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If this isn’t a double whammy, I don’t know what is.
Chapter Seven
Santos
I knew Eset was bloodthirsty and malicious if the situation called for it, but I didn’t expect her to go after Lu by herself. Hell, I can’t tell if I should be impressed or concerned right now.
Eset turns around, wide-eyed, shocked I’m even here in the first place. “This is the other business you had to tend to.” I know I’m right, and she knows I’m fucking right too.
Eset takes in a deep breath and nods. “It is, and I’m sure you have some inclination about why I’m doing this. If you don’t, I’ll fill you in on the car ride, but we need to get going. Goran, we have to move now.” Goran immediately heads over to Lu and pulls her into his arms, then starts walking toward the street, where I imagine the van is located. “Goran will be able to handle things with our allies until you and I can get there.” Ah, so Eset wants me to go with her now? Interesting.
Eset begins walking down the path, and I follow her, sticking a couple of feet behind her. She makes a right down another path that’s attached to the one we were already on and then heads up to an SUV. Digging into her pocket, she pulls out a set of keys and unlocks the vehicle. Once it’s unlocked, we both get inside, and before my seatbelt is even on, Eset pulls out onto the street, going to an address she has pulled up on her GPS.
“How quickly did you throw this entire thing together?” It was only a few hours ago that I told Eset that Lu was in London. She was able to get the rest of the information that she needed in only a few hours to pull off an operation such as this? It proves how connected the Umarova family is, and it shows me how dedicated Eset is as well.
“I don’t need much information in order to make moves, Santos. You shouldn’t either. People like you and me—we’re not at liberty to take time before we make decisions. It’s kill or be killed. Lu is a menace and has been for a very long time. She’s done the vilest things to my new sisters, and I refuse to call them sisters-in-law because I feel that word for them doesn’t nearly express the magnitude of the presence they have in my life.”
“Lu isn’t a saint, and if I’m being honest, I’ve tried to tell my father numerous times how she’s only a hindrance, but he doesn’t see her as such. He believes she’s an ally and that she’d do anything for him. I beg to differ. I think she’s the first person who would stab him in the back if the right situation ever arose.”
“This is coming from the man who’s said his father’s ambitions aren’t his own?” Eset turns her head to look at me for a second before returning her attention back to the road.
“Yes, just because I don’t agree with him doesn’t mean I want to watch a soul-sucking wench destroy what he wants. Granted, he won’t ever get what he wants. You and I both know Alejandro’s siblings support him, and thus the majority of the world will too. Now, my father believes that my marriage to you will offer that peaceful transition of power I told you about, though you and I know it won’t happen.”
“No, it won’t. The rest of the Ramirezes and the Mackenzies, Gallaghers, Steeles, O’Deas… they’ll all do whatever they must to crush your father’s claim, as will my family. No one wants him in power. Alejandro has done a fabulous job, and I’m certain you know my brother is loyal to Alejandro, as are the rest of us.” I had a feeling they were, but this is the very first time I’m hearing it myself.
“I had heard rumors, but nothing definitive.”
“Does it bother you? That Ruslan is loyal to your great-uncle?” Eset questions as we’re at a red light, waiting to turn left.
“No, it doesn’t. You know what my father wants isn’t what I want. I have no problem with the current hierarchy within the Ramirez family. The people respect my great-uncle, and why would we cause a rift in the chain of command if everything is working? It doesn’t make sense to me. Though, we know why my father is doing it. He wants his power, and it’s because he wants to feel special. Now, I want to know why you’re going after Lu.” I guarantee it has something to do with Emily’s child and the deceptive ways Lu mistreated her niece… but I want to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
The light in front of us turns green, so Eset makes the left and continues driving. “Lu completely ruined Amelia’s life. Lu is her mother, and her mother felt it was acceptable to give her social security number, birth certificate, and other private personal information to her ex-boyfriend. Her ex ended up stealing her identity and racked up so much debt that Amelia wouldn’t even be able to run her credit to buy a cell phone. That’s how terribly it affected her. Her mother knew about it the entire time, and instead of telling her daughter, she didn’t say a damn thing, and he kept ruining her credit.
“If it weren’t for Ruslan paying everything off and handling it all for Amelia, she’d still be having identity theft lawyers trying to deal with it. Then, you go onto Emily. Poor Emily trusted her Aunt Lu to help her in the most delicate of situations. You see, Emily was pregnant as a teenager, and she went to Lu for help. Lu gave her false promises of having a family lined up to adopt her daughter when, in actuality, she put her in your father’s child trafficking program, and lord only knows what her poor daughter had to endure.Thatis why I am going after Lu because she is a menace to society, and no one needs to deal with her.”
I knew about Emily’s situation, but I had no idea about Amelia’s. I knew Emily’s situation was horrible, and there’s no excuse for what Lu put her through, but Amelia’s situation is just as bad. How could Lu do these things to her own flesh and blood? I don’t understand it. If I was lucky enough to have a child, I’d do whatever I could to protect them, not put them in harm’s way. Sure, it wasn’t anything violent, but Lu did harm Amelia’s credit, which is a big deal.
Eset pulls down into a parking garage and eventually pulls into a spot. “I don’t blame you for anything you’re doing. I’d do the same if given the opportunity, but I am going to ask you if you’ve made a decision yet.”
Eset whips her head around to look at me. “You’re really asking me this right now?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t see a better opportunity. You and I have both said things that could respectably get us into a lot of shit. We’ve torn down walls and told each other very vulnerable things. We have the power to get each other killed, so my question is, do I need to look at you like a potential enemy who knows my secrets, or are you the woman I’m going to marry, who’s going to hold them with her until the day she dies?”
Eset swallows hard and inhales slowly through her nose. “I think we make a good match, but there are stipulations to me accepting your proposal.”
“What would those be?” It can’t be anything too bad.
“You need to have a face-to-face meeting with your Great-Uncle Alejandro and pledge your allegiance to him, thus ripping away any sort of fealty you have to your father. You also need to understand that there isn’t anything romantic between the two of us, Santos. I will marry you and provide you with heirs, but I will not be the love of your life. I am doing this for my family, and that’s all.”
“Understood.” Eset might not realize it, but I am attracted to her in both the physical sense and the mental one. With time, I’m sure our relationship will turn into something more, though I doubt she realizes it.
“I don’t want any more unnecessary bloodshed to happen, Santos. There’s been enough already by your grandfather’s hand, and Alejandro is ruling successfully and has been for many years. Unfortunately, your father is looking to cause chaos in Mexico, and I need you to promise me you won’t let that happen.”
I doubt Eset realizes what she’s asking of me isn’t that difficult. “I promise you, on my life, that I won’t let it happen. You know I’m not supporting his motives. Alejandro will stay as the leader of Mexico until he chooses who his heir will be, and I also promise you I won’t create any rifts in the water when it comes to that.”
“Good, then Julio will be forced to stop in his tracks. He won’t have any support from anyone significant, especially my family’s, and hopefully, he’ll give up on his venture.”
“That, or he’ll become more desperate than ever.”
