Page 44 of Defy

“Thenhelpme. Don’t make choose between her and this family.”

Because it’ll be her.

~

“DON’T LIE TO ME, MATEO!” Omar bellows into the phone. The last time I heard the voice on the other end of the line was as it threatened my life while I poured what was left of my heart out over my sister’s lifeless body. I didn’t know then that he was mourning his daughter.

“I’m not lying to you, Omar,” he says through the speakerphone so calmly I can almost picture him having a cigar while he talks to the man who’s tried to ruin his life for the past several decades. “Haven’t these games gone on long enough? We’re old men and I’m tired. I said he wasn’t on my payroll and he isn’t. Jugo’s men weren’t doing my bidding either. Perhaps the Dutch reach farther than either of us knows. I’m not stupid enough to try and retrieve Daniella from behind your palace walls. Surely after all this time, you can at least give mesomecredit.”

I look at my father. What Mateo says makes sense. When Omar stays quiet, Mateo begins to speak again. “But I would very much like to see my daughter again. What’s it going to take, Omar? What do you want in return for letting my child live this time?”

A chill runs through me at the thought of Mateo laying claim to a grown woman he doesn’t know. A woman I happen to love. A woman he’ll never let me be with. A woman who may not even want to be with me anymore.

I push that last thought aside.

“I want it all, Mateo.” Omar pauses to let it sink in. “I want your land, your clubs, your cars, your boats, your connections, everything.”

“You ensured that I was left with next to nothing as it is so you won’t be gaining a whole lot,” Mateo says, actually chuckling.

My father smirks and says with confidence, “You’re lucky I let you keep the house you’re in right now. Hell, you’re lucky to have your life.”

Mateo sighs on the other end of the line. “You know what I learned after you had my oldest daughter murdered and Catalina died, Omar?”

“What’s that?”

“That nothing matters without the people you love. So you can have it all. Just spare Daniella. She’s innocent.”

My father narrows his eyes in suspicion even though Mateo isn’t here to see him. “This is too easy, Mateo. I thought surely you’d put up a fight.”

“Why would I? You’re the clear winner and I hardly have anything to fight back with. You hold all the chips, Omar. You have both boys back now. Your wife is healthy. I did everything I could to keep Daniella safe and itstillwasn’t enough. You can have everything I own, in return for my daughter. Her safety is all I want.”

What he says is exactly what my father has been wanting, so why does Omar look so skeptical? I agree, it was easier than we thought it’d be, but this was the plan all along. And I have to admit, Mateo has a point. If he’s broke with not enough life left to rebuild and no one to leave it to anyway, what’s the point?

“I’ll be in touch,” my father says just as he punches the button to disconnect.

“What the hell was that?” I practically shout at my father who sends a cold look my way. “You could have at least told him your terms and to have it written up,” I say, earning a bewildered look.

“I would have thought you’d be against this negotiation seeing as once she’s given back, your plans with her come to an end.”

“There are no plans. I just want her alive. Mateo and I seem to have that in common at least.” Omar doesn’t need to know that whatever “plans” we had have been put on hold until she figures out if she can forgive me and move past my sins with Camila.

“Go find Diego and send him in here. And Dominic?”

I look back over my shoulder in response but keep my mouth shut.

“Don’t fuck this up for me.”

I shake my head. “I’m not the one you have to worry about.” He’s sabotaging himself at his point.

As I head back toward the office in search of Diego, I run into my mother just coming in from the docks. She has a worried expression on her face. Looks like this chaotic day is about to get worse.

“Have you seen your brother?”

“Not since he left Libby’s room.”

Her eyes dart around the living room as if she’s willing him to magically appear.

“Something I can help you with?” I offer.

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