“I don’t just think it,” he said.The gun was already loaded.
“Do you have any idea the war you will start if you end me?”his father asked, defiance in his gaze.He didn’t for a second think this was going to end.
Lorenzo pointed his gun, knowing his dad had tried to alert his guards.“Dad, no one is coming.You’re on your own.No one gives a shit about you.It’s over.”
He looked down the barrel of his gun, and his father went to move.He saw the twitch, but Lorenzo had known this man all his life.Every twitch, every single move, he learned to survive, and as he went for his own weapon, Lorenzo fired a single bullet that went straight through his father’s forehead, ending his life.
This was the agreement he made.It was one he was going to live with, and he was more than happy about it.
Lorenzo put the safety on his gun and turned on his heel, stepping out into the morning sunshine, even though it was fucking cold.It was getting close to Christmas.He climbed into his car at the same time the soldiers returned.As Lorenzo left, the cleaning crew came inside.This was how they cleaned up their messes.
He headed home to his wife.There was still no call from Emilio, but Lorenzo knew Tatiana had to be safe.She had to be alive.
Arriving back home, Clarissa was on the doorstep waiting for him, wrapped in a jacket.He climbed out of the car and went to her.
She knew what he had to do today.Once all the blanks had been filled in with the help of Diego, old security footage, and the missing details from her parents, they were able to connect the dots.
His father hadn’t changed his watch.It was such a minor detail.Ten years ago, his father had pretended to be one of the enemy gang attempting to join.The story had played out, but Lorenzo had finally seen the video.It was the same watch his father had given him after his first kill—custom-made by his father.That was what it came down to.
“I love you,” Clarissa said.
“And I love you.”He kissed the top of her head.“Forgive me, for everything.”
She tilted her head back and offered him a smile.“There’s nothing to forgive.”
Epilogue
Ten Years Later
“Isabella, sweetheart, where’s your father?”Clarissa asked, looking toward her oldest daughter.
Wearing a pair of dungarees with her long blonde hair pulled into two ponytails, her daughter’s eyes went wide.
She smiled at her and put a hand on her hip.“What’s going on?”
She noticed Lorenzo and Isabella had been acting strangely for the past few weeks.
“Your sewing room, Mommy,” Lucas, their oldest son, said.
“Lucas!”Isabella growled.
Her son covered his mouth, and Clarissa laughed, as Melissa and Mateo, their five-year-old twins, giggled.
Ten years happily married, five children, with a sixth on the way, Clarissa walked out of the kitchen and made her way toward the stairs.Isabella was their eldest daughter, then Lucas, followed by their twins, Melissa and Mateo, which left Rafe, who must be with his father.He was three years old and absolutely doted on his father.
That was who she found standing outside her sewing room, with his arms spread out, looking absolutely adorable.Her other children had followed as well, and were trying to stop her from going inside.They were all so cute and adorable.She loved them all so much.
“You can’t go in there, Mommy,” Isabella said.
“No, you can’t.”Lucas, Melissa, and Mateo all wrapped their arms around her body, stopping her from entering.
She was heavily pregnant with their sixth child, and all her friends dreaded if she would ask them to babysit.Her kids were amazing, but they were a handful.
Lorenzo had thought he was getting a calm, placid wife, however, once they were able to work through all their difficulties, she found that spark that died with her sister.That spark was back.
After the truth of what his father did, Lorenzo was filled with guilt, and she brought him back.He didn’t think he was good enough for her, but she showed him how happy she was.She took him to Isabella’s graveside.It was the first time she had visited it since the day of the funeral, and she was shocked to find that her parents cared for it.
They had built a friendship with her parents.The bond that had been severed was now back in place, and they also dreaded babysitting.
