"I wanted better for you." The words are soft.
“I know you did, mama. But what you never accounted for is that I belong to that world. It’s a part of me, same as Mila. We can’t outrun our heritage. We can’t escape who we’re meant to be.”
“You just may be right about that, mi nina,” she says tiredly.
“We need him, mama. We need Ignacio.”
My mother closes her eyes.
“I refuse to go near that man.”
Her reaction to Ignacio deeply confuses me.
“What did he do to you, mama? He made it sound like he didn’t want you to leave. He said his wife was the one with the vendetta against you.”
“That woman was going to kill me,” she agrees. “But make no mistake, Liliana, Ignacio would have stood by and let it happen with a smile on his face. I believe that he won’t harm us. But he’ll use us for his personal gain. He’ll take and take from us until there’s nothing left.”
“What other options do we have?” I argue. “There’s no escape anymore. No running. Those men are waiting outsideand they’re going to take us back, whether we want it to happen or not.”
My grip tightens around my daughter.
“I just need Mila to be safe and happy. He can make that happen."
"And what happens when he decides he wants something in return?"
I don't have an answer.
"I have to go back, mama.”
The words hang between us. My mother stares at me. Long and hard. Then finally, she nods.
Once.
"I know."
Her resignation hurts. I hate that I have to put her in this position. The resignation hurts more than the anger.
"I'll come with you. To protect my granddaughter.”
The me in that statement is silent but I feel the sentiment well enough. I offer her a small smile.
“Thank you, mama.”
“You are family, mi amore. Family sacrifices for one another. If you and my granddaughter are going to live in that house, then I'll be there too."
Emotion clogs my throat.
“I’m sorry, mama.”
She waves it off immediately. Her gaze softens as it lands on Mila.
"I won’t let anyone hurt either of you,” she says fiercely and I believe it. She’s Marisol Zaccari.
She fought against these guys, and cancer, and won. There’s nothing she can’t defeat.
For the first time in a while, I feel relief. Despite the fear and uncertainty and pain still lodged inside my chest, the world feels a little less lonely.
* * *
