Page 2 of Now and Forever

“Do you know what it’s about? Is there a problem?” I’d noticed he seemed preoccupied earlier. That wasn’t unusual, considering his responsibilities as a top lieutenant of the Roríguez cartel. There were always fires that required his attention. His preoccupation was something my siblings and I learned to live with early on.

Mom reached for my hand. “Life changes.” She inhaled. “Emiliano understood his responsibilities.” She was speaking of my older brother. “There aren’t college courses to help him with his future.”

No, Em was male. His place was learning from our father. It was different for me. I was a woman. Tilting my head and smiling, I replied, “You know Patron would never allow women in the cartel, not doing what Papá and Em do.”

She inhaled and gave my hand a squeeze. “Hear your father out. There are more responsibilities than being a soldier.”

It was my turn to furrow my brow. “What are you saying?”

“Go. Your father is waiting.”

My heartbeat quickened as I slid the glass door aside and walked into the house. The level of noise increased with the numerous people scurrying from here to there. Lola, our housekeeper, directed the workers and caterers as they set up for my graduation party. With our furniture moved away, tables seemed to spring up like mushrooms amongst our holiday decor. Certain events required celebration. As one of the first college graduates of my generation in our family, today was one such event.

As I took in the people wearing black slacks and white tops hustling from place to place, I wondered again why this talk with my father couldn’t wait.

“Buenos dias.” The greetings came with smiles and nods from the busy workers readying for the influx of guests.

I recalled the hubbub for my quinceañera, the party that signified my becoming a woman. It was hard to believe that my party was eight years ago—my fifteenth birthday. Camila’s was three years ago, yet I still thought of her as a child.

Climbing the front staircase, my heels clicked on the marble steps. Still wearing the white dress I’d chosen for my graduation, I made my way to the second floor. Papá’s office was near the top of the stairs across an expansive landing. Two intimidating oversized doors acted as the barrier between his businesses and our family’s home.

His and Mom’s suite was to the left, and the children’s wing was to the right. Even in our twenties, Em and I were still their children. However, moving out on my own was something I was ready to discuss.

I knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Papá called.

Pushing the door inward, I took in my father seated behind his desk, the place where he could most often be found. The suit coat he’d worn to my graduation was draped over the back of his tall leather chair. His tie was loosened, and his sleeves were rolled to his elbows. As soon as I entered, he lifted his gaze to me, and a smile replaced his look of concern. “Cat.”

“Mama said you wanted to speak to me before the party.”

Papá nodded and stood. Walking around his desk he took one of the two chairs facing the large wooden monstrosity. He gestured to the other chair. “Have a seat. We need to talk.”

Despite a twisting in my stomach, I did as he asked, smoothing the skirt of my dress over my knees, tucking the material around my legs, and crossing my ankles beneath the chair. A proper lady.

Papá sat back and exhaled. “Your mama and I are proud of you, Catalina. She wanted you to have your dream of education.”

With my lips together, I nodded. I knew they were proud. I also knew something was happening with this talk. I fought the urge to encourage him to get on with it.

He continued, “I didn’t want to concern you before your graduation. Times are changing. I’ve never lied to you about what we do, what our family does. We have our restaurants and clubs, and you know that as my daughter your loyalty is to Jorge Roríguez.”

Loyalty was something we’d heard all of our lives. It wasn’t difficult to agree. “Yes.”

“Emiliano swore his life to the cartel—an oath that is unbreakable. As a woman, you’re not asked to make the oath. Nevertheless, the loyalty is expected.”

“Do you want me to work for one of the clubs or restaurants? I have offers?—”

Papá lifted his hand. “Patron will be here this evening.”

The small hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention as they always did when Jorge Roríguez was present, in the same way lightning rods alerted us to storms. “You didn’t tell me.” I feigned a smile. “That’s nice of him to come for my graduation all the way from Mexico.” The last time I’d seen him was at Camila’s quinceañera.

“He had business in the States.” He sighed. “There have been difficulties with Homeland Security and border crossings, but those are more manageable. The continued problems with the Russians and Taiwanese are getting worse. As of late, they’ve even tried to recruit our soldiers. Jorge believes it is time to make new alliances.”

My mind was scrambling. “We have alliances with Uncle Nicolas and other top lieutenants.”

“Sí,” Papá replied. “We haveourpeople, but Jorge has decided it’s time to look for support outside the cartel, to other organizations.”

“Outside the cartel?”

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