Page 34 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“Did you go after her to get to my dad?” she asked accusatorily.

“No. I would never do something like that.”

“But you met her before you showed up and ruined Jasper’s party?” Camila narrowed her eyes in a way that was so reminiscent of Dina that he realized he stood absolutely zero chance of lying to this kid.

“We met last year,” he admitted.

“But you didn’t recognize her?”

“I didn’t.”

“And you’re not here trying to use her as bait or something terrible like that?”

Steve suddenly realized why Camila was being so sharp with him. She feared for her mother’s safety. She wanted to protect her mother. “I would never use your mother or you or anyone else in your family as bait.”

Camila glared at him, her mistrust obvious, but she finally assented with a nod. “Okay. Now—tell me about my dad.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Why did he kill your grandparents?” she asked, her voice soft and frightened.

“My grandfather had prosecuted a case involving two drug traffickers from the cartel. My grandmother oversaw a few other cases in a different jurisdiction. Neither of them would back down or take bribes. They sent some very important people to prison.”

“So they sent my dad to...what? Intimidate other judges and lawyers?”

“To make a statement. To show that the cartel could touch anyone they wanted, even across the border, even a judge and a prosecutor.”

Camila nervously tapped her fingers against the folder. “And you’re sure my dad was involved?”

“He left DNA and fingerprints at the scene. On my grandmother and grandfather,” Steve clarified somberly. “He left the same DNA and fingerprints at another scene, three years later, after killing two more judges in Texas.”

“Oh.” Whatever hope Camila might have had that her father wasn’t a raving lunatic killer seemed to die out in that moment. “And my mom?”

Steve winced. “You should never have seen those photos, not unless your mother wanted you to see them.”

“But he hurt her?”

“Yes.”

“A lot?”

Steve hesitated. “I would assume those photos aren’t the first time he beat her.”

Camila looked sick. “Does everyone else know?”

“Your family?” he guessed.

“Yes.”

“Yes.” Steve hesitated again before adding, “There are surveillance photos from the double funeral service for your grandfather and great-grandfather, and your mother was wearing sunglasses and a hat and veil. I would assume that was to hide the bruises.”

Tears spilled onto Camila’s cheeks, and Steve was torn between trying to comfort her and not wanting to overstep. He was a stranger, after all, and a grown man. She probably didn’t want him patting her back or hand.

“Am I really stupid?” she asked on a ragged sob.

“No, you’re not stupid.” Steve’s heart broke as she cried. “You’re a kid, Camila. You’re so young and probably very sheltered.” He glanced around the sumptuous library, thinking that it looked like something from an ancient university in Europe. “Your mother and your family have done so much to protect you, to keep you safe, but that also makes you naive and vulnerable.”

“I feel stupid.” Camila sobbed. “I hurt my mom a lot. I said awful things.”

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