Page 25 of His Gilded Cage

I drove out the main gate less than thirty minutes after I’d arrived. I turned the corner a block away from the main house when Veronica popped up in the back seat and clamped a hand on my shoulder.

“You stupid son of a bitch,” she said.

“Jesus Christ.” I almost crashed my car but managed to pull over onto the side of the road, my heart pounding. “What are you doing here?”

“You could have been killed!” she shouted, smacking me on the arm.

“You’re supposed to be in New York.”

“And you’re supposed to be convincing your father you are on his side, not walking into his house with a loaded weapon. I guess both of us had a change of plans.”

“I know you are angry. But I did nothing. I had a clean shot. I didn’t take it.”

“Of course you didn’t take it. You are not a cold-blooded killer.” Veronica opened the car door and climbed into the front seat.

“How did you get into my car?”

“We have people watching you and on the inside at the house. I came straight from the airport as soon as you were spotted on the outskirts of the city. I mean what was your big move here, Marco? What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking he needed to die.”

“I have been calling you for two days trying to follow up.”

“Carmella was at my house.”

“When are you going to learn . . .”

“My father arranged for her to be in Cabo the day my mother drowned,” I said. “She was working for Luis even back then. She claims she really loved me but I don’t believe her. I don’t believe anything she says.”

“I knew about Carmella and Luis.” Veronica said cringing.

“When were you going to tell me? I mean, come on. I need to be able to trust you.”

“I was going tell you the girl you’ve pined over your whole life is your father’s lover? Like you needed another reason to drink. Give me some credit.”

“Good point.”

“I need you to decide right here and now if you are going to go vigilante again, or if you can play by my rules and fight your father from the inside.”

I looked at my friend and remembered the weight of the gun in my hand. A part of me wished I had been able to pull that trigger. “I wanted to watch him die tonight.”

“But you didn’t.”

“What kind of a man wants to murder his own father?”

“A man who has a good heart. A man who knows that his father will continue to cause harm unless he is stopped.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if we just took care of this quickly? The law moves so slowly.”

“We shoot your father today and we murder one man. We avenge your mother, but we do nothing to hurt the cartel or protect the people they hurt.” Veronica squeezed my hand. “This is bigger than you or me Marco. It has to be.”

“I don’t know how to make him trust me,” I said.

“Sure you do,” she said. “You said he told you about his business. Play the good son. Tell him you’ve had a change of heart. You will get on the inside. Together we can destroy him.”

“Why do you care so much?”

Veronica smiled. “When Amalia died, so did your chance for a new life. Luis murdered your mother and stole your future and now he’s a part of an organization that functions without conscience. He needs to pay for his crimes.” Veronica took a breath. “Are you with me my brother?”

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