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If it eats him or not, I don’t care.
If Dalian is dragged into the marsh and torn apart by the various animals there, so be it.
I call this divine fate.
Meeting Israel’s eyes, I nod toward a passed-out Montgomery. No wonder his crying stopped. “Get him up and in the car. We’ll be heading out soon.”
“Yes, sir.” Israel rounds up the others and while they carry Kyle away, I look at my father.
“Will you be okay while I’m gone?”
“We’ll be fine.” Dad’s pensive for a moment. I can see he has questions.
“Go ahead and ask.” Leisurely, we walk back toward the tourist trails and parking area. “What’s on your mind?”
“Are you sure this is how you want to handle the situation with Amberlyn?”
“Do I want to be away from her? No. No, I don’t.”
“But—”
“But I’m doing the best I can to make sure that woman never knows fear or the pain of losing someone she cares about. Staying away is how I prove my love. The only thing I’m guilty of is being selfish in my belief that she’ll be there when I come back.”
He nods, rubbing his chin. “Will you be back after D.C.?” I shake my head. “Then where are you going?”
“I’m going to personally deliver some bad news to President Rodriguez.”
“Do you need me with you?”
“No, old man.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “This is something I have to do on my own.”
“You’re carrying too much weight on those shoulders, kid. What happened five years ago was not your fault.”
“We all have different points of view, and mine sees a picture that others don’t.”
“And the truth is, you’re being stubborn. Let it go, and live.”
“I am living.” I’m building our future.
20
I’M SITTING inside Amberlyn’s living room later that evening, watching as the sun begins to set while flicking my eyes to the front door every few minutes. The silence inside her home is comforting and brings forth a sense of peace I’ve been missing and couldn’t help but return to.
Being here was never in my plans. Not until I could offer her what she deserves.
And maybe my father’s right and I’m carrying five years' worth of recrimination, but failing my family isn’t something I can get past. Did I save my father’s life? Yes, but at the same time, I made a costly mistake that led to Thiago’s arrest.
Stepping outside the Versailles Restaurant in Coral Gables after a last-minute fishing trip, I was full and tired. My job today was simple: guard the two old men talking shop and about my brother’s ascension to head of the family. This man is a client, someone who buys large quantities of perico for private consumption while entertaining in the Bahamas.
Cocaine is his drug of choice, and we have the best quality. With imports from Colombia and the UK, the De Leons have managed to overthrow all other vendors while evading local police and DEA.
“So you’ll have my order in two weeks?” We’re at the client’s trunk now, my eyes surveying the parking lot. “I know it’s last minute, but there’s a private swingers meetup I’m hosting and—”
“Done deal. You’ll get it two days before.” Dad extends a hand while with the other, he accepts a briefcase the older gentleman pulls from the inside.
The black case has a number lock, and I raise a brow. “I’ll need the code to verify.”
“Of course.” He pulls out his phone and shows me the screen. 0916
