Page 60 of Defy

Despite the fact that she’s been reunited with her father and the majority of the danger is dead on Mateo’s doorstep, Libby is still pressing herself tightly to my side and I’ll be damned if I make her move.

I don’t know why it’s such a pressing question to me, but as I eye Diego in front of me, I ask Mateo, “You knew he was in love with Adriana?”

Mateo and Diego share a warm glance. “After Adriana was killed by your parents and you fled, Diego couldn’t bear to stick around. He found his way to me, a broken kid with a broken heart who’d just lost his first love and his best friend all in the same night. I convinced him the best way to help you and Adriana was to stay employed by the Hielos. Learn their secrets, find their weaknesses and one day he and I would take them down for what they did. Looks like that day finally came. I know how long you’ve been here, Dominic. I asked Diego to keep an eye on you until he was certain you were truly trying to keep my daughter safe from your family.”

Well, I’ll be damned. Diego and Mateo played us all. That explains how the gun in my hand made it past Mateo’s guards. They didn’t care that he had a weapon on him. I also realize that by tying him to a chair, he kept Diego out of the firefight. Perhaps he thinks of him as a son.

“And the guard who tried to abduct Libby?” I ask, looking back and forth between them for answers.

Diego looks sheepish with his eyes downcast, a small, embarrassed smile on his lips. “Once the Dutch made contact with Mateo, I knew we were running out of time. I tried to bribe that guy to get Libby out. I needed a face she wouldn’t recognize.” He pauses there and I arch a brow at him, waiting for the answer to the question I really want answered.

He huffs out a sigh. “I was afraid he’d out me. I couldn’t give up my position with your parents so he had to go.”

I process this information quickly. “Thank you,” I say to both of them. I’m not sure what I’m thanking them for, just helping me in general. Being smarter than me. Planning ahead better than me. I guess that list is long.

Next to me, Libby is starting to shake, her adrenaline wearing off.

“Libby,” I slide her hair off her forehead and behind her ear, “I’m so proud of you. Bea would be ecstatic at your shooting abilities. We’ll have to call and tell her.”

This draws a smile from my beautiful, messy, girl.

“Can you hang on just a little longer?” I ask, searching her eyes. “I need to take care of this last car before we’re safe.”

“I’m fine, Dom. I’m not leaving you again.”

I flick my eyes to Mateo who has a soft smile on his face as he addresses his daughter for the first time.

“I know you don’t know me, my dear, and you’ve spent a lot of time in the company of people who would have you believe I’m a monster - perhaps they’re right - but I’m also your father and I’d love to get to know you while these men take care of the remaining threats.”

She casts a wary glance back at me and I realize she doesn’t fully trust Mateo.

I cup her face in my hands and bring my face to hers, “He could have shot me. He could have turned me away. But he didn’t because he knows I love you. And he loves you. You should stay. Learn about your sister –” I have to pause and work hard to fight my own tears. I clear my throat and try to get the rest of the words out. “She was amazing, just like you. Besides, no matter what, I will always find my way back to you.” Silent tears drip down her perfect face as the adrenaline drops her aggressively back into reality. I look over her head at Mateo. “Do you have radios we can borrow?” At least that way she can hear me and know I’m okay.

He looks sad as he nods, understanding that his own daughter doesn’t trust him.

I kiss Libby hard. Elated at the feeling of her lips against my own once more.

“Give me twenty-five minutes and I’ll be back and we’ll figure out the next step, okay?”

She nods her head as I leave to try and call off my parents’ watchdogs.

As the only survivor, they’remywatchdogs now.

~

I WAS BACK IN FIFTEEN.

The beauty of my parents being tyrants was that their employees respected them, feared them, even, but didn’t like them. Diego recounted our version of the story over the radio in the car my parents drove to Mateo’s. I knew the rest of the security team would be listening. They were invited to come pick up the bodies of Luis and my parents to prepare them for burial.

My first task was to sell my version of the story which was that I killed Luis and my parents for taking Libby from me. My revenge plot had finally come to fruition after being forced to murder my sister. I now run the empire. They will all answer to me or they will die. Short and simple and after the events of the last week, no one pushed back. They’re to spread the word at the house and wait for further instructions.

My second task was to start the paperwork to turn it all over to Mateo Santos.

It was long overdue.

He’s the perfect lid to the trashcan so-to-speak. The people in this town need order. They need a ruthless leader. In this case, Mateo is the devil they know versus the one they don’t – to use Libby’s words - and the transition will be smooth. There will be very little change in the day-to-day operations for those that live behind the fortress walls. I ensured the safety of those wanting to stay and I negotiated a safe out for those who didn’t. Their secrets no longer mattered so they could leave without penalty.

My third task was to get back to Castillo de Hielo and grab a few things, including Camila.

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