“She what?!?” he screams into the kitchen. I cover his mouth with mine, trying to calm him faster and faster. I know how protective and possessive he is over me and his children, but the kids are here and will hear him and anything he does will jeopardize our escape.
“Calm down, babe. I’m fine. We are fine.” I place his hand on my stomach so he can feel his busy son, knowing it will take the red from his eyes.
“We are going to have to move up the timeline, baby. Things are heating up faster than anticipated. Are you ready for that?” he asks me, his eyes sunken with worry. I know his weariness. I have it too.
“I am ready for anything as long as I have you and our children,” I tell him earnestly. He kisses me once more before holding me to him.
“I love you so much, Chas. I promise I won’t ever let anything happen to you or our family.”
“I know my love. I know.” I just hope he can kill his own parents if it comes to it.
Chapter Four
Milo
My mother has crossed a line. A line she can’t come back from. I knew she didn’t like Chassie on principle, given what she was brought here for, but I hoped that her attitude would change as she got to know her, as she gave her grandchildren. That never happened. She’s careful about what she says around me or my father, but according to Chassie she’s ruthless. I believe it. I place a call to Lawrence and wait while it rings.
“Lawrence? This is Camilo Valladares. We need to speed this up. My wife is getting threatened by my piece of shit mother. I can’t abide by that. What else do you need from me?” I ask, ready for this to be over. Ready for this to all be behind us and the future we deserve to be on the horizon.
“Milo. Long time, no talk. Now is the time for hard evidence. We’ve wire-tapped landlines and cell phones until we’re blue in the face but your father is smart. He doesn’t discuss business on unsecure lines. What can you get us?”
“I have access to the ledgers,” I reply simply. I just got access to them this month. My father is actively grooming me to take over the more disturbing aspects of the business. Knowing what’s going on and seeing it in black and white are two entirely different things. I know things about famous people, politicians, and billionaires I never wanted to know.
“Ledgers?”
“Client ledgers, tax records. My father meticulously writes everything down and takes copies of IDs or passports as collateral in case a client talks. I’ve got access to it all.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Lawrence says, chuckling.
“Not at all. He’s crazy in all aspects.”
“All right, get those to me by messenger ASAP. I can take it from there. I’ll be out of town for about a week, an emergency came up, but I will get you and your family out of there as soon as humanly possible.
“Sounds good,” I reply through gritted teeth. I am pissed off right now. I am putting everything on the line, and he has an emergency. What could be more important than this? Suddenly, it dawns on me that he must have a woman. Only a woman would tear a man as dedicated as he is to his job away from it. She must be special indeed and it’s not like I can do anything about it at this point. It is what it is. “I’ll get those books messengered out today.”
Excellent, we’ll speak next week,” he tells me, effectively ending the call.
After hanging up, I go in search of my wife. I find her sitting in the middle of our bed, watching the kids who are watching some God-awful kids show that involves a singing murder of crows.
“How’d that go?” she asks, not looking away from the TV.
“Not great. We’re still about a week out,” I say, unable to keep my anger out of my voice. That gets her to look up and over at me.
“What’s another week? We’ve already been in limbo for seven years. A week is nothing comparatively,” she giggles.
“You’re right. Of course you’re right,” I say. My anger subsides but a healthy dose of caution takes its place.
“Let’s take the kids into Havana for dinner tonight and get out of here for a little bit. What do you think?”
“That sounds perfect. Maybe we’ll go down to the b-e-a-c-h and s-w-i-m,” I say, hoping that by spelling things out, the kids won’t get too excited.
“We’re going to the beach to swim?” Gen asks excitedly. Of course. That girl is going places, I swear. She is going to be the best of us.
“Yes. Now go get ready and help your siblings, please.”