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I quickly step back, my face flaming as embarrassment floods my veins. Kissing Noah would be such a foul move, forcing a kiss on someone who loves me like a sister and has no interest in women…I’d be a friendship ruining asshole.
“I-uh, yeah, maybe you’re right. I’ll call my dad today and make sure he understands that I won’t take no for an answer.”
Noah moves to sit on the edge of the bed, totally oblivious to my internal shame.
I snag some clothes and force my feet to carry me out of the room, but when I get to the threshold, I turn back, “I hope you know that I’d do the same for you, Noh. I’m all about justice, about doing what’s right through the system,” I know I’m rambling, but I always ramble when I’m embarrassed, “but I’d throw all my morals away for you.”
He gives me a crooked smile that makes my heart gallop in my chest.
“Don’t worry about it now; we’ll figure it out.”
I give him a curt nod like a fucking weirdo before turning and rushing to the restroom. It's not even ten in the morning and I’m already stumbling over myself.
* * *
My mother stayed in bed today, refusing to do more than let me know my father would be calling me to make arrangements. I have mixed feelings for my mom right now. Regardless of everything I learned last night, I know that Valentina is the best mom she could be. She sacrificed for me, continued to fight through the harsh reality she found herself in after my dad left, she made a home for us, strived for us…for me.
But I just can’t seem to truly feel sorry for her. I want to. I want to show my care and love, to be by her side while she cries in her bed, but I can’t.
In all honesty, it should be me in that position.
But I’m taking a page from her book and pushing forward, even though forward means falling into the foggy world my father lives in.
I stare at my phone as it vibrates against the tabletop, my dad’s incoming call daring me to answer. I take a deep calming breath before looking at the door frame where Noah stands silently, his eyes laser focused on me. He gives me a reassuring nod that encourages me to quickly answer the call.
“Hello, Roberto.”
There’s an awkward silence on his end, as though he fully expected me to be exuberant at his call. What a damn fool. I haven’t spoken to my father since he left, not even the day he left. If I remember correctly, the last thing my father said to me before he blessed me with his absence was,‘Weakness is cancerous—you and your mother are terminal.’
If he thinks I’m going to jump for joy at his sudden reappearance in my life, he’ll find himself sorely disappointed.
“Hello, princess.” My lip curls at the endearment. I remember him calling me that, but it was never said with love. It was like a reminder that I was his daughter and that I should strive to be better than perfect, I should strive to beCalavera.
After finding out that my father is basically a king, a master manipulator who rules over a secret society, his endearment makes sense.
“Mother caught me up to speed. But I have a few conditions I will not budge on.”
He laughs amusedly, making my blood boil.
“I’m sorry, but I see nothing funny here, so cut the giggling.” I snarl, making him go silent, “You need me, not the other way around. As far as I’m concerned, you and mom really fucked me over. You more so. If you want me to cooperate, I suggest you pull your head out of your ass or—”
“Or what, little girl?” he interrupts me with a snarl, and I can picture the vein pulsing in his forehead. His tone sends a familiar flash of fear through me which only pisses me off.
I’m not that little girl anymore. I’m not a princess and I’m as fuck not his pawn.
I can hear the cruel smile in my voice as I pick up the phone and bring it closer to my mouth, but there’s no amount of humor inside me, “Or daddy’s little princess will finish what mom started.”
I can hear his heavy breathing, his barely contained rage at my threat, but he knows full fucking well I’ll do it. Play a stupid game with me, you’ll win a cruel prize.
Noah’s eyes glitter with something I can only describe as pride, his bottom lip stuck between his teeth as he watches me threaten my father. Maybe it makes me really fucked up, but I like to imagine my threat turned him on, but I can’t focus on that or I’m liable to make a fool of myself once again.
“I see you’ve changed,mija, but don’t think that my need for you extends to your mother. She’sexpendable.”
That word alone sends a strike of fear through me, but the way he enunciates it makes me feel trapped. He may need me, but I also have no control. With my mother’s wellbeing under threat, I’m stuck under the thumb of a coward willing to hurt the woman he once loved to keep their child in check.
I look up at Noah, seeing anger written in the lines of his face.
“Estas a pañando chivo.”You’re out of line.I tell him, hating that I’m even shocked he’d threaten my mom. I mean, it’s not like she hadn’t already told me she owed him a debt for saving her life.
