprise, putting his bag on the floor and taking out a juice box. “Her indifference?”
He pauses midway to opening up his juice, and a raspy breath escapes him. “Yes. And I hate it.” He waits a minute before firing his own question, “Does it hurt you that she…hates you?”
I gotta give it to Octavius. He never tries to sugarcoat anything. He calls it like he sees it, which sometimes shocks even Santiago, who’s the most diplomatic of us all.
“Yes. And it makes me hate myself even more.”
It’s something I can never confess to Santiago because he wouldn’t understand. His mom is perfect.
Octavius finds my hand, laces our fingers together, and squeezes it. “I’m sorry, Florian.” He quickly lets me go, though, when Santiago and Remi run back to us as if afraid.
Octavius rarely shows affection, even to us, because his affections are deadly to him. His stepfather always finds a way to make his life hell, and the only reason he’s still allowed to go out with us…is because Uncle Lucian warned he controls his share and whatever the Reeds do.
At least Octavius has some protection from that awful man.
“So what’s the plan?” Remi picks up his shovel again, glancing between us. “Grandpa Atlas said you have all the instructions.”
“Somewhere between the oak trees, he buried a velvet box with a pink diamond.”
“Wow,” they all exclaim, and I grin because, yeah. It’s an expensive diamond, and Grandpa recently designed a new collection dedicated to the color pink. It sold out before he even finished it. “Whoever finds it, gets it.” Grandpa thought turning us into treasure hunters would be fun and show our true character. Since it could be anywhere, we brought snacks and sodas in case it takes longer.
Santiago and Octavius share a long look with me, and we all communicate one thing to each other.
We will do our best to find the diamond, but Remi has to be the one to actually get it. The diamond is worth a lot, and this money can be put in his account in the future. We all have trust funds, but he doesn’t, so he needs the safety net.
Grandpa always keeps his word, and he won’t snub Remi.
I wonder why we have such a bad reputation among women if the men in my family usually always act with honor and never lie to them?
Or being honest about not wanting anything serious is a crime?
“Let’s do it then before your new nanny arrives. She’s very determined compared to the rest.” Admiration coats Santiago’s tone. It figures he’d love stubborn people, and I frown, everything inside me rebelling against the idea.
For almost a whole year, Dad tried to find me a suitable nanny, and I ran off every single one of them to the point that no one wanted to work for our family.
They called me a spoiled brat, a hellion straight from hell (actual words one of them used), and a hater of women (I didn’t understand this one).
I used every trick possible to scare them off, and my personal record is the one who left ten minutes after getting the job.
My best friends helped me, of course.
I insisted on having a butler like Octavius does, but Dad flat-out rejected my proposition because we already have a family butler, and at his age, he won’t be watching my every move.
But I knew it was a lie, and the only reason he insisted on a female nanny…was because he wanted me to have a positive influence from a woman aside from Aunt Esme.
He divorced Mom a year ago and forbade her from entering the house, throwing all her clothes away and canceling her credit cards. All Price brides sign prenups, so wives don’t get anything during the divorce, and she was furious, screaming that he ruined her life.
According to Santiago, who overheard his parents conversation, my dad could tolerate a lot of stuff from her, but her indifference toward me was not one of them.
She tried fighting for custody with insane child support, claiming that every child deserved to be with their mother, but Dad just laughed and kicked her out once again.
Their divorce caused a huge scandal. The newspapers painted Dad as a villain who abandoned his wife during such a tragedy, and she happily gave interviews left and right.
Dad was called so many names that made no sense to me. They also said how I’d grow into a narcissist just like him under his influence.
Whatever that means.
My dad is the best man in the whole world, and I don’t care what everyone thinks. He chose me and accepted everyone’s scrutiny if it meant my mother would stop abusing me with her words on a daily basis. Something Octavius’s parents failed to do.
And for that, I’ll always love and respect him.
However, three days ago, he hired a new nanny, and God knows where our butler found her because she wore such washed-out clothes it was hard to guess their color. The boys felt bad about scaring her off, especially when she polished her plate so quickly the cook barely had time to blink, but I was determined.
I don’t need a nanny.
But no matter what I do, she stays, and I hate it. Dad is away on a business trip, so he’s yet to meet her, and I hoped at first maybe he’d fire her like he fired one of them for trying to seduce him… This woman, though, has no idea what style is.
Even Grandpa, who flirts with anyone, barely pays her any attention and asked our butler if Dad really got this desperate for her to be in our house.
“She bakes good cookies too,” Remi pitches in while my frown deepens. “And she never tattletales on us or calls us names. I think you should keep her.”
“She’s also smart,” Octavius adds.
“Whose side are you on?” They all shrug. Some cookies and smiles and all of a sudden they want for me to be stuck with a nanny? None of them has one! “Dad will still pay her.”
“She’s poor, Florian. Have you seen how happy she was to discover she could live here and how her eyes lit up at the sight of the bed?”
Now they make me feel guilty, but I don’t want a nanny. She’ll probably find something bad about me too and start to hate me, and I’m done with that.
“Jacob! Open the fucking door!” We all freeze at my mother’s familiar screeching voice and turn around to see her marching toward our mansion. “Open it!” She quickly gets up the steps and bangs on the door. “You fucking asshole! He left me! Because of you.” Tears stream down her cheeks, and my friends wince, although why I don’t understand.
Her affair with my uncle has always been public knowledge, so it was no surprise she started living with him, but just like Dad predicted, it seems he didn’t want her without the family money attached.
Uncle Bellamy is a leech and can’t work to save his life. He used up all the resources his late wife gave him and shipped his son off to his maternal grandmother in some small coast town.
“I’ll deal with it. Start the treasure hunt.”
“But—”
I raise my hand. “Do it.”
After a pause, they nod and go to the oak trees while I race to the entrance, hoping to get rid of the woman who gave birth to me so she won’t ruin my night.
Her presence and scorn always bring me back to the basement. My scars hurt while a disgusting smell twitches my nose, and the voice fills my head so loud and overwhelmingly, I always start crushing things around me.
Usually, a call from Uncle Lucian saves me, but sometimes it doesn’t, and I end up destroying my room.
“He’s not home. You need to leave,” I tell her once I come closer, and she spins around, fury written all over her beautiful but cruel face. “Or security will escort you out.” And I don’t want it. She will find a way to twist the truth and claim she wanted to see me and instead got dragged out.
“You little piece of shit.” I flinch inwardly at her name-calling and tense when she comes to me, breathing heavily while anger pours from her. “It’s all your fault.” She grabs me by the shirt, tugging me closer as she leans forward. “If Frederick were alive instead of you, I’d have everything.” She shakes me to the point of my teeth snapping. “You should have been the one to die.” I twist in her hold, trying to get away because the smell of her sweet perfume makes me nauseous. “I’d have my perfect family, and Bellamy would have stayed with me. But no. You had to survive. And I can’t even use you now because Daddy dearest loves you so much.” One more hard shake. “Why did you survive, Florian?” She slaps me hard on the cheek, my head snapping to the right as pain travels through me, and I stop to breathe from the shock. She never raised a hand on me. “Why? Life is mocking me every time I look at you.” Slap. “I hate you, you little useless piece of shit.” Slap. Slap. Slap. “Why did God take his son and keep Jacob’s alive?” I’m too shocked and confused to process her weird words.
I’ve always known my mother hates me. She never physically showed it, but her words combined with each blow…open up my festering wounds and make them bleed anew.
Because the questions she asks me?
I ask them every day when I look in the mirror.
Usually, Dad and Grandpa can handle her cruelty and shield me from it, muting the persistent voices in my head, but this time around, they aren’t here.
My cheeks burn from her blows, and I close my eyes as she lifts her palm again, only for them to snap open when I hear her gasp.
She lets me go, and that’s when I notice dirt on her dress, and someone throws dirt at her again. “You stay away from him, witch,” Santiago says as Octavius stands next to me, stepping forward a little bit as if hiding me from her while Remi stands on my other side. They create a protective circle around me, all of them holding shovels while Santiago continues to throw dirt at her. “Stay away!”
She dusts away the dirt, her face becoming all red with fury, and she takes a step toward me, but Octavius’s voice stops her. “You can’t hurt him.”
“He has us,” Remi shouts, puffing his chest out while she laughs.
“A gardener’s son won’t tell me what to do. Watch your mouth.” She lifts her hand, maybe wanting to slap him too, when Santiago sends dirt flying her way once again, only this time around, it hits her in the face, and she sputters out, “You little shit.”
“Just try to hurt me, witch! Just try,” he dares her, and she freezes, clearly not being stupid enough to touch him because Aunt Esme would bury her alive.
You just don’t mess with the Cortez family. They don’t react well to anyone hurting their own, and one of the reasons is that they never go against their own.
“You are all little brats who never accepted my Frederick.”
Remi didn’t even meet Frederick and, for whatever reason, assumed he died when he was three, and I didn’t correct him because this way, I wouldn’t have to answer a lot of questions.
“Hey!” a voice calls from behind her, and we all twist to see Calliope running toward us wearing her usual washed-out dress. “What are you doing?” The minute she reaches us, she studies us, and her warm and soft eyes settle on me, widening. She gets on her knees in front of me, not minding the dirt getting on her dress, and palms my head, gently running her thumbs over my burning cheeks, and I shift uncomfortably.
For the first time in a while, I’m about to cry, and I don’t even understand why.
“How many times did she hit you?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, and I bite my lip, refusing to say anything.
Why does she care anyway? Mother might use her and make her switch sides. People do desperate stuff when they’re eager for money.
“Seven times,” Remi tells her. Of course he counted! He has a photographic memory, so he remembers everything, which sometimes is annoying.
Then the softness is gone, and anger along with a coldness replaces it. Inwardly, I prepare for the blow from her as well. Mother usually had such mood swings around Frederick and me, so I gasp in surprise when she gets up and slaps Mother so hard she stumbles back. “Have you lost your mind?”
“You don’t hit my kid. Ever.” Another slap and Mother lands on her ass, but she doesn’t stay there for long as Calliope gives her the third slap and then grabs her by the hair, dragging her up as Mother twists in her hold.
We all blink in surprise at how strong Calliope seems to be, and she pulls at Mother’s hair, slapping her four more times before walking her to the gates where security guards are already running to us. “I’m going to sue you. Prepare to pay me for life, bitch.” Mother seethes, but Calliope laughs.
Just freaking laughs!
“You do that, Elizabeth. You do that and find out what will happen.”
That’s the last thing we hear since they disappear from our view, and Santiago whistles. “I really like her.”
I open my mouth to say something, but to my horror, tears fall down my bruised skin, and a whimper escapes me because her words were like a thousand knives piercing into my soul and tearing the remaining intact pieces apart, reminding me once again I’m tainted by monsters and darkness.
“Shhh, Florian.” Octavius wraps his arms around me, and I hug him as he pats my back while Remi and Santiago do the same. They create a tight cocoon around us. “She’s a bad person. It’s good that she’s gone.” I cry harder because she’s still my mother, so it hurts. Hurts so much, and I squeeze him tighter. “We’re here. We will always be here.”
“No matter what happens, we will be here with you,” Santiago adds, and I catch his gaze as he wipes away my tears. “Because we are best friends.”
“And best friends never give up on each other,” Remi finishes.
We stand like this for a while before we resume the treasure hunt and pretend as if nothing happened, celebrating with pizza when Remi finds the diamond.
And Calliope watches over us, baking us a cake and a fresh batch of cookies that doesn’t fail to win my friends over.
That summer, the dynamic of our friendship forever changed.
We became an inseparable unit ready to face the world if it meant protecting our own, a deep bond that survived any hideous thing life threw our way.
We shared our happiness and losses, for what was theirs was mine, and what was mine was theirs.
Santiago and I drifted apart because we grew a stronger bond with Octavius and Remi instead. We found a connection that was bigger than ours, surprising everyone around us. It happened so suddenly and naturally, we hadn’t noticed, and when we did…it was too late to go back to the way things were.
Nor did we want to.
We both grew up in loving households, and our families adored us, pouring all their affection into us. As such, we had a lot of it to share with our two friends whose parents were less than stellar. They had no idea how to give love or show it without being afraid of being rejected over and over again.
It was Santiago’s job and mine to teach them otherwise, and teach them we did.
Octavius became my truest friend, understanding me on a level no one else could. He accepted all my flaws, never judging me for them or using them to control me and hurt me.
He provided solace in my darkest moments, listened when it mattered the most, and didn’t preach about forgiveness when it came to my mother like everyone else did.
He understood better than anyone what it is like to have a mother who gives no shits about your pain, and some women don’t deserve to have children or their forgiveness.
Although he tried everything to push me away, I never listened, powering through all his defenses until he had no strength left in him to fight me.
Our friendships saved both of us and set us free in a way my friendship with Santiago never could.
We faced our deepest challenge when monsters kidnapped Santiago and broke our unity, leaving us without an important piece in our friendship, and we did everything we could to make sure Remi felt welcome.
We included him in all our activities, all of us living and hoping someday Santiago would come back to us.
I owed it to him and supported his family in any way I could.
Eventually, he did return, shunning all of us and avoiding any contact as a familiar darkness swirled around him, and my heart broke because I knew what happened to him.
When you live through it, it’s easy to see.
He wanted nothing to do with us, and we tried giving him time, but Remi took it the hardest.
Until the day we all became murderers in order to save our friend.
After all, every dark brotherhood starts with blood, and ours formed the minute Octavius took a life.
We are the Four Dark Horsemen.
Only in unity we survive, because in chaos do we thrive.
Florian
“Is it snowing outside?” my godmother asks as I step inside the Cortez mansion, the staff greeting me with smiles and offering drinks. “Or maybe there is a storm?” Removing my jacket, I give it to the butler and shake my head. “Oh, that’s so strange.”
Since my godmother is a worldwide famous artist who spends much of her time locked in her studio, where she creates masterpieces and exists in her head a lot, I’m used to her rather weird questions. “Why is it strange?”
“My godson finally graced me with his presence after finding countless excuses not to visit. So I expect the weather to reflect my own shock.”
“Oh. I think the weather is as stunned about this turn of events as you are, so it hasn’t caught up yet,” I tease her back and hug her as she laughs. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a little busy, but I would have never missed the annual family dinner.” I lean back and wink at her. “It’s tradition.”
After Santiago came back home at fifteen, Aunt Esme decided to host annual parties to celebrate the occasion, but since he hated any parties, she masked them under the whole family reunion thing.
Remi and Octavius were invited as well, of course, and despite everyone being on good and bad terms with each other over the years, everyone still showed up because no one wanted to upset her.
“Finally, everyone is married.” She nudges me with her elbow. “Except you. We’re still yet to meet the girl who’ll capture your heart.”
You’ve already met her. In fact, you gave birth to her.
I don’t have time to dwell on that thought for long, though, because she pushes me inside the living room leading to the dining room and says, “Go. I’ll be there in a second. I have to make sure they have all your favorite desserts ready.” She claps her hands. “I’m so excited.”
My heart twists in my chest at seeing Aunt Esme because so much of my childhood was spent seeing her sad and in tears, hopelessly sitting by the window and waiting for her son to come back. She could not even find solace in her art, and sometimes on bad days I was scared of leaving her.
It got better once Jimena was born, but she seemed soulless until her son finally came back, and on some level, I understand her.
It hurt Jimena, but…the idea of my baby being out there and experiencing God knows what while I’m powerless to stop it?
It’s a hell I wish on no one, and I can’t judge my godparents for dealing with their grief the way they had.
I find my grandfather standing in the right corner, tracing his finger over the expensive whiskey collection Uncle Lucian has. I whistle, making him spin around and scowl at me. “You quit this, boy,” he warns me before I can say anything. “If one more person says that I’m too old to drink, I’m going to disown every single one of you.”
“You’ve already disowned me, remember? When I refused to participate in your sunlight collection and instead designed my ocean one? You preached I’d fail, and then my collection outsold yours.” I hug him and smack a kiss on his cheek while he huffs. “I have no skin in the game, so…stop consuming alcohol. You’re eighty-five.”
“And still thriving, thank you very much.” He huffs again and then addresses my dad, who is coming to join us. “You raised a son who doesn’t know how to suck up.”
He shrugs. “I understand where he’s coming from. You disowned me when I married my wife and told you she wont be signing a prenup.” Grandpa’s scowl deepens, and I chuckle, earning my own glare. “We already have to worry about you whoring around with all these people and catching God knows what. We don’t want you to risk your health even more with alcohol.”
Dad grabs my shoulder, squeezing it hard and holding my gaze. “Hi, son. Missed you, glad to see you’re alive and well.” Although I know my dad well enough to read between the lines.
I’ve been avoiding his calls, and everyone else’s for that matter, too lost in finding solutions to all my issues while protecting my woman. My dad doesn’t appreciate being ignored by his children.
His parenting style falls between gentle and strict as fuck, and when he’s in a mood, no one wants to be in his way, even my psycho brother Kian. Now I’m a serial killer and all…but I still don’t want to get my ass whooped by my dad at any age.
“Hey, Dad. Won’t happen again.”
“Excuse me here, but, Jacob, did you just imply I’m catching diseases from sex? Because let me tell you…”
“I think he’s trying to say that we have enough to worry about when it comes to you. Maybe we should cross alcohol from that list.” Mom appears next to Dad, wearing a beautiful floral red dress. Her red hair falls down her back, and she gives Grandpa a concerned look that doesn’t fool him for a second, judging by his narrowing eyes. “Although if you ask me…a man at your age should listen to his gut. Maybe alcohol is what you need.”
“Huh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? You bewitched my son a long time ago, and now you finally want to get rid of me!”
“Careful,” Dad and I warn at the same time, our tone leaving no room for argument, and Grandpa huffs once fucking again.
He listens, though, changing his tack because Dad never allows him to insult his wife in any way. Even though Grandpa made it his life’s mission to bitch about their marriage and how much Dad’s actions shamed the dynasty.
Funnily enough, he is ready to rip anyone’s throat out if they disrespect her in any way and acts all protective papa bear when she’s not around. We all think he just likes their verbal spars, so we mostly ignore them. “You dream about the day I die. I’m the only one who sees your true nature.” He wiggles his finger in her face, and Dad slaps it away. “So you can run the show here with all my boys dancing to your tune.”
Mom taps on her chin. “I’ve heard that some diseases can cause delusions.” She shakes Dad’s elbow, mock fear lacing her tone. “Jacob, I think it’s already happening.” She sighs. “We’ll mourn your death to the best of our ability, Atlas.” A beat passes. “Knowing how much you loved life, though, we won’t do it for long.”
Grandpa steps back from the bar and hooks his thumbs in his pockets, lifting his chin at her. “I won’t give you such satisfaction. Watch me live till a hundred years old.” He addresses my dad next. “I do not regret disowning you. Look what I’m dealing with here!” He glances at me. “Your betrayal wounds me deep, grandson. It pains me to see you grew up into a mama’s boy.” He rolls back his shoulders. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…there are certain people here who can still inherit my seventy-billion-dollar fortune, and unlike my family, they have some respect for me.” With this, he walks back to the dining room, where we hear him yell, “Octavius. What do you think about my lifestyle?”
“I can always count on you for nudging him to do what we need,” Dad says and cups Mom’s cheek. “His doctor told him to cut off alcohol during his last visit. He’s been having strange chest pains lately.” We all love to ruffle Grandpa’s feathers and tease him to no end. Its just how we show love, but he’s the familys patriarch for a reason.
His love is solid, so we want to keep him with us for as long as possible.
“I know. Don’t worry, my darling. He won’t be drinking with me around.” She pats his chest, and he kisses her laughing lips, and I groan because, seriously?
“Cool it, you two. There are children around.”
“Serves you right for all the cockblocking you did as a kid.”
“Oh, come on, Dad!” He never fails to mention the time when I hated my nanny getting together with my dad because I was scared to lose yet another woman in my life.
Mom gives him one last kiss and turns her attention on me, opening her arms wide. “Hi, baby. So happy to finally see you. It’s been a long time.” I wrap my arms around her and lift her up, her familiar scent washing over me and calming down everything around me because it’s associated with safety and total acceptance but above anything else, love.
Love she freely gave me the minute she became my nanny, and since then it never wavered.
Not when I acted out or ran away when they announced their engagement, and kept shouting I didn’t want her as a mom even though that was my most hidden wish.
Not when my biological mother made her life hell for the first seven years of their marriage and even once sneaked inside the house trying to seduce Dad, although what possessed her to do such a foolish thing baffles me to this day.
My father sees no woman but his wife.
And not even when the press called her a delusional, ugly fool who decided to marry a man ruthless enough to take away the child from his ex-wife because she probably didn’t have anyone else wanting to marry her. Just a small list of things she had to put up with through the years.
All because she chose to be my mom and enveloped me with so much love, I no longer felt the sting from my biological mother resenting and despising my entire existence. “Hi, Mama. I promise to stop by this week so we can have our tea party.” I place her back on the floor, and she pats my cheeks, sweeping her loving gaze over me. I see traces of worry on her face. My parents know me well enough to notice these small details, and I would hate anyone reading me this well if it wasn’t for the fact that they do love me.
And as I’ve discovered, parental love, unfortunately, is not a given right but a privilege, and I cherish mine.
“You do that.” She puts her hand above my heart. “What’s going on inside here, Florian?”
“Lots of things.”
“Are you ready to share them?” Dad asks, crossing his arms, and at this moment, it seems like they expect me to confess to something. “Because we’re ready to listen.”
Mom adds, “We’ll always be on your side. No matter what.”
“Yeah.”
That’s the problem, though, them being on my side will probably mean the end of their long-lasting friendship, but I say nothing. They’ll find out soon enough, considering that’s why I’m here, among other things.
Tonight, I’m claiming Jimena as mine in front of our families, everything be damned, and I gathered enough information to protect her if Death and his fucked-up son shows up to hurt her.
The last couple months, I’ve watched all my best friends marry their women, living in bliss, all the while I denied myself and my woman, who’s been hurting from it all and having to hide our baby as if he is some kind of crime.
Besides in true Jimena fashion, she has ignored me so all I could do was watch her from a distance all this time while sending various gifts and endless messages.
My woman ignored those but accepted all the gifts—always knew she was smart.
They are both a gift, and I’m done allowing the demons from my past to treat them as my dirty secret.
“Okay. As long as you remember that.” Mom winks at me. “Call your grandpa, though. He’s been harassing me with constant messages that his oldest grandson is avoiding him.”
Ah, yes.
One small detail the press never found about my mother that kind of surprised all of us once upon a time?
She was a mafia princess who had one year to prove to her dad that she could make it on her own for him to allow her to live as she wanted. She accepted the nanny position because she had two months left to prove a point and got fired from her previous job. She even lied about her age. She wasn’t twenty-five, she was thirty. For whatever reason, that lie stuck, and we never corrected it in the media either.
Needless to say, her father raged once he discovered that she fell in love with a divorced single Dad twelve years older than her. He couldn’t believe she worked as the help, as he called it, and wanted to drag her back to Boston, but she refused, and in time, he had to accept her decision.
He still hated Grandpa for treating Mom like this and told Dad that he’ll never consider him a man worthy of his daughter.
However, his hatred didn’t extend to me, and he welcomed me into the family, even showing me off to his friends, so with Mom, I gained a new set of grandparents.
“Isn’t Kian with him now?” My baby brother takes small breaks on the weekends from his school and likes to fly to Boston frequently to visit our grandparents. Especially after he’s been officially diagnosed as a psychopath at a younger age. Around the time he found death, blood, and human remains fascinating and displayed no emotions toward anything or anyone else.
Despite growing up surrounded by love, it’s a foreign concept to him, although he never shows bad behavior when it comes to us.
Then again, we never try to control him because it usually never ends well and causes violent outbursts, resulting in a lot of broken bones.
Nonnois the only one in this world who can control Kian, and sometimes I wonder if he prepares him to be his heir, not that my brother would want that.
He appreciates the doses of violence Grandpa allows him to indulge in. Thankfully, Mom doesn’t know about them, but he has no desire to follow the rules.
He prefers to make decisions on his own, and the mafia doesn’t really work this way, but who knows what’s really going on in that crazy head of his.
“Yes. He wants to see you both and fix the damage.”
There is no fixing the damage besides killing Death off and ending the family curse so Kian can finally get his rightful place in the family empire. If the roles were reversed, I’d act the same way, so I’m not going to try to convince my brother of shit.
“I’m going to talk to him. I don’t want him to interfere because if he does, Kian will stop showing up there as well.”
Unfortunately, he shares the temper of two families, and this particular combination makes for some explosive shitstorms.
Mom sighs heavily. All this conflict hurts her heart, but still. She lets him act as he wants because deep down, she knows he won’t cross a line.
Not now, at least.
Push him enough, though? And he will.
“Either way, call your grandpa.”
“Okay.”
“Why is everyone still standing? Let’s eat,” Aunt Esme says, entering the living room and passing us as we tag along to the dining table where my friends already occupy their chairs.
I lift my chin in greeting and wink at their wives, particularly at Penelope, which earns me a death stare from Remi. Fucking with him is my most beloved pastime. “Penelope. What a pleasure to see you.” She rolls her eyes at my praise, a small smile pulling at her lips, and I look at Isla, Octavius’s wife. “Hey there, darling.” I lean down and kiss her on the cheek. “Missed me, sister-in-law?”
Octavius has no reaction to this, and why would he?
The minute he claimed her, she became like a sister to me, and talking to her is highly entertaining. I mean…he brought an ex-cop to a family of serial killers. Who can top that? “It’s hard to miss you. You’re everywhere,” she grumbles. “Sometimes I wonder if I married you as well. I have to admit…such thoughts make me wanna cry.” Remi barks out a laugh and picks up his glass, toasting her.
“Octavius and I come as a package deal. Right, darling?” I grab his cheek and blow him a kiss, which earns me a hard shove. “Everyone seems to be in the mood tonight.” I look around. “Where is my favorite godson?”
When Octavius and Isla dealt with their own problems, as in when he blackmailed her into marriage one month ago, they adopted a five-year-old boy who they named Braiden. He instantly became part of the family, and my parents acted as if they got their own grandchild. I don’t mind. He might as well be mine since I’m his godfather.
He’s nonverbal, so the whole family actively learned sign language for his sake, and my grandpa hogs him the most. At this rate, I won’t be surprised if he leaves all his inheritance to him.
“He’s home with Ryder and Estella’s triplets. They’re baking something.” Octavius frowns. “Hopefully, they won’t burn down the house,” he half jokes because his nephew and nieces are little hellions who have no regard for rules and practically corrupt Braiden on a daily basis.
Ah, youth.
“Either way, you’re stunning, sister-in-law.”
“Maybe stop complimenting our wives and sit your ass down,” Santiago orders, and I notice Briseis sporting a few new hickeys. Compared to us all, he makes a whole show of marking her skin for everyone to see.
And who am I to make him feel left out?
“Briseis. You should wear blue clothes more often. It really suits you and brings out your eyes.” She blushes and shakes her head, glancing at my friend whose face darkens, and he focuses on me, every blink promising me retribution.
“Florian?”
“Yes?”
“Shut up.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’m going to put you both in time-out so you can rethink acting like spoiled, disrespectful brats during family dinner.” Uncle Lucian reaches the dining table, and I want to go to him to greet him, but he points at the chair. “Sit down.” I grab the chair next to Octavius and do as he says because he’d totally do it.
And being put on time-out at thirty-one is fucking embarrassing.
“Cómo estás, Padrino?”
He grins and takes a chair out for Aunt Esme, then sits at the head of the table with her on his right. “Good. Actually, really great.” They share a long look with Santiago, and I’m happy for them. Their relationship is far from perfect right now, but they are heading into a healing path after what happened three months ago.
When Santiago finally allowed himself to look into the past and see a different perspective.
In fact, this energy of contentment and happiness hovers over the room, suffocating me a little and intensifying the need within me.
Speaking of need, obsession, and love. “Where is Jimena?”
“She’s running a little bit late.” Aunt Esme frowns and opens her mouth to add something, when the sound of heels clicking against the marble echoes through the space, and in a second, everything fades away from me but the sight of my woman.
She’s wearing a long white dress that hugs her body in all the right places and accentuates her tan skin while the ruffles around the waist hide her little baby bump, causing a rush of possessiveness to flow through my entire system.
I want to rip off the material and show everyone she’s pregnant with my baby. Compared to stupid hickeys, my mark on her is permanent.
Her dark locks fall down her spine while her eyes are filled with worry and panic that contrast with her overall glowing demeanor. “Hi, everyone.”
“Hi, honey. Come sit down. They are going to serve the food now.”
“I have to make a little announcement, Mom.” She catches my eyes, and the air hitches in her throat. She stills but then shakes her head. “It’s very important.”
Everyone tenses, and by how my friends and their wives, excluding Santiago but including Briseis, glance at me, I know they are all expecting her to announce her pregnancy.
It’s okay, because I was going to tell them myself.
My brave girl decided to do everything on her own.
“What is it, honey?” Dad asks her, leaning on the table and watching her. “Tell us.”
That’s when we hear heavy footsteps, and Mom gasps when Maxwell joins us, smiling broadly, and Grandpa asks while alarm bells start to go off in my head, “What the hell are you doing here?”
And my blood boils while rage consumes me when he puts his arm around Jimena’s waist and winks at her. “We’re going to get married soon.” He grabs her hand and kisses it while she swallows hard. “Consider it love at first sight.” And then he places his splayed palm above her baby bump—my baby bump. She tries to remove it when he drops the bomb. “We’re expecting a baby, so we’re a bit in a hurry.”
“Oh fuck,” Octavius and Remi curse at the same time, something they never do in our families’ presence, as the ringing in my ears starts.
My cousin just put a claim, not only on my woman but my baby as well.
This fucker, the son of the man who had an affair with my mother, just came in and dared to touch what’s mine.
“You have one second to remove your hand, Maxwell, before I rip it off.” My deadly voice fills the silence around us, and the tension becomes so thick, you can cut it with a knife. “One.” And since he doesn’t comply, I get up so swiftly, my chair falls with a loud thud, and I lunge at my cousin, punching him straight in the face as women gasp all around us.
He stumbles until his back hits the wall, blood dripping from his nose, but he still keeps his grin intact. “What is it, cousin? Are you angry with me for taking responsibility where you failed?”
I wrap my hand around his throat and squeeze it so hard, I cut off his oxygen supply. “How dare you touch her? Or my baby?” I punch him again and throw him on the floor, hating that he doesn’t do anything to defend himself. “What did you do? How did you force her into this?” My woman would have never agreed to this bullshit otherwise, and the idea of him threatening her in any way only intensifies my rage while the beast inside me wishes for one thing.
His endless blood until he has none left and dies, and even then, my resentment for him daring to touch what’s mine and claim them publicly won’t fade away.
“Stop it, Florian! It was my decision!” Jimena shouts, and I spin around to face her. “I want to marry him.” She sounds as convincing as a drug addict promising to stop using after one last time. “I do.”
“That’s not going to happen, Jimena.” Without thinking about our surroundings, I cup her cheek, tracing my thumb over her skin while covering her baby bump with my hand, loving the feel of my baby inside her. “Tell me, and I’ll fix it.” She trembles in my arms, and I press my thumb on her chin. “What is it, baby girl?”
She opens her mouth to answer when my best friend speaks up, and his voice is akin to thunder shaking the sky. “She’s pregnant with your child?” Jimena freezes, and I put her behind me as Santiago gets up slowly while everyone else, my godparents included, just stare at us. “My baby sister is pregnant with your baby?” He walks around the table, each step an announcement in itself, and I see our best friends standing up as well.
Although his question is rhetorical at this point, I know my answer will forever change our friendship, or maybe destroy it.
Because he’s not asking me if I touched her. He already heard the confirmation on that.
He just asked me if I betrayed him by daring to touch his baby sister.
“Yes.”
His fists clench and unclench while his face darkens, and his voice drops to a deadly tone. “You son of a bitch!” One of his fists lands on my cheek as I stumble back. “Fucking bastard.” Another fist and I start to count as he pushes us farther back toward the hallway.
I’ll give him ten punches. He deserves ten punches for me lying to him for years, going behind his back, making our friends lie to him as well, and for him finding out this way.
But ten punches is all he gets.
“How old was she when you first touched her, you bastard?” Another harsh blow and with three more punches, he sends us farther and farther into the hallway until I’m flying through the door, my back landing on the doorsteps. He fists my shirt, pulling his elbow back. “How old, Florian?” A blow comes straight to my nose, my mouth filling with blood, but I barely have time to focus on it as he kicks me hard, and I roll down several steps until I end up on my stomach, spitting the blood and getting up swiftly. “You seduced a girl who grew up in front of your eyes, you perverted fucker!” He stalks to me and punches me in the gut. “I trusted you with her, and this is how you repay me?”
Hit, hit, hit.
And he reaches his ten-punch quota.
We end up on the grass, facing each other as blood drips from my nose, and I wipe it away while we both breathe heavily and stare at each other, so much hatred shining in his blue eyes that it’s palpable. “How old was she?” he yells, his entire body vibrating, and his fists clench so hard, it’s a wonder he doesn’t crack his own fingers.
“Eighteen,” I reply because she might have been the first one to kiss me, and I didn’t initiate the contact…but that’s when she became mine.
He roars and jumps on me, but this time around, I block his fist and catch his arm, surprise flashing on his face.
Oh, yes.
I know all his dirty tricks since we had the same teacher when we were learning to fight, not that he knows it.
“I wanted her all these years. And now she’s pregnant with my child. You have to accept it,” I tell him, but he frees himself and tries to knock me down as I step back and punch him hard, and it’s his turn to stumble back. “There is no other choice.”
“I’ll never accept it. Fucking never! You’re sick. Just like all these men we kill.”
We circle one another, keeping our gazes trained on each other, and I spit more blood. “Don’t compare me to them. I never forced her.” I’ll be fucking damned if anyone, least of Santiago, twists our love into something hideous and dirty. “She came to me willingly, and I have never touched her in any way or thought about her differently before she turned eighteen.”
His bitter laughter fills the night air as the whooshing wind billows our jackets backward. “Listen to yourself. You even found justification for your actions. You knew her as a child. You’re a sick bastard that I’ve allowed near my sister, and I’m going to end you.” He scans me from head to toe. “I should have known. It’s always the closest person to the family that does it, isn’t it?”
I’m on him before he can even finish the sentence properly as we engage once again in a fight, each blow becoming harder and more painful as neither of us holds back. He uses dirty tricks and slams his fist under my ribs, cutting off my oxygen for a second, but I kick him in his kneecap, earning myself a loud curse, and we stumble back.
We’re both bruised, with blood smearing our knuckles and faces while an angry energy surrounds us, and for the first time ever, we stand on the opposite side of each other, ready to fight till the end if it’s necessary. “You can think whatever you want, but don’t you fucking dare compare me to any pieces of shit we kill. Do you hear me? My love for her is not sick. I’ve never seduced her, and for you to think otherwise…well, it shows a chink in your character, not mine.”
“You’re right. But my instincts can’t be trusted anymore because my best friend got my sister pregnant. The same little sister who grew up with him all her life. The same little sister who worshipped the ground he walked on. The same little sister who spent so much time at his house, she was part of the family.” He wipes away the blood with the back of his hand, and I expect more insults to erupt from him, but what he says next is worse.
Way, way worse as this invisible arrow is aimed straight at my dark soul.
“We were born weeks apart. We’ve been best friends before Octavius and Remi, before the Four Dark Horsemen and everything else. Your dad is my godfather, and my dad is yours. Our families are so tight, people are jealous of it.” His voice breaks the heavy silence around us, and such betrayal coats his gaze. It hurts me way more than any physical pain. Underneath all these words, I hear his anguish.
Because he could always count on me and us, but I betrayed him.
“Was this how I deserved to find out about it, Florian?” I swallow as he raises his voice, shouting, “Was this how I deserved to find out?”
As he asks me this question, I know the anger is gone, and only betrayal remains.
“Santiago—”
“If you were an honorable man, you’d have come to me. You’d tell me about your feelings and act like a man. You would not sneak around behind my back like my sister is some kind of dirty secret.” We hear footsteps, swinging to find our friends joining us. “I understand now the glances between you all. You shared a secret, and I was not part of it.” More bitter laughter. “We made a vow to never lie to each other, and you were always so anal about honesty, Octavius.” My friend tenses but meets Santiago’s accusing stare. “I guess that fucking honesty went out the window the minute it involved your precious Florian. And you know what? I get it. You’re loyal to him, but you’re a brother too. And when you wanted to protect your sister, I was there. So sincerely. Fuck you, Octavius.”
He shifts his focus on Remi who has guilt written all over his features. “You’re my best friend. You were always supposed to be on my side, and you chose theirs. How could you?”
“No. I chose her side. She wasn’t ready for everyone to know. Jimena comes above anyone else. That’s what you always said.” Remi clears his throat. “Believe it or not, their secret relationship protected her. Death is…” Santiago’s splayed palm stops whatever he wants to say next.
He spins around to face me again, and I sigh inwardly at the unreadable expression staring back at me because it means only one thing.
He’s cutting us off emotionally, something he’s never done.
“If you came to me with this, I would have still punched you. I would have still called you names, but I would have respected you. I would have tried to see it from your perspective. I would have listened.” He twists his ring on his finger. “Instead, all of you chose to betray me. Lie to me while you plotted something behind my back. Only in unity we survive.” He takes off his ring and lifts it up. “You didn’t treat me as part of the unity. Fuck this brotherhood.” He throws his ring away. “There is no more Four Dark Horsemen.”
We stare at one another in heavy silence, the weight of his words almost unbearable because we’ve been friends for twenty-five years.
Thirty-one if you count only Santiago and I.
And with one action, Santiago wants to cross that friendship just like that because I fell in love?
“From now on, we aren’t friends, Florian. We’re enemies. She was not good enough for you to claim her?” A humorless chuckle escapes him. “That’s fine. She’s not yours, and that baby will be ours. You stay away from my sister and my family.”
“You can decide whatever you want about our friendship. You don’t even have to understand my perspective, or how this lie was never about you or me but about protecting Jimena from all this and Death.” A muscle in his cheek twitches. “But she’s mine, Santiago. You can’t keep me away from my family. You have no such right. My woman and the baby she’s carrying belong to me. And if war is what you want, a war is going to be what you get.”
“Don’t test me, Florian.”
“Sans killing me, there is nothing you can do to stop me.”
He takes out a gun from the back of his pants, removes the safety, and points it at me. “I guess the solution is simple, then?”
We have never pointed a gun at one another. Not jokingly or during training, not to play a game or fool our enemies.
Never.
“Put the gun down, Santiago. You don’t want to do something you’ll regret.”
“There is only one thing I regret, and that’s trusting you.”
I step forward and lift my chin. “Then shoot.” I refuse to take out my own gun. He’s hurting, and let him fucking hurt since it’s my fault, but I won’t point a gun at him.
Octavius has no such qualms, though, as he stands next to me and aims his gun at Santiago, and instantly, Remi takes out his gun and points it at Octavius, leaving me no choice but to do the same and put his life on the line.
After all, we will always protect our best friends.
“What is it going to be, Santiago?” If anyone fires a bullet…three others will follow. “Either we all die now, or we all live. It’s your choice.”
He can bullshit us all he wants about not giving a fuck. However, we all know it’s a lie.
He cares too much, and that’s why what we’ve done hurts him so much that he’s lashing out.
One second passes.
Two.
Three.
A shot echoes through the space, birds flying up in the air, our hold on our guns so tight it takes us all a second to realize none of us fired.
That’s when we all look at the entrance and see Uncle Lucian holding a gun up high, firing some more bullets. Judging by the energy emitting from him, he’s furious, and everyone else gets out as well. All the women seem terrified while my father watches us all grimly.
In all the chaos, I forgot about my godfather, and I shouldn’t have.
Uncle Lucian throws his gun away and orders, “All of you, come here. Now.” We step back, quickly hiding our guns because we know better than to show such disrespect in front of our parents. “Now!” he roars, and we march toward them, although our hostility can probably be seen from miles away. We stop several steps away, and I hold his anger- and disappointment-filled stare. That requires all my strength because I’m ashamed of letting him down, but I’m not ashamed of my feelings for his daughter.
Never in my life have I wanted to hurt my godfather but the heart wants what it wants, or so they say. My maddening possessive obsession with Jimena has nothing to do with my heart and everything to do with my wicked nature needing to smear her in my darkness so she won’t have a way out.
She might be an angel, but she’s my angel, which means she is subjected to permanent hell, just like me. Although she shouldn’t be afraid because I won’t allow all the monstrous creatures to hurt her.
“I’m going to ask you three questions, Florian.” I tense, and I feel Octavius sliding closer to me. Regret washes over me because whatever mess awaits me will affect him as well. “Is it true? Jimena is pregnant with your baby?” His tone stays cold and even, but it doesn’t fool me.
He’s barely holding back from snapping my neck and the control he is known for is probably the only thing keeping him sane at the moment.
Despite what Jimena might believe, her family loves and adores her. She’s their princess, and they never picked Santiago over her. She was just too young to see that their traumas needed time to heal.
“Yes.”
“Have you two been in a secret relationship all this time?”
That’s such a complicated question, isn’t it?
Because it feels as if she became mine the minute she kissed me, since I’ve never thought or touched another afterward. In fact, all women ceased to exist for me and an unknown possessive nature awakened.
I know her body better than my own. She’s mine in every sense of the word, and my baby is growing inside her.
However, we’ve never been in a relationship, not in the way my grandfather hopes.
“No.”
I see his hand clench into a fist. “How old was Jimena when you first touched her?”
“Dad. Listen to me,” Jimena shouts in the background, trying to push through her family and come to us, but Briseis pulls her back, keeping her beside them.
Ah, my beautiful, terrified girl. She’s ready to save me and confess she kissed me first, but it doesn’t matter.
I was the experienced and older one so whatever happened between us will always be on me, especially in her family’s eyes.
Ignoring her, he stares me down and says, “I asked you a question, Florian. How old was my daughter when you first touched her?”
And just like with Santiago, I know my answer will forever put an end to our bond because he won’t be able to forgive me.
“Eighteen.”
He raises his fist, and I close my eyes as I don’t want to see how my godfather, who’s been my hero in a way, punches me in the face as well for disrespecting him and daring to touch his little princess.
He’s been there for me during the darkest times of my life, and I’ve never imagined to be on the receiving end of his right hook.
However, I’m pushed aside so swiftly I barely keep my balance, and my eyes snap open, only to widen in fucking shock because my father catches Uncle Lucian’s fist in his, and his voice drops several octaves when he asks, “To whose son did you just try to raise your hand, Lucian?”
For the first time in my life, they stand on the opposite side of each other, stubbornness crossing their faces, and their tempers are aimed against each other.
That’s when it registers that Grandpa, Mom, and Isla have made their way down the stairs to stand behind us along with Octavius. While Santiago and Remi go to stand behind Uncle Lucian.
The divide has never been clearer.
Everyone chose their sides as two men who’ve been friends for more than fifty years decided to protect their children.
I would have never asked this of Dad, but it was inevitable.
He does not react well to anyone hurting his cubs, as he calls us, least of all his friends, even if we are the ones to screw up.
However, I should take responsibility for this mess before it’s too late. “Dad,” I say just as Jimena exclaims, “Pápá.”
“Silence,” both of them bark in unison, and Uncle Lucian finally answers my dad. “The son of a man who failed to teach him about honor, loyalty, and respect. Although why would I expect anything different? After all, you’re a dynasty of whores.”
Mom gasps, and Isla’s jaw drops, while anger rushes through my veins at the insult because my family doesn’t deserve to be dragged for my mistakes.
Dad watches Uncle Lucian for several beats and then takes out his phone, dialing a number as silence falls all over us, the seconds ticking while everyone expects something explosive to come from him.
Grandpa puffs his chest out and steps forward. “You listen here, Lucian…”
“Dad, get into the car with Calliope and wait for me there, please.” We hear our driver pulling up by the entrance. “Now.”
Grandpa huffs, glaring at Uncle Lucian, and spins around, going to the car while Mom rubs my dad’s back and pats my shoulder. “I don’t appreciate how you talk about my family, Lucian.” With this, she joins Grandpa, and they disappear inside the vehicle.
“What are you waiting for? Take your son and get the fuck off my property.”
“Oh my God, Lucian, stop this.”
However, Aunt Esme’s words have no effect on my godfather and she seems devastated.
Why is everything falling apart around me?
Is my love that forbidden and wrong that it causes so much destruction? All of them kidnapped their wives, Uncle Lucian included, and forced them into marriages, yet they judge me when I’ve never forced Jimena into anything.
“Padrino, whatever I did…”
“Don’t call me that. Don’t ever call me that again.” I still, something inside me breaking from hearing this. “I do not have a godson who gets my daughter pregnant and takes no responsibility for his actions. I do not have a godson who lies to me and his friend. I do not have a godson who acts like a coward and not a man.” Somehow, this is worse than any punch in the face could have been. A man who knows about my deepest pain cutting me off just like that kills something in me, and I hate how vulnerable it makes me feel. “I don’t want to ever see you again.” An ache forms in my chest, and I wince. However, I do my best to stand straight and accept all his fury despite resentment building up in my chest at all of this. “Effective immediately, the Price family is no longer welcome here or in any Cortez property.” He addresses my dad, who still stays silent. “Any businesses we have together will be divided. I want nothing to do with your family. I have no place in my life for people who don’t know what honor is.”
A hollow chuckle slips past Dad’s lips. “You do that, Lucian, and then some. However, your daughter is carrying my grandchild. You can’t keep my son away from his kid.”
“I can and I will. The baby belongs to us.”
“The baby is a Price. You want to take us to court? You do that too. But while you declare war on us, remember one simple thing. I’m not one of your little victims. My wealth and power are equal to yours, so you won’t win this.”
I know I should say something but all I can do is remain quiet as the tension between our fathers escalates.
“You think I will allow your son near my daughter after what he did?”
“What did he do, Lucian? Had a consensual sexual relationship with her that resulted in a pregnancy? Last time I checked, she was an adult who can make her own decisions.” He laughs. “Oh, and wasn’t your wife twenty years old when you kidnapped her and then got her pregnant? The age gap between you and her is bigger than between Florian and Jimena. So don’t you dare call my son any names. If he has no honor, you don’t either.”
“My wife didn’t grow up in front of me. I’m not surprised you don’t see anything wrong with it. A dynasty of whores produces questionable men. I should have seen that earlier.”
Again the fucking insult, but this time it sets my fury free. “Enough, Uncle Lucian. You have a problem with me, not my entire bloodline.”
“Your bloodline shaped you into the man you are now. So I have a problem with all of you. Get off my property, Florian.”
“If he’s gone, so am I,” Octavius speaks up, rolling his shoulders back. “If it’s a war, I’m on his side, Uncle Lucian.”
“That’s your choice, and you will face the consequences accordingly.”
Maybe we should just listen to him and stop talking because he’s acting irrationally even for someone with the Cortezes’ infamous temper. I barely recognize my godfather, and I notice Jimena’s eyes fill with tears. All this is not good for her or the baby. “Let’s go.” Later, I will find out why she agreed to marry Maxwell and teach my cousin a lesson while simultaneously claiming my woman again so she has no doubt she won’t be wearing anyone’s ring but mine.
My words fall on deaf ears, though. “Dynasty of whores,” Dad repeats, and judging by his tone, he’s had enough of the insults as well. Compared to my godfather, Dad’s rage was always simmering, and he never allowed his emotions to rule his actions.
“You have a powerful empire and a family because of us. When you traveled all over the world searching for your son and didn’t give a shit about your business, I was the one to pick up the pieces. My wife took care of yours, and my kid was there for yours. We were with you every step of the way and supported you to the best of our abilities. We are the dynasty of whores who don’t know what honor, loyalty, and respect are?” Dad shakes his head. “No, Lucian. It’s your family who doesn’t know what those things are. Look at my own godson standing there and saying absolutely nothing as you insult me.”
Santiago grits his teeth and turns his head away in shame. At least his anger doesn’t automatically translate to my family, but the Cortezes’ loyalty to each other comes above anything else.
“You want war, well, you have it.” He glances at Aunt Esme. “My apologies Esmeralda.” His focus shifts to Jimena and his gaze softens. “I’ll talk to you later. Don’t stress over this, and make sure to take care of yourself, princess.” His face hardens again as he meets Uncle Lucian’s eyes. “I’ll never forgive you for this, Lucian.”
“Likewise, Jacob.”
“Let’s go,” Dad orders, spinning around and going to the car while I sweep my gaze over everyone else and zero in on Jimena, who swallows hard, wiping away her tears. “Florian and Octavius, now.”
I can’t believe they treat us like fucking kids at this age, but we have no choice but to comply since we got them in this mess in the first place. “I’m sorry, Uncle Lucian. I never wanted you to find out about it this way. I’m not sorry, though, for loving your daughter. You might consider it wrong and sick, but it’s not to me. And they, her and the baby, belong to me and no one else. Remember that.”
“Get the fuck out, Florian, before I shoot you.”
Grabbing Octavius, who wraps his arm around Isla, we walk to the entrance toward our cars as my parents and Grandpa drive away.
The inevitable happened.
Tonight, I lost half of my family.
They say love doesn’t come without sacrifices.
I guess that’s mine.
Still.
It fucking hurts.
Because you never expect the people who love you to turn their backs on you.