Page 21 of Snatched Up By the Cartel

Javier's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and something darker — a hint of the life Mateo had left behind. He was a hardened foe. He was ready to strike against us at any moment.

"I have a proposition for you, Solstice. A chance to get back in the game."

Mateo's jaw clenched, his eyes hardening. Javier was doing that, but he already knew the answer he was going to get. He was only doing what he was as a formality.

"I told you, Javier, I'm out. I'm not going back to that life."

Javier's gaze flicked to me, his eyes narrowing as he took in my presence. I took a step back. I didn't want him to focus on me.

"Oh, I see," he said, mocking both of us. "You've gone soft, Solstice. Love will do that to a man."

Javier had never felt loved by anyone. That was the real reason why he said what he did.

Mateo's grip on my hand tightened further, his body tense, his eyes flashing with anger. "Get out, Javier," he snarled. "Before I forget our friendship and put a bullet between your eyes."

Javier held up his hands in a placating gesture, his eyes hardening. It was obvious he didn't take his threats seriously. He was cocky.

"Fine, fine. I'll go. But think about my offer, Solstice. The cartel always has a place for a man with your skills." With a final, mocking glance in my direction, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows.

The silence that followed was heavy, the air thick with unspoken words and the weight of Mateo's past. Relief washed over me. Seriously? That was it? I thought they were going to brawl.

I turned to Mateo, my eyes searching his face, seeing the turmoil reflected in his golden gaze. He ran his hand through his hair, looking tense and anxious. I was feeling the same way.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," he said, his voice rough. "Javier was a friend once, but I made my choice. I left that life behind, and I don't intend to go back."

I nodded, my hand squeezing his, offering what comfort I could. I understood why he didn't want to talk about his past, but I would still prefer to be prepared for eventualities like the one we just dealt with.

"I know," I said softly. "And I'm proud of you for leaving that life. It couldn't have been easy." It really, really hadn't been. It was, after all, before moving in with me, the only thing he knew.

He offered me a small smile, his eyes softening. "It wasn't," he admitted. "But you gave me the strength to walk away. I would do it all over again for you, little omega."

My heart swelled at his words, the depth of his love and devotion wrapping around me like a warm blanket. Even after all this time, he still called me 'little omega'. It was cute and endearing.

"I know," I whispered, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his lips. "And I love you for it."

He kissed me back, his arms tightening around me, his touch a source of comfort and safety. He washed away the terrible feelings that were beginning to surge within me. He could do that like nobody else.

But as we pulled apart, the weight of what had just transpired lingered, a reminder that Mateo's past was never far behind. Would we ever be safe? I knew we probably wouldn't.

The next few days were tense, the air between us heavy with words we didn't want to say and the knowledge that we needed to address the elephant in the room. We kept thinking about it, but for the most part, we ignored the possibility of bringing it up in a conversation.

Mateo's encounter with Javier had brought to light the sacrifices he had made for our future, and I knew it was time to confront the truth. After all, we were planning on having babies and I wanted to make sure that our environment was going to be safe for them.

One evening, as we sat curled up on the couch, the soft glow of the fireplace casting a warm ambiance, I took a deep breath and turned to face him. I really, really didn't want to talk about this, but it couldn't be ignored anymore.

"We need to talk," I said softly, my eyes searching his. My heart was hammering in my chest. I didn't think I had ever felt so nervous before in my life.

He nodded, his eyes narrowing, knowing that this conversation wouldn't be an easy one. "I know," he said, his voice steady. "I've been waiting for this."

He was already waiting? Regardless, I took a steadying breath, my heart still pounding in my chest. It felt like no matter how much I tried to control it, it wasn't going to be enough.

The weight of the secret I carried had grown heavier with each passing day, threatening to crush me under the burden of my own deception. That was the real reason why I was doing this.

I knew I had to tell Mateo the truth about how I'd gotten us out of prison, but the words stuck in my throat, my fear of his reaction keeping me silent.

"Rylan," he said, noticing how troubled I looked. "Something's been troubling you. I can see it in your eyes. Whatever it is, you can tell me."

I took a steadying breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "It's about how we got out of prison," I began, my voice shaking slightly. "I know you've been wondering, and I—"

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