Of course, if El Diablo was already in cahoots with our half-brother, that plan was already in motion by the time we signed contracts for Petróleo, if not before.
It would have been before if the goal was to take everything. That makes sense, and I can only start pinpointing things from when people were considered dead.
I’ll take a few days off then resume everything on Tuesday by looking through Eduardo’s stuff again. I’ll get Cristiano to meet me at the storage facility, and we’ll take it from there. The break should give me a chance to focus and, more importantly, cool off. Hopefully, when I get back on track, things will fall into place.
If they do, I’ll be able to figure things out a bit better. Right now, my mind is too clouded to do anything.
With that plan in mind, I take some time to cool off in the woods and head home a few hours later. By then, it’s nightfall.
I don’t expect to see Lucia, so I’m surprised when I walk in Mia’s room and find her singing to my little girl.
Neither sees or hears me come in, so I wait by the door until Lucia stops singing.
It’s Mia’s bedtime, and I’ve heard singing helps to soothe her, but she looks just as energized as she does during the daytime.
“More song, Lucia,” Mia says, clapping her tiny hands.
Lucia smiles. “It’s bedtime, baby. You need to sleep.” She makes a show of putting her hands together and resting her head on them while she snores.
Mia only laughs.
“You sound like piggy.”
Lucia bursts out laughing, which only makes Mia laugh even more. I’ve never seen anybody have so much fun with a one-year-old who wasn’t theirs.
Lucia goes to answer her but stops when she sees me.
The look in her eyes is quite unlike how I’m used to her looking at me. There is no desire in her eyes. Instead, she gives me a guarded look, and even though I’m across the room, I can smell the fear oozing from her body.
We’re not in a relationship, but it felt like we were. That’s a big deal for me to even admit to myself. Last night fucked things up.
I cross the distance between us, and she rises.
Mia sees me, and it’s like watching her on Christmas Day when she was trying to tear open her gifts.
Her face lights up, and her little legs carry her to me. I pick her up and hold her.
“Hi, baby girl.”
“Papa Uncle.” I still haven’t corrected her. I still don’t want to.
“I hope you don’t mind me hanging out with her,” Lucia says when I look at her.
“Of course not. You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but tell her that. All she needs to do is see me. It was easier to take her. I didn’t have anything planned anyway.” She tries to smile, but it doesn’t come.
“Thank you.”
“It’s okay.” She presses her lips together. “Estelle made us cookies, so we’re probably hyped up on sugar.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just tired, but don’t worry about me. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” I steady my thoughts and nod. I feel like there are a million things I have to say to her. Last night is still left out in the open, and I know she must have questions.
“I was worried,” she confesses.