Page 29 of Branches of Betrayal

“Maybe. We have some avenues I’m looking into but I have to be careful before taking action. I won’t risk my daughter’s life.”

Peyton nodded, a sadness hanging in the air around her, and Hadina squeezed her hand. She knew that Peyton was wondering what had went wrong in Demi’s fucked up brain to make her burn out the maternal instinct that society projected onto women. She didn’t blame the woman for not wanting kids, but Hadina blamed her—and wanted to kill her—for the absolute hell she had caused Peyton.

The sound of Itza’s laugh echoed throughout the large house, breaking the tension in the room. Darío leaned his head back, taking another puff of his cigar, a small smile on his handsome face.

“She’s happy here, huh?”

The question was a loaded one that made Hadina’s heart break a little. Darío wanted his daughter to be happy, but it was bittersweet for him to know that she was happy in a home so far away from him. He loved and missed his daughter, Hadina knew, and it broke him to not see her very often.

“She is…” Hadina answered, treading carefully. “She loves the home I’ve created for her here. But–It’s not reallyhomewhen her father isn’t here. She may not know you properly, but shelovesyou.”

“I want to bring her home.”

Hadina began to laugh but stopped abruptly when Peyton tensed beside her. Darío’s face stayed stoic and dread hit her gut like a gunshot. “You’re not joking.”

Darío shrugged. “Like you said, this isn’t home. She belongs with me and I belong in Puerto Vallarta. I want her to come home with me; to be with me andmyfamily.”

“You would be taking her from all she knows,” Peyton said softly, squeezing Hadina’s hand as though she knew that the fire within her was about to burn out of control. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Fair?I have had to live without MY daughter for years. How isthatfair?!”

Unwavering and without flinching at the anger in his voice, Peyton stood up, facing Darío at her full height. “You have lived without your daughter because ofyouractions. Hadina has been the one to raise your child, keep her safe, show her what unconditional love is. Hadina gave your child a family and now you want to rip her away from that.”

“She’s right,hermano,” Hadina agreed, standing beside her woman. “I understand how you feel—really, I do. But ripping her away from her life here isn’t the right thing to do.”

Darío puffed from his cigar, his fist clenching and unclenching by his side. He stood and began pacing, his body stiff and tense. “Who are you to tell me what the right thing is? Itza ismineand I will make the decisions for her and her future.”

Shaking her head, Hadina took a step forward, moving herself into Darío’s space. “Firstly, I’ll remind you who you are talking to. Here, you are inmycountry andmyhome. The homeI madefor your daughter. The daughterIraised. I swore to protect her for you, to love her when you weren’t here to do it, and I’ve done everything you have asked of me.” The slight crack in her voice betrayed the emotion Hadina was usually so good at burying beneath the surface. “But Darío, I love that child. She may not be mine—not by blood—but I love her as though she was. And if I truly thought you taking her to Mexico was the best thing for her, I wouldn’t stand in your way. Believe me when Isay, this is the wrong decision. You can’t take her from here and force her into a new, dangerous life overnight.”

“Chinga tu madre!You don’t get to tell me what I can and cannot do. My child belongs with me!”

Hadina threw her hands into the air. “How about you ask Itza whatshewants?”

“How about you–”

“Enough!” Peyton yelled, positioning herself between Darío and Hadina. “Stop squabbling like fucking children! There arewaymore important things happening right now that require immediate attention. This can be discussed later.”

Darío sighed, stepping back. “Sí, ella tiene razón.We have business to attend to; enemies to kill. But Hadina,” he warned, “You have to get used to the idea of my daughter being with me full time. I’m hosting the annual horse races back home in about three months, and Itza will be one of my riders. She’ll be in Mexico with her family and I have no intention of her leaving us again. Three months,hermana, and then I want my daughter with me.”

Chapter 18

Peyton

After Hadinaand Darío’s argument, the house was tense. Peyton assumed the two must have had talks later, because the following days were spent living almost carefree. Peyton got to know both Itza and Darío, and understood why Hadina found herself so attached to both people. But the idea of Itza leaving sparked fear even in her heart, so it was unimaginable how Hadina was feeling.

“Why are we going to this dinner?” she asked Hadina, throwing herself onto the bed as she watched her love shimmy into her dress.

“Because these people are important to Darío, and that little fucker matters to me. I want to meet his family and…”

“You want to see the people Itza will be living with when he takes her from you,” Peyton finished for her. Hadina nodded.

“I trust him, but I want to see for myself. Besides, Itza has Darío wrapped around her fingers so someone needs to be there to keep that girl in line.”

Peyton chuckled. “Don’t pretend she doesn’t have you wrapped around her finger too.”

Hadina paused from putting on her lipstick, turning her gaze directly to Peyton. Her eyes danced with mischief and Peyton squealed as Hadina leapt onto the bed, straddling her legs. “You’re going to ruin my reputation if you say stuff like that.”

The black dress had rolled up Hadina’s thighs as she climbed onto the bed and Peyton couldn’t help but let her hands roam over the exposed skin. She never grew tired of watching as Hadina’s eyes closed at her touch, her plump lips parting slightly to breathe heavier. Only Peyton could have that effect on her, and she was absolutely drunk on that knowledge.

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