Page 8 of Now and Forever

There had never been love lost between the cartel and the Mafia. “Why the Mafia?”

Em’s expression twisted. “Make a list. They want our product. They have more money than God, and they’ve worked longer at padding the pockets of people who will turn their backs if we make this deal. The fucking Russians and Taiwanese are working to cut us out of our own backyard. It’s time to make the yard bigger and bring in new bullies.”

“The KC Mob is the bully you want?”

“Want? Fuck no. But it’s a bully who will help.” He grinned his familiar brotherly smile. “Are you ready to face Patron?”

“No.” I reached for his hand. “Let’s go.”

* * *

Em didn’t knockbefore opening the doors to Papá’s office. Patron and Papá stood as I smiled at the assembly of both powerful men and their wives.

“Catalina,hermosa. You are a stunning woman,” Josefina Roríguez said with a smile and a thick accent.

It was hard to believe such a lovely and pleasant woman would have raised a son who was an ass like Aléjandro. The jury was still out on Reinaldo. He was Camila’s age.

“Gracias, señora.” I turned to Patron. “Buenas noches, señor.”

After a look from my father, Mama stood and guided Josefina out of the office, making a comment about showing her around the house and getting her some of the delicious food. Em shut the doors after stepping out of the room. The end result was me standing in front of Patron and my father, feeling vulnerable in the navy dress.

“Catalina,” Patron said with a smile, his eyes traveling from my shoes to my hair. “Your father told me what an accomplished young woman you’ve become. I remember your quinceañera. You were to be a woman, but I never could have predicted how well you would turn out.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Cat,” Papá said, “have a seat.”

The two men weren’t sitting around Papá’s desk. Instead, they’d been sitting with their wives in a grouping of chairs near a fireplace. I took the seat my mother had vacated.

Patron sat forward. “Your father tells me you have agreed to do what is needed.”

Trying to keep my focus on Patron, I stole a quick glance at my father. “Yes, sir. My loyalty is to Roríguez. If it is your will that I marry Dario Luciano, I will do it.”

He sat back with a growing smile as he spoke to Papá. “If I had daughters, I would want them to be like yours, Andrés.”

I forced my smile to stay in place as my father was praised for selling his daughter like a rancher selling off a prize filly. It seemed Mireya was right;soldwas a more accurate description.

“Cat?”

My eyes opened wide. I must have been blocking their conversation. “Yes.”

“Jorge was confirming your willingness to meet Dario two weeks from yesterday.”

Do I have a choice?

Swallowing any retort, I smiled at Papá. “I’m sure you’ll work out the details.”

“Vincent,” Patron said, “has requested that the wedding take place at his country home.”

My gaze went to Papá. Wasn’t it customary for the bride’s family to take care of the wedding? Wouldn’t he want my wedding to be here?

I saw too soon by Papá’s reaction that he would acquiesce. Apparently, this too was already planned.

“He has a mansion in the Ozarks,” Patron said. “Summer would be best.”

“Summer. This summer?”

“Yes, in June.”

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