Dark eyes, so much like Rafaelle's that it hurts. She smiles up at me and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Hi baby,” I breathe, my voice clogged with emotion.
I reach for her immediately gathering her against my chest. She curls into me.
“God I missed you so much.”
The scent of baby shampoo fills my nose. Tiny hands grab at my shirt. Her little fingers wrapping around my hair like it always does.
My heart feels too big for my chest.
“I’m so sorry, my angel. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
She pats my cheek. Completely unconcerned with the fact that her mother is falling apart. All the tears I’ve been keeping away for weeks push to the surface. But I keep holding them in. I have no intention of alarming my baby.
I press my lips against her forehead. Then her cheeks. Then her curls. Unable to stop myself.
I don't know how long I stay there. Minutes. Hours.
Eventually my mother's voice reaches me from the doorway.
"Liliana."
The tension returns, causing my spine to straighten.
I shut my eyes briefly, knowing she deserves an explanation.
Keeping Mila securely in my arms. My mother watches me carefully.
"I'll ask again."
Her voice is quiet now.
"What have you done?"
I hesitate.
Where do I even start? The kidnapping? The cartel? The father neither of us expected to see again? The man I left behind? The man I betrayed?
“Let’s go take a seat, mama,” I murmur, carrying Mila out of the room.
We settle down on the couch and then I begin to speak. Knowing without a doubt that this is going to be an extremely hard conversation.
“Those bodyguards work for Ignacio Navarro, mama.”
Her face drains of color. And I feel my stomach drop at the expression on her face.
"You met your father? He found you?"
I nod. My mother swears softly in Spanish. She leans backward into her chair, seeming to have aged years in only a couple of seconds.
"No,” she says, mostly to herself.
"Mama-”
“How could this happen?” Her voice sharpens. "I spent years keeping you away from that world. From him and now it seems my every effort just led to further entrenchment. You were never supposed to meet your father again. He was never supposed to find you.”
“He probably wouldn’t have if I hadn’t gotten involved with the Vitales,” I say, feeling my throat tighten.
