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I recognize an obsessed man when I see one. One question is…why is he obsessed with her? He’s been fucking around a lot, so he can’t be in love with the woman.
So what does he want from her?
“We find his weakness, and we will use it against him.”
“You want us to kidnap a woman?” Octavius asks, and Remi groans. “The purpose of this meeting was to minimize the damage, not increase it.”
“Considering he’s in a hunting mood, I think the woman will be grateful we’re trying to save her from him.” I put my glass away and get up, cracking my neck from side to side. “Either way, this wedding is not happening.”
Over my dead body.
“The news about our conflict spread through various brotherhoods and reached our enemies. We survive in unity, so they might come after us, expecting an easy prey.” I glance at Remi, who’s twisting his wedding band on his finger. “Right now, those are just speculations, but once they have confirmation? They will attack. We’re on borrowed time, Florian. My woman is the most important thing in my life, and I can’t have her safety jeopardized in any way. You know how these fuckers operate, they will go after our wives.”
“You have to accept that we might never have a brotherhood again.” They both freeze as I voice the truth none of us wants to hear. Ever since the blowup at my godparents’ house, we’ve all avoided the topic and barely talk about Santiago unless it concerns the conflict. Remi was adamant about it, saying he wasn’t playing sides or going behind his friend’s back in anything. They both assume he’ll accept it all, but I know Cortez men.
They rarely deal with things they despise, and right now, I’m enemy number one to them all.
“There is the possibility that Santiago will never be able to look past this betrayal. He took off his ring and ignores even Octavius.” They both drink their whiskey, and I can almost feel the tension polluting the air. “So I suggest we create our own plans in case shit like this happens.”
The Dark Protégés and several crime syndicates, all our acquaintances from over the years…once all the underground brotherhoods heard about the divide, they called us individually and voiced their loyalties.
The only one who stayed neutral among them was Lachlan, and that’s because he found the entire situation absurd.
“He’s lashing out. You know that, right?” Remi asks, and I nod, although the knowledge does little to soothe the sting. I’ve been here for him every step of the way, and he couldn’t look past my love for his sister to salvage our friendship? Somehow as the time passed, I became angrier with Santiago, and my own resentment grew. “He’s hurting, and he hates this as much as anyone else. There is hope.” A beat passes. “Maybe he will soften up once his nephew or niece is here.”
I smile at the thought of my baby, who’s been kicking like crazy and greeting me every single time I interact with his mama, but it quickly turns into a scowl. “Nephew. We’re incapable of producing girls.”
“There is always a possibility.” He leans back on the chair and sips his whiskey. “A small chance, but it’s there.”
His words send an odd sense of panic through me, imagining a little angel that looks exactly like her mama and attracting the attention of men?
Men who will have only one thing in mind?
No fucking way.
At the same time, though…having a little Jimena mini-me makes my heart ache, and I almost wish for it to come true, but my protectiveness overpowers anything else.
“I’m not having a girl.”
“You look tense. Do you think he’s tense?” Remi asks Octavius, who just laughs. “What is it, Florian? An ex-manwhore doesn’t like to think he might have a girl?” He gasps dramatically while my frown only grows, and my fist clenches as I talk myself out of snapping his neck. “That would be poetic justice to the entire dynasty, actually.”
“What poetic justice, asshole? I’ve never given anyone any hope or picked women who wanted commitment. And can you not talk about other women, please?” I don’t want to think about my life before Jimena because no one but her exists for me. There is a place only for her.
“Now you made it interesting.” He gets up and walks around the chair, nudging Octavius with his elbow. “How about a little bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“I’m saying Florian will have a girl, and you’re betting on the son.”
“What if I want to bet on the girl as well?”
“Come on, Octavius. You have a ninety percent chance of victory in this.” A beat passes. “Plus, this subject makes Florian break out in a sweat. He deserves it for putting us through hell lately.”
“Would you both stop?” Why the fuck do they think they can bet on my child?
The baby is mine!
They ignore me, of course, and Octavius crosses his arms. “What are the terms?
