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Or so I think.
Mario speaks first. "You know I was bored to tears in that hospital room. I had to do something. And so I did. That’s when I found a connection between the cartel and the group that called themselves the fellowship."
I look at Starla, curious if she even knows what the cartel is, but she just stares at Mario, unblinking, her hands arranged loosely in her lap.
"The fellowship was only a front from the beginning. The founding fathers began their group under the auspices of living a religious life, but that was never their actual intended purpose.”
“How do you know?” Sergio asks quietly. I’m glad he asked. It was on my mind, but I don’t want to push my luck. I’m lucky I’m sitting here, and I’ll leave it at that.
“I found a record of payments made and damning correspondence.”
I swallow and nod. Sergio’s told me some of this, but having it all laid out here like this makes it seem so much more sobering.
“They probably hoped that being in the Carolinas would be distance enough that no one would make the connection, but as luck would have it, we did."
Romeo looks at Sergio. "We’ll do whatever we have to, so they don't get a foothold here.”
Sergio nods.
I know then that this is only the beginning, that whatever comes next likely involves details that I really don’t need or want to know. I talked at length to Marialena and Rosa about what marriage to Sergio would mean.
They told me that it's helpful to know what pertains specifically to me, but that in many cases, if my husband has business to deal with that doesn’t involve me, I would probably sleep better at night not knowing intricate details. I would agree.
The phrase ignorance is bliss never made more sense.
“You killed one of their most important leaders,” Romeo says, staring at Sergio. "I don't blame you. In fact, if you hadn't, I would've done it myself."
There’s a thread of steel in his voice that sends a shiver of fear down my spine. I never knew that I would want to be in a family like this, but now that I am, I know how badly I need it.
I have no interest in being with people who play by the rules anymore. I've played that game, and I did not win.
I don't care whose rules they follow, I care that they love the people they are committed to.
I care that they are loyal. I care that they value devotion.
“All I’m telling you is, we need to brace for blowback. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but I’m putting a man in Mexico.”
“Who?”
“Dario.”
Surprise flares in Sergio’s gaze, so briefly I wonder if I’m the only one that notices. He quickly hides his reaction and nods.
“That’s fair.”
It takes me a minute to catch on.
Dario.
Sergio’s brother-in-law, married to his sister Vivia. Dario’s a member of the Rossi family but not by blood.
Sergio made his decision, then.
He’s made his choice to marry me, to forego the wedding that would’ve had the better outcome for his families. So his family will make restitution.
"I know you would go if I asked you,” Romeo says. "But you're starting a family, you have a club to run, and you need to be present to lead your men. Dario has connections in Mexico. He will handle them, and you'll be in direct contact with him, which will work well, because Vivia will be home for the holidays."
Marialena always says that Romeo is stern but loyal, and I can see what she means.
