CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LILIANA
The rest of the gala passes in a blur. I don't see Rafaelle again.
Not really. A few times I catch glimpses of him across the ballroom in his dark suit and even darker eyes. He looks amazing.
Whenever my eyes find him, he’s already looking back at me. Always watching me.
I think about walking over to him more times than I can count. I think about finishing our conversation in the hallway. I could end it so easily, give him the truth he deserves.
But each time, fear wins.
Once Rafaelle knows about Mila, everything changes and I don't know if I'm ready for that.
The only bright spot in the evening comes in the form of Santiago. My brother appears seemingly out of nowhere. I thought he wasn’t going to appear considering I’ve barely seen him all week.
He’s dressed impeccably in a black suit. I blink at the sight of him but he simply holds out a hand.
"Dance with me."
I stare at him.
"What? No please? Or at least even a greeting. Where have you been all week?"
His expression doesn't change.
"I said dance, little sister. Not ask questions.”
He’s very annoying. I assume this is the universal sibling experience.
“You’re very charming, Santiago," I say sarcastically.
"I'm aware."
Despite myself, I smile. I don’t know why I’m so comfortable around him. He certainly hasn’t done or shown me more friendliness or warmth than required. I guess a part of me likes having an elder brother.
A moment later he's guiding me onto the dance floor.
Santiago and I are surprisingly similar. A couple of days ago, I stumbled into a music room that I was informed belonged to him. He’s very good at playing the guitar although he only does it as a hobby. I was pleased to know he shared my musical talent.
We sway to the music and I debate mention that I found the music room. Eventually Santiago glances down at me.
"How are you settling in?" he asks conversationally.
I shrug. “Alright, I guess.”
His brow lifts. “What a glowing endorsement.”
I smile faintly.
“I can’t complain, honestly. This is all so beautiful and I’m grateful I get to experience it all. I’m just not sure how to feel about it at times.”
The music swells around us. Santiago studies me carefully.
“You mean you’re not sure how to feel about our father?"
The question is loaded and hits the nail right on the head.
I hesitate. “He seems to care."
The response earns a strange look. One I can't quite decipher.
Then Santiago laughs, hollowly. It’s completely devoid of humor and my stomach tightens.
"What?"
His gaze drifts across the ballroom. Towards Ignacio who is too busy trying his best to charm half the room
"That feeling in your gut whenever you’re around him?” Santiago says, “Listen to it. And be careful."
A chill slides down my spine.
"What do you mean?"
His jaw tightens.
For the first time all night, genuine emotion flashes across his face. Bitterness.
"I mean don't trust him."
Confusion crashes into me. I can understand feeling weird around Ignacio. I just met the guy. But Santiago’s known him his whole life.
"He's your father."
"Exactly."
The words come out sharp.
Cutting.
"Which means I know him better than anyone."
My pulse quickens.
"Santiago."
"He only cares about himself, Liliana. Everything he does is for the purpose of his own selfish interest. Soon enough you’ll find out the reason why he’s been so accommodating. And I promise when you do, you’ll never see him the same way again.”
“If you hate him so much then why are you still here?”
“My siblings left,” he says darkly. “But I can’t, not yet at least.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want him to suffer for what he did. He’s the reason I lost my little brother."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
“Gabriel?” I whisper.
He shakes his head, “No, Gabriel’s twin, Gavin. But after he died, Gabriel might as well have died as well. He disowned our father and left swearing never to return.”
I stop moving. It’s a lot to process.
“How was Ignacio responsible?”
The music comes to an end and Santiago's expression closes immediately. The brief glimpse of vulnerability disappearing.
"Just watch your back, Liliana."
Before I can ask another question, he releases me and walks away.
Leaving me standing there, confused and suddenly afraid.
* * *
The next morning, Milagro decides she hates socks.
I spend nearly ten minutes trying to put a pair on her tiny feet. She spends the entire time kicking them off.
"You're impossible,” I say, trying to keep my voice stern and failing.
Mila giggles. Completely unrepentant.
I smile despite myself.
"You know where we're going today, mimi?" I ask the little baby that can’t reply or speak to me just yet.
When I lift her onto my lap, her tiny hands immediately grab a fistful of my hair.
Naturally.
"Ouch."
She giggles again. She’s such a tiny troublemaker.
"We're going to see your Uncle Carlos."
Her dark eyes blink up at me.
"He's going to love you."
Because everyone loves my little baby girl. It's impossible not to. She’s so adorable.
My chest warms at the thought of seeing Carlos. He reached out a couple of days ago asking if he could take me for lunch and meet my daughter as well. And I agreed because why wouldn’t I?
Carlos has always been there for me. He’s helped me out in so many ways.
When I needed work. When I needed someone to believe in me. Sometimes I think he's been more of a father to me than anyone else ever could.
Across the room, my mother makes a disapproving sound. I glance over. She’s watching us from an armchair. Her expression troubled.
"You shouldn't go."
I sigh softly, “Pick a side, mama. Do you want us to leave this house? Or do you want us to stay locked up in here forever.”
“I want you to be safe,” she retorts.
"You're starting to sound paranoid."
"There is too much at stake, Liliana."
I look away. Does she really think I don’t know that?
I didn’t sleep a wink last night because I kept tossing and turning in bed thinking about what Santiago said.
After his revelation, I’m not sure I would have been able to look Ignacio in the eye not to talk of acting comfortable around him this morning.
Which is why it’s a good thing he was gone by the time I stepped out of my bedroom.
My mom’s expression softens, “I know you are doing the best you can, mi amore. It’s just that I do not know this man you call Carlos.”
"I’ve known him for years and he has always helped me. We can't live in fear, mama.”
She hums softly. A clear disagreement. But this time she lets it go.
Half an hour later, I'm sitting in the back of an SUV. Milagro is asleep against my chest. The estate disappears behind us while a second vehicle follows closely behind.
I stare out the window. Lost in thought. At least until Mila squirms and I immediately focus on her instead.
My daughter reaches up. Tiny fingers brushing my chin.
I smile. "Hi, bug."
She grins. And just like that the world feels less insurmountable. Until it doesn't.
The vehicles slam on their brakes. The sudden stop throws me forward. Mila startles in my arms. Immediately beginning to cry.
"What the hell?”
Gunshots.
The sound explodes through the air, and my blood turns to ice.
Shouting reaches me from inside the car and when I look outside it’s chaos. The guards are already moving. Doors opening.
Weapons drawn.
My heart pounds so violently I can barely breathe.
"Mila."
I clutch her tighter.
"Shh."
I hear a couple more gunshots and then silence. Terrible, terrifying silence.
In the next moment, the SUV door is ripped open and a masked man appears with his gun raised.
He points it directly at me and I freeze.
Every protective instinct I possess surging to life.
"What do you want?"
No answer. The barrel remains fixed on my chest.
"Who are you?"
Nothing.
Mila cries harder.
The sound tears through me. The man reaches inside. Grabs my arm.
"Move."
Panic explodes and I try to fight but it’s no use not with my daughter is in my arms.
Within seconds I'm dragged from the vehicle. Another car waits nearby. The back door already open.
"No!" I scream, my heart pounding in my chest.
A hand shoves me inside. Mila thrashes against me, crying even harder.
My heart breaks.
Oh God, please, please, please.
The door slams shut. With two men on either side of me. And the car takes off.
* * *
The drive feels endless.
Every passing second stretches my nerves tighter.
Mila eventually settles, curled against my chest. My mind keeps coming up with endless scenarios.
Why are we being kidnapped? What could they want? What if I can't protect her? What if-
The vehicle stops. We’re at a quiet residential street. It’s empty, completely ordinary.
I stare at the house as I'm escorted inside. The front door opens and still clutching my baby to my chest, I step across the threshold.
And immediately stop breathing.
"No."
The whisper escapes before I can stop it. A familiar figure sits calmly in a chair.
One leg crossed over the other. A gun resting casually in his hand.
Brown eyes meet mine. Filled with something that scares me more than I thought possible.
My stomach drops as Carlos rises slowly.
"Liliana."
The world tilts. Because this doesn't make sense. Carlos would never do this me. He would never have me abducted. And yet the evidence is before my eyes. He nods at the men acknowledging them and they step backwards.
"What's going on?"
My voice cracks. The betrayal feels like acid burning my throat.
"Carlos?"
His expression tightens. Instead of offering me an explanation, something to make this better, to make the nightmare end, he points the gun at me.
“Let go of the baby, Liliana,” he orders.
Panic seizes my throat, “No way in hell!”
“Make the right choice. We have guns aimed at you. There’s nowhere to run and we wouldn’t want your baby girl to be caught in the crossfire.”
He’s entirely serious. There’s no evidence of the man I knew. The one I considered a friend. Only an icy expression. One that has me fearing for my baby’s life.
“We won’t harm her, I promise,” he says to me. “Just hand her over.”
I don’t really have much of a choice. If I continue to resist, they can easily rip my daughter out of my hands. Tears slide down my cheeks as I pray to someone, anyone for help.
One of the masked men steps forward seeing my resolve cracking.
“I love you so much, Milagro,” I whisper through tears.
My baby blinks up at me, confused, her mouth parting like she wants to say something. Slowly, I hand her to the man. As soon as I do, two other men close in around me, gripping my arms.
“Wait, no! Stop,” I scream, when I see the man holding her start to walk towards the door.
I’m pulled inwards, away from my daughter into a bedroom. Carlos follows, his lips in a rigid line. They practically throw me into the room, and I crash into the floor. When I stand and try to rush back at the door, he aims a gun at me again.
“Why are you doing this?!”
“You not only had a baby with my tormentor, Liliana, you fell in love with him,” he says, rage in his voice.
“This is my revenge! Can you imagine how I felt as you confessed to me that you cared for Rafaelle. That you bore his child? The man tortured me and you expected me to what? Pat you on the back.”
I breathe heavily, unwilling to believe that he had so much hatred in his heart and was still able to look at me and smile.
“I manipulated you, Liliana. Made you think that the best option for your safety was Ignacio. But that’s not true and you know it now, don’t you.”
My hands are clenched into tight fists.
“Why are you doing this?”
“For money. For revenge, like I said earlier. Your boyfriend burned down my bar and I have to make ends meet some way, don’t I?” he snarls.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone as much as I hate him right now. I want him dead and I want him to suffer.
“You’ll pay for this, Carlos. If something happens to my baby girl, I’ll follow you right down to hell and even then you’ll never know peace.”
“I’d like to see you fucking try.”