Page 27 of Defy

“I’ll see you at home, brother. Good meeting. I’ll get back to you on protocol suggestions.”

I get the Ferrari from the valet - someone from Luis’s security detail will drive him home in the armored Mercedes. Besides, he’s too fucked up to drive. As winding as the coastal roads are, he’d be dead within two miles. And to lose this car to the grievous error of drunk driving would be unforgivable.

I’m out of the car almost before I rip the emergency break up and slam the stick in neutral. I’m on a warpath. I need confirmation that what Luis said is true; although I have to give him credit, he hasn’t lied to me yet.

Trying to get my anger under control so I don’t greet anyone with a fist to the face, I take the long route in the house via the garden in the back up to the veranda. Only, when I get to the porch, my father is sitting on it smoking a cigar, a laptop spread across his knees.

“Dominic,” he says by way of greeting.

“Omar,” I bite back and he can hear the anger and tension I’m trying to keep at bay.

He cocks an eyebrow. “Something on your mind,hijo?”

I bite the bullet and throw it out there.

“Daniella Santos.” With those two words, one name, he loses a little bit of color and I gain momentum. “The daughter of Mateo Santos?That’swhy you’ve been looking for her? To end him? To endher?For what? Some bullshit revenge over him tarnishing your reputation!” My anger is spilling over the top and I’m becoming unhinged. I’m on my father before he can stand up and I smash his computer into a thousand pieces on the ground. “You alreadymurderedone innocent girlAT MY HANDS!Why could you possibly need to sacrifice another?”

Omar is still seated and he uses both hands to push against my chest in an effort to create space.

I don’t budge. Every ounce of my 6’3”, two-hundred-and-twenty pound, pissed-off frame is focused on keeping him in that chair.

I feel the heat of his glare but still, I refuse to back down.

Finally, realizing that he’s not going anywhere until he answers my questions, Omar seems to settle back in his chair, preparing to speak as he runs a tongue over his dry lips. His frame looks smaller now that I’m up close. His sharp, cunning eyes have dulled a little around the edges, and his wrinkles are more pronounced. His tan skin covers a lot of his aging from a distance.

I check his hips for a weapon before I take a step back. Not far enough that he would have a chance to run, kick, or get a good punch in, but enough that he has some breathing room.

“If he has no heirs, we’re the only ones who can afford his empire. If hehasan heir, we can exchange her for his signature signing everything over to us. He gets to keep his daughter and we get to keep everything else, including our own money. We will finally own Santos.”

I fight the urge to fold my arms across my chest. The stance is too casual and will waste too much time if I need to bring my hands out to defend myself.

“So you’re planning to use her as a bargaining chip?”

“Yes.”

“Why make her dance in your club then?”

“I think that’s enough information sharing for tonight. Are you satisfied?” he sneers.

Not even a little. Even if they plan to let her live, Libby’s life still won’t be her own if she’s returned to Mateo. Not to mention, we’ll be stuck here because I’m not leaving without her and Mateo will keep her on lockdown after getting her back. He’ll make sure we remain unable to be together. That outcome isn’t acceptable.

“My only other question is why build up this empire by acquiring what Mateo has? Why invest all these years into this feud just to watch Luis snort it up his nose? You really think he can handle an operation like this? Countless lives, including yours, wasted because of your greed and Luis’s immaturity.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, I head into the house, satisfied that I’ve watered the seeds of doubt about Luis’s ability to rule and gained valuable information.

I head for the fifth floor to grab a clean shirt but I pull up short when I reach the stone landing on the third floor.

My mother and Camila are outside Libby’s door. I still myself and strain to hear their words even as I quickly take Camila in before ducking into the alcove.

Luis was right, she’s a more gorgeous version of herself now. Her brown hair still shines. Her skin is still smooth despite the hardships of her life. Camila always held herself like she was destined for a better lot in life and I wish like hell she had gotten it. There’s nothing about Camila that steals my breath or pierces my soul, like there is about Libby, but Camila is beautiful nonetheless. A simple beauty compared to the knock-you-on-your-ass-and-make-you-question-everything-about-life beauty that Libby possesses.

My mother seems to agree with me about Libby’s appearance. “She’s a beautiful girl. She’ll earn plenty of attention behind the bar.” I can’t quite place the tone of her voice.

Irritation? Nervousness?

“Behind the bar?” Camila questions and quickly realizes her mistake. “I mean, of course, if that’s where you want to put her, but I thought the plan was to put her on stage to ensure she was noticed by Mateo’s men?”

I’m too wary about what’s going on to be glad that my mother is changing the plan. Besides, from a vindictive perspective, I have to agree with Camila. Why hide Libby behind the bar if the goal is to get her noticed and ruffle Mateo’s feathers?

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