CHAPTER 46
“What’s all this?” I ask, taking the packet of sweets.
“Chilean products. My mum went to visit not too long ago, and she brought things I won’t eat.”
“Chilean as in…?”
“Chile, South America.”
“Right.” Heat gathers in my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I never went to school.”
“There are people who did and still don’t know where it is,” he says, smiling.
A bag of Cheetos drops to the floor. Javier grabs a broom and starts sweeping.
“Are you from there?”
“No, not me. My mum,” he explains. “My sister and I were born here, then we all went back to Chile. My mum decided to come back when we were twelve.”
“So, you speak Spanish?”
“Yes.” He smiles. “And, well, my mum keeps travelling. Every time, she brings sweets for my sister and me—and for the shelter. Kids tend to fight over these things.”
My eyebrows shoot up. I look at the plates filled with sweets and snacks. They all look delicious.
“I promise it’s all good,” he says. “I could bring even more. My sister can’t eat some of this—she’s vegan.”
I smile.
“Don’t worry about it. Although, I won’t be mad if you get more of these.” I hold up a chocolate-covered biscuit, then pop it into my mouth. “It’s no surprise they fight over them.”
He laughs.
We carry the plates to the living room. Finn is nibbling on an apple, and Greta tries one of the round gummies.
She grimaces. Javier and I stifle a laugh.
“They are so sour…” She shakes her head. “Enough for me.”
I sit down. Finn runs to me, mumbling, “Mama”. His face is all sticky with saliva. I wipe him clean with my sleeve before kissing his forehead.
Greta searches for something on the TV. Javier puts one of the plates on his lap and starts eating. The only thing I want is to get more information out of both of them, to distract my mind.
“How did you get into the organisation?” I ask him. “You’re young. I don’t think anyone just says, ‘I’m going to kill bad people,’ and signs up for something like this.”
Greta stares at him. “You told her?”
“I… She asked!”
She groans and keeps changing channels on the TV, then Javier looks back at me.
“Dante became my role model. When he came home to tell us he’d rescued Liz, I felt hope again. But nothing prepared me for what came after: sleepless nights, crying nights, suicide attempts, nightmares… I could feel her suffering, though I can’t imagine what she went through.
“Liz and I were practically alone at first. My mum never fully came to her senses, even though she was thrilled to have her daughter back. We lost too much during those months she disappeared.
“My mum was a disaster, and my sister felt guilty, so she called Dante and asked for help. She said she didn’t want to be at home because it reminded her of everything she’d lost, so her choice was to go to the shelter.
“I wanted to go with her. I begged her to let me. At first, she declined, but I couldn’t take it anymore, so Dante took me there.
We almost didn’t spend time together; I was with the boys; she was with the girls.
But over time, I even went to sleep in her room.
For some reason, no one got mad at me, even though it was against the rules to have a boy in that building. ”
“You’re divided by gender?”
He nods.
“There’s a block for women, another for men, another for babies and children. It’s all divided by age as well, and there’s even a building for people who work there, just in case they need to stay the night—like nurses, guards, teachers, that sort of thing.
“And, well, one day, I found her crying at the entrance. She shouted at me; I yelled at her. I was desperate to get her back, but she didn’t want to listen.
We caught the guards’ and keepers’ attention.
They told us they’d called Dante, and I panicked,” he huffs.
“I thought he would be furious and scold me harshly or something, but he held us—especially Liz.
“When we calmed down, she left. She wasn’t comfortable around him just because he was a man, but Dante asked me to stay.
He spent several minutes explaining how she felt and that maybe—just maybe—the best choice was for me to get away from the place, that she needed time.
He assured me the doors would always be open in case I wanted to see her again.
At first, I didn’t want to leave, but I understood I couldn’t be selfish, so I gave her the time she needed, even if it hurt me. ”
“Has she ever gotten back home?”
He shakes his head. “Now and then she visits my mum. She started to make friends there . She was at ease, safe. She knew nothing was going to happen. She also looks up to Dante, so she thinks he’s untouchable, and everyone fears him.
She decided to stay, and we had to accept it.
I went back and took care of my mum alone.
“I kept going to look for her every day, since I had not much to do, and one day something clicked. I decided I wanted to do that too. I wanted to give them the chance they gave my sister. So, I asked Dante, and every night after work he picked me up and took me to train with him. Somehow, we both got attached to the organisation, and I think it’s the best thing that could’ve happened. ”
“You really think that? Even if you die trying to save someone?”
He smiles.
“If my death means someone else will get their life back, or keep it, so be it.”
When we finish the second film, Greta takes Javier to the guest room. I didn’t even know we had one, though I insisted he could sleep in mine since I’m sleeping in Dante’s.
Every day I tell myself it’s the last time, but it’s a lie.
I’ve been thinking all day about what Javier told me and about what my sister said the other night.
My father and Stefan repeated over and over that Dante was a dangerous trafficker. For months, I refused to believe them. I didn’t believe it when I saw him at the wedding reception, when he ignored my calls, or even when he sent me a text saying I was disgusting.
I believed them when Finn was born. Stefan told me I had to be surrounded by guards because people like him stole children to sell them.
Not long after, I found a box with Greta’s presents in my room, which confirmed someone was around, ready to steal my baby.
I could barely sleep those days, and every time a nurse came to take my son, I got defensive.
I forced myself to believe them because I couldn’t fantasise that he was going to come and save me. Who would want me with a child that wasn’t his? I was terrified he would kill my son just to keep me.
I could be in love with him, but my son and his wellbeing will always be my priority.
My phone buzzes, and my stomach churns.
“Hello?” I pick up, a little groggy.
“I can’t sleep,” my sister whispers. “Were you awake?”
“Yes.” I stretch, rubbing my eyes. “Did something happen?”
“No, I… I wanted to tell you I’m sorry… for everything that has happened. I think I could have prevented it.”
“How would you? It wasn’t your fault.”
She sighs. I press Finn to my chest and close my eyes.
“Maybe I could have asked Declan to threaten our father… or I could have talked to Dante? “I don’t know.”
“There was no way you could have known.”
“No, but Declan could… I know he would have taken care of you if I asked him, but I was too… I don’t know.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t even have been with him. You were too young.”
“I know… still, I’m sorry. I love you, and I miss you. How are you doing?”
I tell her everything that happened today. She sighs again and adds, “It was only a matter of time before someone told you he rescues people instead of selling them.”
“But what does it change?”
“Everything, Lana! He’s your way out of the hell Dad put you through. Just stay with him, and you’ll be alright.”
I was going to, anyway.
“Are you a hundred percent sure he won’t be dangerous to Finn? That’s all I care about. I think if it weren’t for Finn, I would be married already.”
She laughs.
“A hundred percent. He will keep you both safe, and he’ll die doing it.”
“I still need his answers.”
“I know. And when you know, you tell me what happened. I want the tea.”
I laugh and shake my head.
“You’re something else, sis.”
“What would you do without me?… Declan is coming. Goodnight, Lana.”
She hangs up before I can say a thing. I look at Finn and rub his hair.
How many times did my father lie to me? What really happened that day? Why did they tell me Dante bought me? If I hadn’t seen those messages, if I hadn’t seen any proof of what he did, I would never have been so against being with him again.
And why did he never tell me?
With a knot in my throat, I hug my son, close my eyes, and beg the universe for Dante to come back home safe and sound.
I have too many questions and so much time to make up for.