Page 108 of Jetmir

“It doesn’t matter if we like him or not,” she said softly. “Our daughter loves him.”

Fuck, I hated that my family had hurt my mother-in-law. I hated even more knowing that the same blood that had run through Santiago Tijuana’s veins was running through mine.

“I’m not him,” I said slowly. “I often wished I had no resemblance to the Tijuana family gene, but⁠—”

“You are not him,” Sailor cut me off. “I see that now. A man who loves could never be Santiago Tijuana.”

I swallowed hard. My mother-in-law would never know how much those words meant to me. “It was you who ensured Gabriel got the corneas.” Her voice was soft. “Right, Jetmir?”

“Yes.” There was no point in denying it. Not that I intended to.

“Oh my gosh.” Anya’s eyes filled with tears and she hugged me tightly. “I love you so much.”

“I’ve been searching for a donor for years,” I admitted. “Initially, I planned on getting them on the black market, but…” I kissed my wife’s forehead. “I wanted to deserve Anya’s love and respect. And Amara’s.”

Sailor’s expression softened. “You have to tell her. I don’t think she knows.”

“My relationship with Amara has been somewhat damaged because of the tension between our families and what had happened to Gabriel. I’ve kept my distance so she wouldn’t feel forced to choose between the families,” I admitted.

A long silence settled between us, but I could feel something shifting between all of us in that silence. A chance, maybe.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me, Raphael.” I glanced at Anya, before returning to lock gazes with my father-in-law. “I’m asking you to help me make sure no one ever does this to our families again. For Anya’s sake. Gabriel’s. Amara’s.”

Raphael looked at Sailor, then at his daughter. Finally, his eyes returned to mine.

He stepped forward until we stood only a few feet apart.

“You got yourself a partner, but if you hurt my daughter…” His jaw flexed while Sailor sighed beside him. “I’ll skin you alive.”

“No, he won’t,” Anya protested. “Because I love you, and if Papa touches you, it will break my heart.”

Sailor laughed softly. “Ah, Raphael, you’re doomed because your daughter knows exactly how to manipulate you.”

We all chuckled and Raphael extended his hand.

I took it. His grip was hard. Mine was harder.

This time, we’d stand on the same side of this war and make the Triad pay for the damage they’d caused and get my sister out.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

ANYA

The moment Jetmir stepped away to speak with my father, I turned toward Mama, and she opened her arms without saying a word. I didn’t realize how badly I needed my mother’s arms around me until I was enveloped in them.

For a few seconds, I was no longer a grown woman standing on an island that carried too many ghosts. I was simply a daughter who needed her mother.

Her arms tightened around me, and I buried my face in her shoulder, inhaling her familiar perfume.

“I missed you, Mama,” I whispered.

Her hand moved slowly over my hair. “I missed you too.”

“I’m so sorry you had to step foot on this island again.” My throat tightened. “I… I didn’t know.”

She kissed my forehead.

“I didn’t want you to know,” she murmured. “They’re my ghosts to carry, not yours.”