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“I’ll be more careful this time. I’ll dye my hair permanently, change my name, learn a different language so I can live in a foreign country outside of their reach.”
“Trust me, Willow. I’m going to get you out of here, but we need to make sure we’re in a position where neither Esteban nor your father can retaliate.”
Her frown deepens. “You mean…dead?”
“I was going to say behind bars, but sure, that works, too.”
She stares off for a moment, and I wonder if her father’s death is too far. She’d be free of him, but he is her father. She shakes herself after a moment and looks at me.
Willow lets out a sigh of frustration. “How are we supposed to accomplish anything? Esteban and my father have an entire army behind them, not to mention a multitude of connections.”
“I’m still working on it,” I tell her.
She takes a deep breath. “Maybe this war of theirs will sort them out for us.”
“Maybe. But until then, we continue to play our parts. When the right moment comes, that’s when we strike.”
Chapter 19
Willow
Idon’t shed a single tear when my father leaves the next morning.
A handful of his closest guards load up in the car with him, which tells me one very important thing: whatever business he’s handling, it’s dangerous. I should feel guilty for not wanting him to come back, but I don’t see the point in lying to myself. Arturo may be my father, but there’s no love lost between us.
When his car finally peels out of the driveaway, I allow myself the chance to breathe. The past month has been stifling, borderline suffocating. And although a few of my father’s men remain behind to work their patrol shifts, I am freer than I’ve been in a very long time. I can barely imagine what true freedom will be like.
If the day ever comes, of course.
Marianne is the first person to see me, bringing up a tray of freshly peeled fruits for breakfast. “I wonder what’s going on,” she mumbles to herself as I dig in. She watches out the window as the convoy of black SUVs drives away. “I can’t remember the last time your father was called away. Things with the Marrones must be getting pretty serious.”
I pop a slice of tangerine into my mouth, savoring the sour tang of the juice washing over my tongue. Everything tastes better now that my father is gone. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” I tell her dryly. “I’m sure he’s got everything under control.”
Marianne chews on her nails. “It was never like this when your dear mother was still in charge. Liana was always so good at negotiating with the Marrones.”
This catches my attention. Ever since my mother’s passing, her name has effectively been blacklisted. My father won’t allow anyone to mention her. Naturally, I’ve never been allowed to ask why.
I was seven when she passed away. A car accident. At least, that’s what the official coroner’s report cited as her cause of death. I’ve heard whispers here and there to the contrary, but I’ve never been able to put the whole story together. When I was a little girl, I overheard a few of the housemaids say it really was an accident. A couple of the guards suspected it was a coverup for something far more insidious. To this day, I still don’t have answers.
“Will you tell me about her?” I ask softly, even though I know I’m not at risk of being found out by Arturo for a while. I’m just so used to speaking in hushed tones. “You used to work with her closely, didn’t you?”
Marianne tosses a cautious look over her shoulder. She, too, goes about this place in fear. “I’d only been employed for about a month before your mother’s passing, but I do know she was kind. You look exactly like her.”
I frown, a question burning in the back of my mind. “Wait a second… Did you sayshewas the one negotiating? But why—”
Three sharp knocks sound at my door. I look up to find Zane there, casually leaning against the frame. “What’re you ladies chatting about this fine morning?”
Marianne clams up quickly, pressing her lips into a thin line. “Nothing, Mr. Phillips.” She’s quick to gather her things and leave, ducking out of the room and out of sight in a flash.
“I don’t think she likes me very much,” Zane says with a light chuckle.
“Marianne? Oh, no. She’s absolutely in love with you.”
“Well then she’s got a great poker face.”
I shrug, feeling lighter and happier than I have in ages. It’s wonderful to finally get the chance to speak freely. “Haven’t you heard? All the housemaids think you and Heath are eye candy. I’m pretty sure a few of them were crushing on Knox, too.”
“That’s the old Phillips charm for you.”
