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She swings the door open, and her arms are around me before I can speak. A fine tremble works its way through my limbs as I relax. My tears have all dried up, but my eyes still burn.
“Gemstone,” Mom murmurs, backing up to let me in. “What’s wrong?”
“Can we talk?” I ask.
I shut the door behind us and amble into her floral-covered living room. The cream-colored sofa molds around me and I sink against the cushions, leaning my head back to stare at her textured ceiling.
“Is everything okay?” Her brows crease together, causing a wrinkle to appear between her eyes.
“Dad’s going to kill himself,” I blurt with zero finesse.
“What?” she inquires, clearly hearing me but wanting more of an explanation.
I shrug like a sulking teenager. “He’s got a plan. And he wants me to assist him in the end.”
“Oh, honey,” she whispers, perching on the couch beside me. “I know.”
“You know?” I repeat, indignation making my voice quiet.
“Yes, Gem.” Mom glances away from me. “He came and told me before he turned himself in.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
She sighs, the weight of the world on her fragile shoulders. “He asked me to not tell you before he got the chance to speak—”
“Before he could tell me himself?” I ask, trying to let go of my attitude. “Why would you keep that secret? You should have told me.”
“I know you’re upset.” She frowns at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “But you have to understand that he’s doing it for you.”
“I don’t want it.”
“But you do.”
I shake my head, frustrated with the entire day. “Not like this.”
“I argued that point as well,” she recounts. “But you know how stubborn Ed can be. He explained everything to me, though it took me hours to understand the whole rabbits versus hunters speech… And somewhere in there, he threw in bears. I was totally lost until he walked me through it in detail. But now I get it. He’s doing this to save you.”
“To save me from what?” I scoff before I can stop myself. “We both know the cartel will eventually kill me—”
“To save you from his father,” she cuts in, scowling as she glares at the wall. “He’s... not a good man.”
“Mom. Please,” I say with a huff. “I’m not five. I know he’s a shitty excuse for a human. But I’m not much better.”
She takes a deep breath. “Ed Senior wants you dead, but he won’t outright say it because you’re arranged to marry Lorenzo, whom he views as his promising heir.”
I snort. “You’re joking, right?”
“Why would I joke about this?” she snaps.
“I know Senior wants me dead,” I confess. “But more than that, he wants his bloodline carried on. That’s why Lory and I haven’t married, why I stay on top of birth control. Why I refuse to settle down in any capacity. If I gave him a child, a new heir, then there would be no reason to keep me or Lory around. If the child was a girl, he’d kill Lory for not producing a boy... I’d be bred like a dog until I gave him what he wanted. And then I’d be dead.”
“That’s so vile,” she whispers, the color draining from her cheeks. “Senior loved Andres, but I didn’t think it was anything more than being a happy grandparent until you were born. He wasn’t as happy the second time around.”
“If you hadn’t had Andres first, he would have killed you and me. He still thinks our bloodline is dwindling because he died.”
Mom’s face darkens, reminding me she’s capable of being angry. “He was murdered.”
“I know, but Senior doesn’t see it that way,” I explain, my lips tugging down as I attempt to be delicate. “Not exactly. He sees it as a weakness and thinks Andres should have been able to fight his way out of that trap, should have been able to hold his own against a group of Estrada’s men. He’s told me time and time again that he wishes it would have been me.”
