Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Mariana
Age Eighteen
FABIAN
You need to come home.
NOW.
Istare at the text message for another moment before shaking my head. There’s no reason my older half-brother should be demanding I return home.
He’s not the boss of me—he never has been and never will be.
Technically, my last class of the semester is done. I have enough credits to begin my third year at the university as a senior. Next year will be the least number of classes I’ve taken at once—an easy year before I dive into law school the year after.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I started college two years ago, but after a few conversations with Papa, I decided I wanted to be the family lawyer. So that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Part of me was trying to get as many of my classes as I could get done before I designated. It’s been two weeks since my birthday and nothing. Maybe I’ll end up being a beta. It seems weird considering my parentage, but weirder things have happened.
I decide I don’t care what Fabian wants. I have an appointment to look at wedding dresses with Mama in twenty minutes, and I don’t want to leave her waiting. Not to mention, my wedding to Christian is in a little over a month, and I still haven’t found my dress.
Yes, I’m aware how close I’m cutting it, but I’m not settling when it comes to my dress.
My phone rings when I go to slip it into my pocket. Frowning when I see it’s Christian, I answer it.
“Christian? I thought you were in a meeting with Papa?”
Christian clears his throat. “You need to come home, baby.”
“But I’m meeting Mama in twenty minutes—”
“No, you’re not. There’s been a change of plans, and we need you at home immediately.”
Fear churns in my stomach. Something isn’t right.
“I’m walking to my car now. Is everything okay, Chris?”
Silence follows my question, and I fight back tears as nausea threatens to overwhelm me.
“Chris, tell me what’s going on.”
“I would if I could, baby. For now, just get home, and we’ll fill you in. Be safe. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He disconnects the call as I reach my car. I climb in and pull out of the parking lot before I even have my seat belt on. Whatever is going on is serious, and I don’t like not knowing what it is.
I make the normally twenty-minute drive in half that—luckily there aren’t any cops out right now. Not that they’d give me a ticket as soon as they realized who I am, but that would just slow me down.
I park haphazardly in the circular drive and rush up the steps to our family home, throwing the door open. “Chris? Papa? Mama?”
“Good, you made it.” Fabian steps into the entryway, gesturing for me to follow him. “I need to speak with you and your brothers. It’s better if I only have to do this once.”
I hesitate before trailing behind him to the family room where Matías and JC are sitting on the couch, whispering to each other. Their eyes are wide with fear when they lift to find me stepping into the room.
“Mari, you’re here.” Matías jumps to his feet, about to step toward me, but when Fabian clears his throat, he stops and returns to a seated position.
Fabian gestures for me to take a seat, but I cross my arms. “What’s going on, Fabian? Where’s Mama and Papa? Christian?”
“I’m right here, baby.” Christian hurries into the room, his eyes red and glassy as he pulls me into his arms. “Come on, let’s have a seat.”
I allow him to lead me to the love seat, ignoring Fabian’s eye roll.
“There’s no easy way to say this, but you’re all old enough not to pussyfoot around this. Your parents are dead. The meeting Papa was at was attacked, and he was killed. Your mom was on her way to an appointment when her car was run off the road.”
I blink at him, not sure I’ve heard him correctly. His face is completely blank, and his voice devoid of emotion as he tells us our parents are dead?
That can’t be right.
“No.” I shake my head. “You must be mistaken.”
Fabian scoffs. “Don’t be a child, Mariana.”
Don’t. Be. A. Child?
Anger rises in me, and I begin to push to my feet, but Christian stops me with a shake of his head.
“I’m sorry, baby, but they’re gone. I was there with your papa—I tried to save him, but I couldn’t. They came out of nowhere. And I was the one who identified your mama’s body. I’m so fucking sorry, Mari.”
I suck in a gasping breath as I shake my head, wanting to deny his words. I open my mouth, unsure of what I’m going to say, but a wail leaves my lips instead—loud and pain-filled.
Christian pulls me into his arms as sobs wrack my body, unable to stop the keening sound that grows louder as waves of grief pound at me when I realize my parents are dead.
“Of course, you have to respond dramatically,” Fabian growls. “Get your shit together, Mariana. There’s more to tell you.”
I pull back from Christian, nose flaring as I stare at him, but at least I’m able to stop keening as tears stream down my face. “Dramatic? I can show you fucking dramatic, cabrón. You just told us our parents are dead, and you expect what? Us to sit here unfeeling like you? Come mierda.“
Fabian’s face draws back into a sneer. “Listen here, puta. I don’t have time for your fucking bullshit.
I have a cartel to run after the sudden death of our father.
I don’t have time for female hysterics. Shut the fuck up and know your place.
Papa might have let you get away with this, but I’m the head of the family now, and I won’t allow you to disrespect me. ”
“Then you should kick me out now, because I’ll never have respect for someone who has hated me my entire life for being born a woman.” I gasp as my stomach cramps, pain coursing through me for a moment before the scent of cacao and orchids fills the room.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Fabian throws his hands in the air. “Of course you’re a fucking omega. You’ve always been a useless bitch.”
“That’s enough, Fabian.” Christian’s voice is low, his head bowed.
Fabian throws his head back as he laughs. “Oh, Christian. I don’t give a shit what you think is enough. Don’t forget you work for me, and I can easily decide you and Mariana aren’t a good match any longer—that I have better uses for her.”
Both Christian and I stiffen as I stare at my brother.
He wouldn’t, would he?
But I already know he would. If I don’t fall in line, he’ll take the love of my life from me. I can’t have that.
Gritting my teeth, I nod. “I’m sorry I designated at an inconvenient time, Fabian. What else do you need to tell us?”
His sneer turns into a smirk as he turns back to JC and Matías, who are watching him with tear-filled eyes.
“We’re going on lockdown. No one in or out of the house until we figure out who did this.
El Jefe wants me to paint the streets with blood until we have the bastard who did this.
Anything you need for your—” he breaks off and wrinkles his nose, “condition will need to be ordered online, or Christian can get it for you when he’s not busy searching for our father’s killer. ”
A fucking lockdown? Right after I designate as an omega?
Of-fucking-course.
“Thank you, brother,” I murmur between gritted teeth. “I will stay out of your way.”
He nods. “You better. Matías and JC, it’s time for you to get your hands dirty. We will avenge Papa’s death.”
As much as I want to argue that my sixteen and seventeen-year-old brothers are too young, I know my words will fall on deaf ears.
With Fabian in charge, I won’t be able to stay here for long. My wedding can’t come soon enough. At least then I won’t have to live under the same roof as Fabian.
“Of course, Fabian. Whatever you need,” Matías says as he and Juan Carlos nod. I can see them try to pack away the pain to be who Fabian needs them to be, and it breaks my heart.
Maybe even more than realizing I’ll never see my parents again.
I bury my head in Christian’s shoulder as my tears start up again in earnest, pain ratcheting through my body, but I make sure to be silent as I do so.
Unfortunately, Fabian still notices as he scoffs again. “Christian, take my sister to your room and get her settled down. You have an hour before I expect you on the streets with the rest of the men.”
“Yes, sir.” Christian’s voice is tense as he scoops me into his arms and starts for the stairs.
“Wait!” Matías and JC come running over, each brushing their lips against my cheek.
JC grips my cheeks. “We’ll find them, Mari, and we’ll make them pay. This won’t go unanswered.”
I nod. “I know you will.”
As his hands fall away, I bury my head in Christian’s chest as my emotions run rampant.
My parents are dead.
I’m an omega.
Christian isn’t my scent match.
My mind and body are on overdrive, and I feel like I’ve had six triple espressos followed by a handful of sleeping pills. I can’t seem to do anything but cry as my love carries me to our room.
How is this my life?