14. Daniela
Blanco rises from the couch and moves to the fireplace, where he waits for me to reach him.
“Finally. I thought you’d forgotten how to get to our country house. Do you want to explain what the hell is going on, Daniela?”
I stop next to a tan colored armchair, not getting too close. This conversation won’t end well.
“The Souza cartel are turning on each other from the inside. I didn’t get the chance to tell you about my latest mission.” Mindlessly, my lips curl upward. “He was the guy behind the flashlight, Blanco. The final fucker on my hit list. His name was Eduardo and Matheus handed him over as payback for me saving his life.”
Blanco cocks his head. “And Tomás knew about it?”
“It was a pre-approved mission. But…” I sigh heavily, knowing I fucked up by taking my mask off.
Concealing your identity is basic protocol for any professional contract killer who hits a target up close.
“…Eduardo’s nephew figured out my identity. His gang was responsible for kidnapping me. They took me to a Souza distribution warehouse on the outskirts of the city and waited for Matheus to come for me. They’re all dead now, by the way. He showed up and blew the warehouse to shit.”
“Matheus seems to have a soft spot for you.” Blanco chuckles, seemingly pleased with that one observation. “I assume he left for Sicily already?”
“I”m not sure where he went. A fleet of Souza vehicles showed up in the early hours of the morning and extracted him. I’ve no idea where they took him, but after Eduardo’s execution, they’re clearly expecting trouble.”
Blanco’s brows tug together. “Expecting…so you haven”t heard the news?”
I frown. “Heard what?”
“There was an assassination attempt. A sicario shot André Souza in his Sicilian mansion.”
My scalp prickles and a kick of nausea flips my stomach.
“Attempt…so he”s alive?”
“Last I heard, he had one foot in his father’s crypt.” Blanco wanders over to the liquor cabinet. “Who knows which Souza will be targeted next. Drink?”
“No…” I reply, lost in thought. “What about his wife…Sinéad…and the young girl…India?”
He shrugs. “If Sinéad was dead, we would have heard about it. The young girl isn’t important enough to care about. The only reported hit was André.”
Relief trickles through me, warm and unfamiliar. I focus on the intricate ceiling rose above my head and inwardly curse myself for being concerned.
I can’t help it. Sinéad knew I worked for Blanco, and still, she had welcomed me into her home and gave me her clothes to wear.
As for her husband, the wildest Souza, he didn”t barge into Matheus’ room and order me to leave. No one frog marched me outside or shoved me in front of an execution squad.
The Souza power couple gave me a safe place to recover and stood back while Matheus took care of my injuries.
They offered trust.
And I was grateful.
“I’ll stay close to you and Sofia until this blows over. You’re in the firing line too,” I tell him. “To?o had a video of me killing his uncle. I’m sure he sent it to everyone he knows.”
Ice tinkles when he plops a cube into a crystal cut tumble.
“Things have changed, Daniela. You’re engaged to Matheus. I’ve appointed a new head of security and employed a female bodyguard for Sofia too.”
“Wait…We had an understanding, Blanco. My job is to protect Sofia. Me…not a stranger you can’t trust.”
Blanco holds my gaze, his expression blank.
“You fitted in so well, Daniela. I loved watching you transform into my little Rottweiler, challenging men twice your size––and coming out on top. You’re a natural born killer. Then you totally took me by surprise and won the heart of your enemy. You’ve outdone yourself this time.”
He smiles and I don’t miss the pride he exudes.
“Which is why you deserve to step into your birthright. Your veins run dark with my blood. You”re my daughter, Daniela, even though you never had my family name. Therefore, I’ve taken the liberty of officially making you a Blanco––acknowledging you as my heir.”
He raises his glass in my direction.
“Here’s to you, Daniela Blanco. My daughter will marry into the Souza cartel and become one of the most powerful women in Colombia. Blancos will rule the world. I’m proud of you, mi hija.”
My chest tightens. “My mama raised me. I was never a Blanco.”
“Your mama kept you hidden from me, Daniela. Since I found out about you, haven’t I been fair?”
I nod. “Yes, and you know I’m grateful. I’ve been loyal to you since and carried out every order you’ve ever asked, but Matheus was never part of the plan. I didn’t join The Covenant to find a husband. This isn’t a game, Blanco. It’s my life.”
Blanco smirks. “It seems clear to me that you played the game, placed a bet, and cashed in.”
I bite my tongue, knowing my place and somehow keep my voice calm and quiet.
“There won’t be a wedding.”
His spine straightens and his mood takes a turn toward the shadows.
“Matheus shook on it. If he thinks he can walk away from our agreement, I’ll have his head on a spike and used for target practice. It”s a matter of respect.”
“It’s not him…I’m the one who won’t go through with it?—”
My words cut off when his eyes narrow and I realize how naive I am to think he’d listen.
“Please…don’t force me into that family. I’m begging you.”
“Oh, mi hija, I’m not asking,” he chuckles darkly. “I’m ordering you to marry him. Elias Souza was responsible for all those women dying. He was the real evil. A bloodthirsty monster who rotted in his own paranoia.”
He swills the liquor in his glass and takes a mouthful, swallowing slowly to savor the burn.
“Wouldn”t this be the best revenge of all? A Blanco marrying the youngest son, who was never his in the first place. You two could wipe out his legacy.”
I step back, my heart thumping. “You can’t expect this of me.”
He takes a sip of liquor, quietly considering me over the rim of his glass.
“Something doesn”t add up, Daniela. You say you hate the Souzas, yet you spent all of your time training next to one, and then he willingly walks into my home next to you like you’re best friends. Why did he swap your name and disregard your sister, the heir to my empire? He left power on the table and picked you instead.”
Creases furrow his brow as he thinks.
“And you, mi hija…the way your expression changes when you talk about Matheus leads me to believe you could easily tolerate the man long enough to marry him. What”s the problem?”
“What’s the problem?” My gritty tone verges on disrespectful. “I’m not into arranged marriages, Blanco. I’m the one you call when you need something important taken care of. You count on me, because I’m loyal and efficient at what I do. I follow through on your every command. I’d put my life on the line for this family. But I can’t––I won’t do that.”
I keep my eyes on his whiskey glass, suddenly wishing I had a drink to drown my uneasiness.
“When you came to me for help,” he begins, his voice calm even though his cadence holds a sharp edge. “You were fully aware of my expectations, Daniela.”
He takes a sip of liquor.
“Perhaps I should remind you of the facts––that you wouldn”t exist if it wasn’t for me.”
“Blanco…”
“Listen to me. And listen very carefully, Daniela.”
He strolls between two armchairs on his way to the hearth and positions himself on top of a fancy rug. Although he’s casual in his strides, his entire presence gives off a cold vibe.
My muscles brace and my fingers twitch, ready to defend myself if needed.
It”s a dumb subconscious thing to do when we’re alone. After all, I’d never turn on this man.
“A long time ago, I made an oath to watch over my best friend”s sons. I kept that promise, and he stayed out of my way. But Matheus isn’t Elias’ son and I’m not his godfather.”
Blanco runs his tongue under his top lip.
“He signed a contract, which means you and him are getting married, whether you want to or not. There’s no way out of it alive.”
“What do you mean?” I frown. “You’d kill me?”
“No, no,” he protests with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t kill my own child. I’m not a monster.”
Blanco looks me dead in the eye.
“If Matheus disrespects me and doesn’t fulfill his end of our agreement, I’ll put a million-dollar bounty on his head. It won”t just be professional hitmen and gangs after him, it’ll be money grabbing low lives walking past him on the street…serving him dinner or opening his car door. He’ll become the most wanted criminal in the world.”