Fabián
I t killed me not to tell my brothers what I had planned. It wasn’t because I thought they would betray me–in fact, I knew they wouldn’t. I wouldn’t risk it. Anyone knowing could put us in danger, and we already had enough of that to last us a lifetime.
In just a few hours, Ofelia and I would be gone from here.
I had to admit, it put me in a strange feeling of disconnect. Like my entire life and history were trying to catch up with what I was going to do. I’d been a Raven Brother the moment I was born. It was as much a part of me as dance was a part of Ofelia, but I’d hit a dead end I never expected and now it felt like shedding skin. It no longer served me, so long as my father remained the head of our gang.
Quickly checking the time, I hurried to César with my hand out. He slapped it away. “Bro, let me borrow the keys.”
He grumbled but dug them out of his pockets, dangling them in front of me. Before I could make a swipe for them, he held them out of my reach. “Tell Ofelia I said hiiiii .”
My heart seemed to constrict in that moment as I realized then who I’d be leaving behind. César, Sebastián, Santiago... Brothers and cousins I loved.
And I couldn’t risk saying a word and giving myself away.
Even if I wanted to wrap my brother in my arms one last time.
“I’ll be sure to let her know.” My throat grew tight and I forced myself to swallow past it. It was hard trying not to fall prey to my emotions, but I had to keep my cool. Pretend as though I wasn’t planning on leaving them forever...
I took a breath and forced my body to move like I was eager to get to Ofelia. I was, but every step felt heavy as I made my way to the car.
“Where are you going?”
Ice slid down my spine at the voice. I stopped, turning to meet my father’s stern expression. There was something about it that didn’t sit right in my gut. The obvious malice in his eyes, more prominent than it usually was.
My father always had secrets hidden behind his eyes. They were locked away like a vault, held back tightly, and he very rarely let them slip through. Everything he portrayed was what he wanted others to see, so I knew he wanted me to see this.
“Out.”
“Hmm.” His fingers slid across his slicked back hair. He dressed as fashionably as the politician’s he hated did, trying to appear to be something he wasn’t.
Viejo odioso.
“Drive safely,” he finally said and turned away, dismissing me.
“Sure.” My brows pinched together in confusion at the words, but I didn’t have time to contemplate them. It was getting late, and Ofelia’s play would be starting soon.
I hopped into César’s car and stepped on the gas. We’d decided to hide the bags we’d take with us in her dressing room before the show. That way when the ballet ended, we’d rush in there, grab what we needed, and then leave for good.
My foot weighed heavily on the gas as I sped through the streets when my cell began to ring.
I saw my cousin’s name flash on the screen and frowned at it before the anger spiked. What the fuck was Juliián doing calling me?
“What the fuck do you want?” I demanded. I hadn’t seen him since the day my father threatened to send him after Ofelia. I hadn’t wanted to get close, because I feared what I’d do to him to defend her. I couldn’t risk anything more dangerous than what we already had planned.
“Get out of the car. Now, .” His usual deep voice pitched high with a frantic energy that made me frown down at my phone.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Julián?”
“Get out of the car!” he screamed. “It’s going to fucking blow!”
My palms went cold around the steering wheel. My heart began an erratic beat against my rib cage like it was threatening to jump from my chest.
“Blow.” I whispered the word as my mind raced, desperately trying to catch up to what my cousin was saying.
“, you have to get out now. There’s a bomb. Do you understand me? I heard them conspiring. There’s a bomb in the–”
The explosion came seconds after.
And there was nothing I could do to stop it.