The only family I had left that I know of—and that I trust enough not to try and marry me off—is my dad’s brother, Uncle Jack, and his wife, Aunt Minnie. They have two kids, from what I can remember, Clark and Jennifer, but we were so young the last time we saw one another that they probably don’t even remember me.
Uncle Jack and Aunt Minnie didn’t attend my wedding. They’d made up an excuse about how they didn’t like to travel that far, but something deep in my gut tells me now that they just didn’t like Toni.
I remember Uncle Jack coming around, but never directly speaking to Toni. Uncle Jack had even dropped out of my dad’s business when he saw Toni getting higher rank, but he still ran his own business, which still required security guards.
Daddy has another brother, and a sister.
My uncle Ken will try to marry me off.
My aunt Natasha will try to marry me off, too.
Even my grandmother Veronica, will try to marry me off—all for the money. All because they know how much I am worth, and that the vilest men in his world will pay a pretty penny, just to get me pregnant and weave our bloodlines.
Dad never trusted any of them but Uncle Jack. Yes, he had Ken working for him, but it was always at a distance. Ken never sat at my dad’s table. He always kept me close and kept them at arms length. The only time we would all get together was for every other Thanksgiving or Christmas, and even then, Daddy always went with two guns, three knives and two of his best guards.
The jet finally comes to a stop, and as soon as it does, Emilio is standing and reaching into the bin above his head. He takes down two magenta suitcases and then looks at me.
“Are you ready, Patrona?”
Pressing my lips, I unclip my seatbelt and stand. No, I’m not ready. No, I don’t want to go. But I know I have no choice. He won’t let me stay. If I had a gun, I’d put it to his and the pilot’s heads and demand they return me to him.
But I don’t.
So I go.
Just as I start to follow after Emilio, I see a black SUV pull closer to the jet. A man in a navy blue suit steps out, sunglasses covering his eyes. He walks in front of the truck with his arms crossed in front of him.
I frown a bit. He’s unfamiliar to me.
Emilio sees him too and places the suitcases down before he exits the jet. As he walks down the stairs, I see him draw a black handgun on the way. I rush to the window, watching as he holds it at his side. The man standing in front of the SUV immediately draws his when he spots it.
Emilio says something, and the man answers, and then the man steps around to the back door, pulling it open. A tall, familiar man with a thick, brown beard steps out. He looks much different than the last time I saw him—then again, the last time I saw him, I was fifteen years old.
He’s wearing a black leather jacket, a collared gray shirt beneath it. He shuts the door behind him and walks toward Emilio, taking out his wallet and showing him his credentials.
Relief washes over me, only a small ounce. That’s him. Uncle Jack. He looks different, like he’s gained a few pounds, but in a healthy way. His brown hair is longer, curling behind his ears, and his smile is just as charming as he assures Emilio everything is alright.
Seeing it soothes the storm brewing inside me.
After Emilio reads over his information, he nods and hands it back, then turns for the jet again. He hustles back up the stairs and I ask, “Is everything okay?”
“Great, Patrona. Come with me.” He grabs the suitcases and walks back down. I follow him out, surprised at how chilly it is. I’m only wearing a trench coat over a nightgown, and a pair of flip-flops. As I walk down, I see snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Where the hell are we?
I make it down the final step, and Uncle Jack steps forward, smiling broadly—until he notices what I’m wearing. His smile collapses, but he opens his arms, and I walk into them, wishing I was happier than I am in this moment.
Months ago I would have been eager and ready to walk into his arms—ready to be around anyone who wasn’t Draco—but now…it’s a hollow victory.
“He kept his word,” he sighs.
“Who?” I ask, looking up at him.
“The man who held you captive. The Jefe.” He frowns a bit. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, shivering.
He notices and then looks me up and down. “Come on, let’s get you to the truck where it’s warm.” He starts to escort me that way, but I pause, looking back at Emilio.