29. Matheus
I walk past my mother’s bodyguard and stroll into the room where André is lying in bed, his heart monitor steadily beeping, and his eyes closed.
Mama is at his bedside, sitting in an armchair, and immediately stands when I enter.
She smooths out her designer emerald pants and smiles––that same loving smile she used to offer when I’d return home from Elias’ remote compound, traumatized.
The woman knew how he treated me.
But she tried her best to make up for his failures.
She takes a silent second to run her eyes all over my dark denim jeans, snug navy shirt, and messy bangs.
I could have worn combat gear to the hospital, however appropriately is me playing the role of a powerful Souza visiting his brother. A well-dressed man who wasn’t here earlier sporting a balaclava while I’d murdered a few assholes.
Immaculately presented as ever, Mama holds out her arms and waits for me to reach her.
Her long black hair is slicked back and tied in a low ponytail, and tiny gold hoops hang from her earlobes.
She cups my face in bejeweled fingers and studies me closely.
“Are you okay, my beautiful boy?”
A frown follows her fingertips as she brushes a fresh mark on my cheek and then, very slowly, her green gaze slides to Dani over my shoulder.
“I’m fine, Mama. I promise.”
I take her hands in mine and kiss her forehead.
“What about you? Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m always well protected. You know that.” The corners of her mouth curl into a knowing smile. “Who have you brought with you?”
I glance over my shoulder and smile, full of pride.
“This is my girlfriend, Mama.”
Dani stands by the door, her muscles tight—every part of her body tense.
“Your girlfriend,” Mama repeats, her gaze settling behind me. “And where are you from?”
I let go of my mother, turn away, and prowl back to Dani. Sticking my arm out for her to latch onto, I hold her gaze.
My woman is brave and strong—ruthless even, but right now, I can tell she’s totally out of her comfort zone.
One by one, she’s met each Souza in turn. And being introduced to the other important woman in my life must be daunting.
“I’m from the North coast.” Dani takes my arm. “Colombia.”
Mama’s brows pinch together, her shrewd gaze lingering on Dani’s arm tattoos.
She folds her arms and cocks a brow.
“How did you meet each other?”
I clear my throat and roll back my shoulders.
“Mama, this is Carlos Blanco’s eldest daughter. We met through business a while ago.”
“His eldest daughter?” Mama palms her chest as her frown deepens. “I thought Sofia was…”
“I wasn’t raised by him,” Dani clarifies. “My father knew nothing about me until I was in my early twenties. I went to him after my mother died. Blanco welcomed me into his home. Only recently, he surprised me by changing my surname to Blanco.”
Mama looks at me. “Is this a serious relationship?”
“Yes…very,” Dani replies for me. “I may be Daniela Blanco, Mrs. Souza, but my father didn’t start this rivalry between our families. He told me you know who did, though…right? And from what I’ve heard recently, I think there’s something you need to discuss with Matheus.”
Mama swallows and looks between us.
“Oh, do you indeed?” She bristles. “What exactly did Carlos tell you? I’m guessing it’s all speculation and weightless rumors?”
I clear my throat and raise an unimpressed eyebrow at my mother’s dismissive tone.
“All I know is Elias ruined their friendship and that you know the truth behind it all,” Dani confirms.
Mama sits and crosses her legs, setting a caring hand on André’s. She turns away from us as she speaks.
“Let’s focus on my boy getting better. His recovery is where my mind is, not indulging in idle gossip. We can talk privately, Matheus. A hospital is not where we discuss family matters. I taught you better than this.”
My hackles rise. We’re in a secured ward where there are three of our loyal soldiers to one civilian.
Our security team had already swept the room for bugs and gave the all clear. There aren’t any excuses for delaying this conversation.
“I’ve waited long enough, Mama. It’s time to tell me who my real father was.”
Her head rotates and her eyes pop wide.
“Matheus…” she whispers.
“Elias wasn’t my father. I’m sure he wasn’t. It explains why he couldn’t even look at me. Who did he see in me, Mama? Why did he hate me so much?”
Her eyes dart from me to Dani and then settle on André.
“Oh, Matheus. I don”t think it was hate,” she assures me. “Regret…maybe. But from where I stood, the man was more threatened by you than anything else. You’re everything he never was. Exceptionally astute. Charming. Intuitive…very persuasive. A little bit crazy when you have to be,” Mama laughs softly. “You’re just like him…” Her voice trails off.
I drag my hand through my hair, wishing I could light up a cigarette and knock back a shot to settle the tornado inside me.
Instead, I unhook Dani’s arm and slide my hand around her waist, pulling her closer. I exhale into the crown of her head and kiss it. The scent of her hand washed hair hitting my nostrils as a charge of ownership ripples through me.
My mother watches how Dani fits perfectly next to me in her tight black jeans, ribbed tank top, and biker boots.
“Who was he?” I ask again.
“I was waiting for the right time, son.”
“It’s the right time. Here. And now. Did he refuse to give me a ring, because I’m not a Souza?”
“You are a Souza. And equally, you’re my blood too. Never forget that,” she says firmly.
“Tommy was right. It was Angelo, wasn”t it?”
“You’ve spoken to Tomás?” She rolls her eyes, defeated. “Of course you did. If there’s one thing Elias did right, it was bringing the four of you together. The bond you boys have is so special. It’s what makes this family stronger without him.”
“Mama…just tell me what happened.”
She twists a chunky diamond cluster ring on her finger and narrows her eyes, glaring at Dani.
“This is a private family matter, my dear. Could you wait?—”
“Dani stays,” I interrupt. “No one tells her to leave my side. Not even you, Mama.”
It takes a moment for her to process my words.
“How can you be certain she won’t betray you?”
“Mama,” I bite out. “She’s not the enemy. I trust her with my life, and you should too.”
After another moment of uncomfortable silence, she takes a deep breath, exhaling it down her nose slowly.
Stroking André’s inked hand, she begins.
“It was my duty as a mafia princess to marry Elias. The wedding was arranged by my father and Elias’ older brother, Angelo. Do you understand what that meant for me, Matheus? Moving to a different country and marrying a stranger—Elias Souza, of all people?”
Her green eyes find mine.
I nod as Dani shifts. My mother had hated her husband. She tolerated the man, probably even played the game better than he did. She certainly didn’t fold because of him.
Then it hits me. Teresa, my mama, was a Souza victim too.
“I wasn’t in love with him. It wasn’t even one of those relationships where we could grow to love each other, either. He was a prick and I had to stand my ground most days. Your grandfather wanted inside the Colombian cartel and forcing his daughter to marry a drug lord”s younger brother was how he did it.”
Mama stares off into space and my heart sinks. I was too young and naive to understand the dynamics of her marriage. To me, she was the backbone of my family. And still is.
“I gave that fucker three children,” she mutters. “My beautiful boys were the reason I didn’t go mad. I made a vow to myself that no matter what happened, I’d be there for each of you. I’d be the parent he was incapable of being. And then…”
This is the first time my mother has ever spoken out. Where Elias was concerned, she always kept her opinions to herself.
Probably because he was so paranoid and had spies everywhere. If he caught a whiff of deception, she’d be murdered in her sleep.
Mag Mel was her personal sanctuary, away from his bullshit. The one place my brothers and I called home.
“I had to marry Elias, because Angelo thought he was infertile. My father wanted my children to become powerful in their own right. Anyway, Angelo was already married to a party girl he’d met in Vegas.”
She shrugs a little.
“Once Tomás was born, Angelo realized what he was missing. Over time, those two developed a special relationship and it drove Elias crazy. Rather than win his son”s love, he pushed him harder and harder. And that made Tomás look up to Angelo even more.”
Being the youngest, I never knew Tomás as a little boy. To me, he’s always been the leader. The patient guy who would just as easily turn volatile.
Truth is Tomás was a kid once. He was vulnerable and suffered at the hands of a tyrant like the rest of us.
“Somehow their bond brought Angelo and me closer together too.” Her gaze drifts to mine. “He was your father, Matheus…and he never knew you were his.”
I scowl. “Why didn’t you tell him about me?”
She shakes her head and drops her gaze.
“It wasn’t hard for Elias to figure out you weren’t his, given he was getting it elsewhere. So, he put a gun to my pregnant belly and said he’d pull the trigger if I didn’t tell him who the real father was,” Mama explains, “so when he found out you were Angelo’s son, he made me promise to keep it quiet. I didn’t think anyone else knew.”
I exhale slowly. “Did Elias plant the bomb that killed him?”
She blinks quickly, like she’s holding back tears.
“I promise you, Matheus, I had no idea Elias would go that far. He was cruel, but I never expected him to murder his own brother.”
My stomach churns and my shoes stick to the floor.
“Tommy was in the blast,” I point out, feeling sick. “He nearly murdered his own son as well.”
She exhales and looks to the ceiling, remembering.
“You had a fever. I asked Angelo to pick Tomás up from school while I took you to the doctor. I had no idea what Elias had planned for that day and he didn’t expect your brother to attend a meeting with Angelo.”
I scratch my jaw and glance at Dani when she strolls to the bedside table on the other side of the bed. She plucks a few tissues from a box, returns to her spot beside me, and hands them to my mother.
Mama nods at her and accepts the offering.
“Blanco was on his way to the meeting that day too. But there was an accident on the road. It blocked off the streets near the bar. If he hadn’t been caught up in traffic, he would have died in the bomb. That’s when he lost all trust in Elias, even though they were friends since childhood.”
Mama dabs the corners of eyes. “I knew your father well, Daniela. He would never plot against Angelo. Your father was like family to us for years. But after the explosion, I couldn’t trust anyone. I guess he couldn’t trust me either,” Mama confesses. “Elias took control of the Souza cartel, and the rest is history.”
I stand there, turning everything over in my head. “So, Elias murdered my father…because of me?”
Air shoots down Mama’s nose. “No, son. All that man wanted was power and control. He already had my family’s support and sons to help build a global empire. But the thought of Angelo always being on top and then raising a son––a new threat to his big plans. Well…” she scoffs. “…that was all the ammunition he needed to finally wipe out his brother and become the boss.”
“And I’m guessing grandfather didn’t react, because Elias stepped into Angelo’s boots which gave you status.”
“Precisely,” Mama agrees. “Back then, Elias couldn’t kill me—or my baby. He needed the Irish mafia on his side while he was trying to make a name for himself. Eliminating his own brother and raising you as his own was his way to the top.”
“He didn’t raise me,” I declare through clenched teeth.
“No, he didn’t,” she agrees. “I did, Matheus. And I flew my boys home to Ireland after he murdered Angelo. I was heartbroken. For you—for Tomás—and for myself. I needed time.”
A lump forms in my throat, emotion thick in the air. I run a hand down my face, a sudden prickle of realization crawling over my scalp.
It was her.