Page 31 of Blood Ties
"I have a feeling there's a but coming."
"Nothing gets past you, does it?"
"What is it?"
"Del Rae has already convinced many of them to switch sides and he hasn't been working alone. I found out who told Del Rae about what you and your boys did. Turns out Santana wasn't the one after all."
"Who was it?"
"Marisella, Julia's sister. She's been having her men follow your boys for a while now. She's been keeping track of you thiswhole time, looking for anything she can to use against you. She could be Mario's anonymous tipper as well."
My eyes widen. "Why? She hated her sister almost as much as she hated her father. She should be glad they're both rotting underground."
"It isn't about who you killed, it's about what you took. She thinks everything you have belongs to her family. You aren't a Juventino by blood."
"Maybe not, but Mateo is, and he belongs in my place way more than that bitch or her sons do. She really thinks she can handle what I do, or does she expect her banker son to figure it out overnight, or maybe the one who recently became a priest." I throw my head back laughing. Able's teeth grind together, and I know how much he hates it when I bring up my youngest nephew by marriage. He's always had a sweet spot for the kid.
"I don't think she ever considered your son as part of the family either and you know Alejo has nothing to do with this. He turned his back on his family years ago."
"Don't worry, no harm will come to your little priest. I know this is all my sister-in-law’s doing and that stupid husband of hers has been filling her head with bullshit for years."
He sighs. "These men will use any leverage they have. She's nothing more than a pawn in their game. You really think they'd let her walk away with everything if they win?" He huffs. "She forgets, it's not just you they want to ruin, all these other players in the game have been trying to get all of the Juventinos out of the picture for years."
"We have to make sure she goes first then. Shouldn't be too hard. There's a reason she wasn't her father's favorite daughter and why I was chosen over her good for nothing husband. She isn't the brightest crayon in the box, and he isn't any better."
"You're right, which is why Gabriel already has her exactly where he wants her. Mateo said he's suddenly feeling well enough for a family reunion."
"Good. My son is well then?"
"Well enough to take down all the people who tried to kill him."
"Revenge is usually the perfect motivator. Help my son take that bitch down and when she's dead, mail her body in pieces to each one of Del Rae's clubs."
"Consider it done, boss. This is nowhere near being over. Not sure it will ever stop."
"Then we will keep going until it does."
I hang up the phone, and instead of going to the hotel as originally planned, I decide to pay my son a visit. No doubt someone has already figured out where I last booked a room. Finding one of us alone makes things too easy for them, so I'll make sure they never do.
Chapter 14
Marcus
I glance out the window, getting lost in the world outside. There are people walking around, talking to friends and strangers, smiling like they don't have a care in the world. It's hard not to envy them. I only allow myself a taste of happiness these days in small doses at a time, because I won't be able to handle going from a hundred to zero in a matter of minutes the way I did in the past. I've held those same smiles before, with a future filled with hopes and promises. I press my nose into the glass, gripping onto the windowsill, suddenly feeling trapped.
"Long day already? It's only morning. At least wait until the afternoon before you start escaping out of windows."
My heart skips a beat at the sound of the deep, raspy voice behind me. I don't have to turn around to spot his exhaustion. His words come out lazier and more strained than usual. Instead of moving away, I allow myself to be trapped between the glassand him. Miguel slides his fingers down my side, pressing kisses to the back of my neck.
"Didn't I say to come in the afternoon?"
"Did you? I don't recall." His hand moves to the front of my slacks, groping my cock. "I guess I missed you too much."
"Wish I could say the same. You can stop touching me now."
"I didn't realize the no touching ban extended to the next day."
I shove him away, walking toward my chair. "If you want to remain in this office, you'll stop talking."
