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“Do you think my father is as bad of a person as they say he is?” I ask after a long moment has passed.
“Bad and good are often defined by perspective. For you, I doubt you would see him as such. He clearly loves you. If he didn’t he wouldn’t have gone through so much trouble to keep you safe. But it’s hard for me to see him as anything but a monster. What he did to poor Alisa.” She shakes her head. “Cutting her up into pieces.” Her hand comes up to her mouth as if thinking about it makes her physically ill. “No one deserves that, especially not her. She was such a kind soul. A good woman. I truly believe Mateo wouldn’t be where he is if she were still alive.”
“What do you mean?”
“Alisa loved Diego, but when she found out she was having a boy, she confided in me that she was scared for her child. That she didn’t want him growing up in this world. And that she especially didn’t want him becoming a part of it. She tried to keep him as far removed from his father’s world as she could. After she died, Mateo’s future was set. Poor boy never stood a chance at a normal life.”
“And you wanted that for him?”
“More than anything.” She gives me a sad smile. “Now, why don’t we start prepping for lunch? That is, if you want to help.”
“Yes, I’d love that.”
——
ISPEND THE REMAINDERof the morning with Norma. It felt good to be in the kitchen, doing what I love. And listening to her tell me stories about Mateo from when he was a kid made the time go rather quickly.
The more she talked, the more normal she made him seem. Only he’snotnormal. Nothing about any of this is normal. Yet, I found myself hanging onto her every word as we worked side by side.
By the time Niko came in to check on us nearly two hours after he had been forced out by Norma, we had baked two batches of muffins, made cold cut sandwiches for lunch, and prepped everything for the stew that will be served for dinner.
After insisting there was nothing else I could help with, I left Norma, promising to come back tomorrow morning. Being in the kitchen with her is by far the most at ease I’ve felt since arriving here. She has this motherly-ness to her that makes me feel... safe.
I went back to my room for a short time but decided to go for a swim in the ocean. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do but had been too afraid to ask if I could. So, taking advantage of my newfound freedom, I slipped into a bathing suit and coverup, then grabbed a couple of towels out of the bathroom, before making my way down to the beach.
And that’s where I’ve been for the last hour.
“You sure you don’t wanna sit down?” I ask Niko, patting the extra towel I laid out next to me as I stretch out on my own towel.
He’s been standing since we got down here and has barely moved. If it weren’t for the occasional sigh that’s slipped past his lips or the way he’s shifted his weight every so often, I would swear he was a statue.
“I’m good,” he grumbles, checking the time on his watch.
“If you have somewhere to be, you can go,” I offer, knowing full well there’s not a chance in hell he would leave me out here alone. Especially after what happened last night.
I’m pretty sure he’s still pissed at me. Not that I can blame him. It was his job to watch me and at the first turn of his back, I managed to slip away. Not that he’s said as much. In fact, he really hasn’t said anything.
“Nice try,” he grumbles, glancing at his watch again.
“Seriously. Go.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Then at least sit down. I promise I don’t bite.”
He shakes his head from side to side, crossing his arms in front of himself.
“Suit yourself.” I let out an audible sigh before relaxing further, turning my gaze toward the cloudless sky. It’s a beautiful afternoon, and the sun feels amazing on my skin. If I close my eyes, I can almost forget about the situation I currently find myself thrust in the middle of...Almost.
I turn my head slightly to the side, wishing I had a pair of sunglasses, when a silhouette casts a long shadow over my body. I blink, shielding my eyes with my hand as I look up.
My heart kicks against my ribs at the sight of Mateo standing next to me. He’s dressed in his normal attire, dress slacks and a white button down, only this time he’s sans jacket and has the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing various pops of colored ink.
“Little overdressed for the beach, aren’t you?” I try the casual approach, hoping to humanize myself a little.
Maybe if he sees me as a person and not an object to be used in his grand scheme to take down my father, he’ll be less likely to kill me when this is all said and done.
“I was just thinking you might be a little underdressed.” My skin prickles as his eyes slide the length of my body and back up again.
