Page 49 of Seeds of Sorrow

Hadina let out a sigh, resigned to the fact she would always give into Peyton, would tell her anything she wanted. Hadina would burn the world and stand in the flames if Peyton wished it. She turned to stare straight ahead, looking at the images on the wall. Most of the rooms had family photos framed and displayed, though it made Hadina’s heart ache when she looked at hermama.

“It was chaotic,” Hadina said, a fond smile breaking free, “but beautiful. My mom wasalwaysin the kitchen cooking, making a complete mess. I used to come home from school and it was like she’d emptied the cupboards out. It didn’t matter what she was making, she could never keep the place clean while she did it.Papiwould shake his head, throw up his hands and say,‘Eres la mujer más desordenada del planeta!’which she took offense to because, in her mind, she absolutely wasnotthe messiest woman on the planet. But then she’d look around her, see the flour covering the surfaces or broken eggshells on the floor, and they’d both burst into laughter.”

“You must miss her,” Peyton said quietly, linking their fingers together.

Hadina looked at their joined hands, emotion swelling inside her. “Mucho.She would have loved you, though I imagine she’d have been throwing herchanclasat me for letting you get dragged into this mess.”

Peyton squeezed Hadina’s hand. “Maybe so, but I’d have convinced her that this is my choice and what I want—just like I convinced you.”

“Jury is still out on that one.”

“I’m going to beat your ass!”

Hadina wiggled her eyebrows. “Is that a promise?”

* * *

“There’ssomething off about this whole thing.” Hadina sighed and gratefully accepted a cup of coffee proffered by her father. She had been scouring over CCTV footage for the past two days, desperate to find answers in the hours of video feed. So far, all she had found was more anger and frustration.

“Confía en tus instintos, mija.Your gut has rarely ever been wrong over the years, so trust yourself. If you think something is off, keep searching until you find the answers.” Her father leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

Hadina forced a smile and watched him walk out of the office before burying herself under hours of footage. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Peyton walked in, a plate of tacos in one hand and a glass of fresh orange juice in the other. Hadina blinked and Peyton let out a soft chuckle.

“It’s almost seven, baby. You’ve been in here for hours and haven’t eaten a thing.”

Hadina shrugged. “Work is more important.”

Peyton rolled her eyes and perched on the edge of the desk, sitting the plate down beside her. “So is your health. You can’t help other people if you make yourself sick by not eating.”

“That’s what mymamaused to say too,” Hadina admitted. A small blush heated her cheeks at the thought. She wished her mother were alive to have met Peyton, knowing she would have adored her. Hadina didn’t think anyone could meet Peyton and not automatically love her.

Except Zellie. But she was a bitch anyway.

“Let me take over?” Peyton asked, already pulling up a seat beside Hadina and pushing her to the side. Hadina opened her mouth to argue but Peyton fixed her with a sharp stare. “Eat. I’ll watch.”

The grumbling of her stomach was the only thing that stopped Hadina from trying to argue further. She looked down at the plate of tacos and found her mouth already salivating. The scent of the spices wafted in the air and she lifted one to her lips, taking a bite as Peyton scrolled through hours of footage.

“Santa mierda,” Hadina said through a mouthful of food, the myriad of flavors eliciting a small groan. Peyton looked up from the screen, appearing pleased with herself. “Where did you learn to make these, baby?”

Peyton practically beamed as she turned back to the computer, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. “I found a little box in one of the kitchen drawers and it had a bunch of handwritten recipes. The one for tacos looked like the least complicated so there was less chance of me fucking it up.”

Hadina felt emotion clog the back of her throat as she took another bite, savoring the taste. The moment that first piece of beeffajitahit her tongue, she knew instantly that it was her mother’s recipe. While nobody could replicate her mother’s amazing skills in the kitchen—not even her father, who had tried, many times—Peyton had come pretty damn close to matching the recipe. There was something missing, but Hadina felt that even when she cooked herself. Nobody had the talent like hermamabut the fact Peyton had tried would have been enough to bring tears to her eyes.

“Tentadora,” Hadina said softly. “Look at me.”

Peyton peered up sheepishly, her cheeks tinged pink. Hadina leaned forward and captured her lips, kissing her tenderly. She hoped that the depth of her thanks shone through that kiss, showing just how much it meant to her.

“You like them?”

Hadina nodded, taking another bite. “They’re delicious. They taste exactly how I remember.”

As the pair exchanged a look, Hadina could feel the tears nipping her eyes as she watched Peyton’s glaze over. She was tempted to let them fall, allow both of them a break from being brave. But they had too much to do and too much to fight for; the walls had to stay up for just a while longer.

“Anything yet?” Hadina asked, nodding her head towards the CCTV as she devoured the last taco on her plate.

“Maybe?” Peyton said, self-doubt creeping into her voice.

“Go on.”

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