Page 98 of Devil's Property
She was right. I’d been Mommy’s little girl, unable to bond as closely with him after her death. Brooke had naturally taken to the only parent she’d really known.
“I spent more time with him since you moved away. I was cleaning up one day and found a picture of Mom. Then I found a few other things and asked him what they were. Pictures of people I’d never seen before. A couple letters and some other documents written in Spanish that mentioned Barcelona. He was angry with me and I dropped the subject. That was two weeks before he stopped by my apartment. He said there weresome things we had a right to know about our past. He looked worried. So we sat and talked for a couple hours.”
“And?” I had no idea he’d confided in her. I thought about when I’d called him when I hadn’t been able to get in touch with Brooke. I’d thought he was annoyed I was bothering him. He was hiding his true emotion.
“He spun a tale about meeting our mother and that they were oil and water. Did you know it was an arranged marriage?” She studied my reaction, the old mischievous smile I’d adored returning to her face. Even her eyes were brighter than the day before.
Shrinking back, I half laughed. “I had no idea, but Dad didn’t talk much about Mother when we were little.”
She nodded. “From what Daddy said, they hated each other at first. Eventually, they fell in love and he adored her. I could see his eyes how sad he was with just talking about her. Their marriage brought peace during a horrible time in Spain. During the same conversation he admitted he’d hated his life and his duties. Before Mama’s death, they’d discussed leaving the country.”
“I overheard them talking.”
“Daddy didn’t give me any details, but it seemed like he knew back then he had a target on his back. He warned me that he had to go away for a little while. Something about the family’s legacy, a requirement to finish what had been started two decades before. No, he didn’t explain any details, but I sensed how nervous he was. He continuously looked at his phone as if he was expecting a call. Just before he left, he warned me that we could both be in danger and not to admit who we were.”
“Finish what he started? So he left.”
“I don’t think it was his choice. I could tell he felt extreme pressure. You think he abandoned us. Don’t you?”
What if he had been threatened?
“I know he did. He left in a hurry, Brooke. He didn’t care that I couldn’t get in touch with you. He acted as if he couldn’t care less.”
“I think someone was after him, Fallon.”
As the words sank in, I realized I hadn’t thought about the possibility. “Because of the way he was acting?”
“Yes, and because whoever broke into my apartment was looking for something. I don’t think they realized I spoke Spanish. They were looking for a formula. Do you have any ideas? I know Daddy dabbled in science, but a formula?”
I nodded. “The formula for a compound I found at his house. From what Navarro said, it was an additive used with cocaine to make it more addictive. He killed people, Brooke, and not just in our past. Our father is a murderer. Did dear old Dad mention in the old days he was called the Brain?”
“You always tried to protect me, Fallon, but that’s not necessary any longer. Daddy mentioned he’d done some horrible things in his life that he’d atone for until he died. I don’t know about today, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s still our father. I know you and Daddy didn’t get along all the time, but he did love us. I’m no fool. Neither are you. Our father was born into a life that he had no choice being in.”
“There are always choices.”
“Are you certain about that? I don’t know everything that happened with Navarro. I knew you were led to believe he was responsible for my abduction. At least now you know you were both being led into a game.”
A game. She was right, which was exactly what Navarro had suspected. Sadly, we weren’t certain who was pulling the strings.
Seeing my sister’s determined face was a reminder of how important family had always been. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Than the fact you’re a mafia princess?” I could tell she was only partially teasing.
“I’m not a mafia princess.” That’s exactly what I’d been thinking.
She laughed. “Yes, you are. You always dreamed about being a princess. You used to tell me that all the time.”
“Entirely different.”
“Is it? You love Navarro and don’t try and tell me you don’t. I can see it in your eyes.” She pushed me with the tip of her index finger.
“I don’t love him.”
“You’re doing that thing with your face,” she told me.
“What thing?”
“That thing you do when you’re lying. Why do you think Dad always knew?”
