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Looking at it is daunting, but what awaits me inside is my fate.
It’s time. It’s Monday morning, and I’m finally going to meet Esperanza and Diego.
Yuri and Vladmir escort me to the fifteenth floor. My steps get heavier with every one I take, and my chest squeezes with the anxiety of someone having a heart attack.
I didn’t see Malik again last night, but when I woke up this morning, the scent of him clung to the air and I felt his presence. It’s clear he’s avoiding me, but he’s the least of my worries right now.
I seriously don’t know what to expect from this meeting, and I know no one can tell me because they don’t know either.
I’ve only seen pictures of Esperanza and Diego on Google from newspaper articles. I found them when I was trying to look up details on the cartel and my father’s death. Since then, the image of Esperanza’s face has stayed with me. I remember her looking strict and brazen-faced.
I didn’t really take note of Diego other than acknowledging that he was ten years older than me.
We stop before a set of conference room doors, and Yuri opens them.
When he leads me inside the room, I see Malik sitting at the head of the huge boardroom table. He looks at me the same way he did at the wedding. With that arctic expression.
His brothers are next to him. Sitting opposite them are Esperanza and Diego Navarro. Both are looking at me.
Esperanza is in her late fifties but could easily pass for ten years younger with her flawless skin, long straight jet-black hair, and blood-red lips. She’s wearing a well-tailored pants suit with shoulder pads in the sleeves of her jacket.
Diego looks like a high powered C.E.O. He doesn’t look that much different to the Volkova brothers.
Given the fact they don’t know who I am yet, they both look like they could eat me alive.
When the truth is revealed, they just might,.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Malik
Gwen walks into the room with her shoulders back and that assumed confidence I know she doesn’t feel. I saw the shift in her expression the moment she looked at Diego and Esperanza.
Yuri seats her next to me, right beside Desmier and Zakh. We look at each other briefly, and I know this is the last place she wants to be.
Her presence and what I’m about to do stirs that thing inside me again I feel for her along with guilt, but I push it away.
Guilt is the antithesis to revenge. It compromises you with compassion, or in my case, something more I never expected to feel for a woman I know I can’t keep.
The moment I’ve been waiting for is happening.
It’s finally happening now.
All the players I need are here. I just have to strike, so guilt is the last thing I should feel.
With that in mind, I stand, taking the lead.
Under normal circumstances, Desmier would open the meeting, but this is about me. I’m in charge today.
When Yuri takes his place by the door with Vladmir, I straighten and get ready to attack.
“Now that we’re all here, we can begin.” I look around at everyone.
“That would be great,” Diego chimes in. “I’m eager to know what this is about. You guys have been quite secretive. Obviously, it’s quite an honor to be summoned by the Knights, but I’m sure you can understand how things look to me.”
I glance at Zakh, who looks at me, too.
Looks like it’s time to cut to the chase. I prepared a file box with all the items I need for my presentation. I slide it in front of me, and the first thing I pick up is Manuel’s ring. His finger was still attached to it when I hacked it off.
