Page 66 of Now and Forever

Her tone lightened. “I’m registered for sixteen.”

We went on talking about her classes. Her enthusiasm emanated through her words. Camila had always been a good student. We both were. Em could have been if he’d been allowed to go to college. Instead, he’s working for Papá.

“Enough about me,” Camila said. “Other than missing me terribly, how are you?”

Leaning back on the chaise, I spun the stem of the wine glass as I spoke. “I’m honestly good.”

“What’s Dario like?”

A smile curled my lips that a week ago I couldn’t even imagine. “He’s caring and protective.”

“That doesn’t sound like you’re describing Kansas City’s future capo.”

I thought about what Contessa had said. “Is it bad that I see him for what he is when he’s with me, not what he does when he’s away?”

“I guess not,” she replied. “We’ve been doing it all of our lives with Papá and Uncle Nicolas and Uncle Gerardo, now even with Em and Nick.”

“I think that makes it easier. Contrary to what Em said, I see a lot of similarities between the famiglia and cartel.” I remembered Mireya. “Have you heard anything about another marriage?”

“Yours just happened. Who’s next?”

“It was a rumor.” I didn’t want to worry my sister if Uncle Nicolas’s negotiations went astray.

“Did Dario say something?” Her volume rose. “Oh God. Patron isn’t sending someone else to the Mafia, is he? Or is this about Uncle Gerardo?”

“Camila,” I said soothingly. “Neither to my knowledge. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. And no, it wasn’t from Dario.”

My sister lowered her voice. “I overheard Papá, Uncle Nick, and Uncle Gerardo on the flight home.”

My smile returned. Camila always had a talent for eavesdropping.

She went on, “They had to do damage control with Patron.”

“What happened?”

“I’ve been wanting to talk to someone about it. I guess Aléjandro got into a fight after the reception.”

“I didn’t hear about that. Was the fight with someone from the famiglia?”

“I don’t know. Patron was already upset that Ana and Elizondro were at the wedding. He wanted to know who invited them.”

Shit.

My smile faded. “I honestly don’t know. They weren’t on the list when I saw it.” Or when Dario’s famiglia approved it.

“Papá said he tried to calm Patron down about the Herreras, saying you and Ana were close in high school.”

“I went to see her today,” I said, though I was feeling guiltier about it by the minute.

“Ana? She’s still in Kansas City?”

“Yeah. She emailed me. I don’t know anyone else here, so I thought visiting her would be a good thing.”

“I bet Patron would be pissed if he found out. I didn’t realize the bad blood there.”

“I don’t think I did either. Ana didn’t mention it.”

We talked for a few more minutes. By the time we disconnected our call, my third glass of wine was gone, and I was feeling tired. I took the glass to the kitchen. The hum of the dishwasher filled the room. The counters were clean and even the range top shone. Setting the glass down in the sink, I remembered Dario mentioning the wine cellar.

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