Page 60 of Bound to the Crime Lord

“Respect?” Diego scoffed. “You want me to show respect when all your mother did was scheme and steal. Papa wasnothing but a weak man who allowed some good pussy to get in the way of what he could have built with my mother.”

“Diego, I am so sorry about your parents. But no one schemed over anyone. I loved your father, and he loved me. Jasmine was just caught in a very tragic situation that I am deeply sorry for.” Even as Rosa spoke, her words cracked and squeaked from the emotion that welled in her throat. The sincerity in this woman’s voice moved even me.

I could see it in her eyes. The regret and the pain. She has had to carry so much for decades. it could not have been easy on her heart.

He’s been through much pain, some of which I caused.

I looked between the two brothers and Rosa. It was all somehow coming together. I was still missing a few puzzle pieces, but I could make sense of what was going on, now.

“Diego,mijo, if you want to punish someone, then you should punish me.” Rosa’s confession threw everyone off. All eyes turned to her in shock and bewilderment. “Your father should have taken you in as his son. He shouldn’t have shunned you because of Jasmine, and I should have fought harder for you against him. You never deserved to feel unloved or unwanted. You were loved,mijo. I would have loved you, and I can still love you today, if you will allow me.”

Diego’s lips trembled. “Shut the fuck up. Keep your fucking love and apologies. It’s too late.”

Rosa shook her head, trying to reason with the grown man. “It’s not too late. Your pain, I know it’s there. But the hatred isn’t yours. You were fed it by your mother, and she watered it in you until it became a part of you. Don’t let the past dictate how you move from here. Manuel is your brother, and you two can begin again where your father left you. There does not need to be any more pain or strife. We can begin again.”

Manuel looked like he had just been sucker-punched in the gut. I was sure that everyone outside that cabin had felt the gravity of her words. The sincerity in her tone had pulled at everyone’s heartstrings.

Diego looked conflicted. He had found himself at a crossroad, not knowing which road to take. He had plotted and planned his attack on his brother and father for years. But now, the very reason for his hatred had come to him with an open and kind heart. She had apologized for the pain she had caused, and pleaded that if he was to take revenge, then he should take it on her.

The air thickened on the high mountain top. No one dared to speak. The only things that could be heard were the rustling of the trees and the distant chirping of the birds.

For a split second, I thought that he was going to choose peace. I saw it flash in his eyes, but only for a millisecond.

Instead, he reached behind him, pulled out his gun and fired it in my direction.

“Juliette!” Manuel screamed my name and two more rounds fired off.

I shut my eyes and waited for the piercing pain to spread through my body.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Manuel POV

Iwatched as Leo’s body fell back against the cabin walls and slid all the way down until he hit the floor. I stared in shock at my older brother, who now had his gun lowered at his side.

Juliette stood there in utter shock and disbelief. Blood was splattered on her face, and her body trembled with fear.

“Oh dear, what a mess.” He pointed to the dead body at Juliette’s feet. “But he was a mole, and I don’t take too kindly to rodents in my group. Dante!”

As soon as he called that name, two men emerged from the car with guns pointed right at me. On cue, my uncle and Rodrigo came out of my car with their guns drawn out.

My brother’s eyes danced with excitement. “Now we have ourselves a party! I really did think this whole hostage thing would be a bit of a drag. Well done brother, how fun! We seem to have ourselves a standoff.”

All guns were pointed. I didn’t care for the ones that were pointed to me, but rather the two women on the porch. And my brother had a clean view of Juliette.

“You harm one hair on her head, and I will kill you.”

Diego titled his head to the side, regarding my words for a moment. “Do you think I’m afraid to die, brother? I knew going into this, coming up against the formidable Manuel Gomez, there was little to no chance of survival.”

“So, you wanting the organization? Was that all bullshit?”

“I wanted to see how you would react. There is no way in hell that I will ever take anything that my father has touched. It’s tainted already.”

The area grew quiet again. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. One move and a war would start, a blood bath unleash, and there was no telling how many lives would be walking away from this.

“It didn’t need to go this way, Diego,” my mother’s voice sliced through the air.

My eyes moved to my mother, who gave me a pointed look I couldn’t quite read. But I didn’t need to understand it. In one quick motion, she jabbed her handler in the rib, successfully catching him off guard so she could disarm him.

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