Page 26 of Defy

“Anyway,” he emphasizes like he’s offended, “One day Catalina Santos was visiting our mother after their falling out, which was strange enough. But her words were even more so. She said ‘You took my baby from me and raised her as your own, which was devastating to watch but at least she was alive. But that wasn’t enough, was it?’ I started to connect the dots the longer the conversation went on. The last thing I heard Catalina Santos say was ‘You thought you destroyed our line and our family, but it lives on and one day it’s going to come for you and yours.’”

Luis pauses to see my reaction.

I sit still as stone as my mind races to catch up. I’m still trying to process the fact that he’s telling me that Adriana was basically abducted by my parents. “Adriana belonged to Mateo and Catalina? How?Why?”

“Our father wanted retribution for Mateo causing the raid on that first club. Once Omar had gotten the city officials on his payroll and he knew he was untouchable, he gave Mateo an ultimatum. Hand over his daughter, his only heir, or watch her and his wife burn in a mysterious fire that no one would respond to,andwatch Omar get away with it. Mateo knew he’d make good on his word so they gave Adriana up to save her life.”

A sick feeling is working its way into the pit of my stomach and inching up my throat as I brace my elbow on the arm of my chair and cover my mouth with the back of my hand.

He continues, “Mom and Dad both changed after that conversation with Catalina. They were on a mission to find out what she meant. More to the line? Adriana was their only child. Mateo had no brothers, nor Catalina. Catalina died shortly after that.”

My vision goes blurry as rage fills my eyes. Memories and questions are lighting up inside my brain like a fucking fireworks display. My brother is about to tell me the girl I’ve fallen in love with is the biological baby sister of the woman I murdered eighteen years ago. It would have been better to have been shot point blank in the stomach becausehow the fuck am I supposed to tell that to Libby?

Luis pauses, giving me a minute. The question that pops out of my mouth first is, “Why were the Dutch looking for Libby?”

A smile spreads across his face. “I’m glad you asked, brother. It seems the Van den Tweels sabotaged a deal between our parents and Holland’s government over oil that would have made our parents billionaires overnight.”

“I remember them working on that deal,” I interject.

“You would. They’d been working on it for about twelve years by the time Holland’s government switched tracks and turned down the oil deal to opt forcleanerenergy.”

I.e. The Van den Tweels’ green energy methods: wind and solar.

“In order to further their own ventures, as well assurvivelong enough to enjoy their money, the Van den Tweels needed our parents off their back so they decided to negotiate. The terms of the negotiation were that the Van den Tweels were to spare no expense in looking for any living relatives of the Santos family and if they were found, our parents would not only leave the Van den Tweels alone but would pay them a hefty sum and extend to them the protection and services of the Hielo family should they ever need it.”

That explains why Marcus Van den Tweel was on the phone with my father demanding retribution. They were supposed to have been gifted the protection of the Hielo name and instead, one who bears it wiped their son from the face of the earth.

“What’s her real name?” I ask Luis, knowing he knows I mean Libby. Her obsidian hair and ice blue eyes against her tanned skin should have been a pretty big indicator that she has roots somewhere other than the United States…But what are the fucking odds?

“Daniella Santos.”

Ten

IT TAKES THE RINGING in my ears a solid seven minutes to stop. Libby and Adriana, both, are Mateo Santos’s daughters? Fuck. My. Life.

My mother’s words come back to me from the day I arrived,don’t tell me you care for this one, too.

Too.

Also.

Another Santos.

Thankfully, Luis has decided it’s time to get high. The telltale white powder on his lapel confirms what his “bathroom break” entailed. He’s more agreeable when he’s high and I’ve got to get the fuck out of here.

Now that the heavy conversation is over, Luis relaxes on the loveseat and reaches down to palm a fistful of ass on a brunette on the floor below us. She doesn’t seem shocked when she turns around, a coy look on her face. She’s been waiting to catch his attention.

Except, her eyes land on me first and her pupils dilate.

Shit.

Placing a practiced look of cold disinterest on my face, I subtly shake my headnoand nod slightly in Luis’ direction.

That’s who wants you. Not me.

When he offers to remove the rope for her and her two girlfriends to climb onto the platform with us, they willingly come. Of course they do. They know they won’t have to pay for a drink for the rest of the night but I wonder if they have any idea what thosefreedrinks will actually cost them.

I take the opportunity to excuse myself before one of the trio can latch on to me, patting Luis on the shoulder in goodbye as I exit the section.

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