Page 47 of Naughty and Nice
I jutted my chin toward the living room. “Go. I’ll find out what this is about.”
“No.”
I wrinkled my brow. “Did you say no?”
“I did. You just told me I could. I’m not afraid of my father, especially not with you at my side. I want to hear what he’s saying to el Patrón.”
“I really don’t want to have to kill him in front of you.”
My wife grinned. She actually grinned.
“I trust you to do what’s right.”
“Okay.” I knocked on the partially open door and pushed it inward.
Liliana’s mother, Nailea, was sitting in a chair near the window. “Lily,” she said softly as we entered. She wasn’t my focus.
The discussion involving Socorro Cervantes, Rei, my father, and el Patrón garnered our attention. Socorro, turned to us. His expression was less than heartening as he straightened his neck and scanned Liliana and me up and down.
Tugging on Liliana’s hand, I moved her partially behind me as I took a step forward. “I’m sensing an issue,” I said, puffing my chest.
“Nick,” el Patrón said, “the Cervanteses were just leaving. I’ve called Silas to drive them to the airport.”
“You’re leaving?” Liliana asked.
Socorro’s focus was on me. “You think you can marry my daughter without talking to me?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“She’s my daughter,” he said louder. “When Gerardo married her, he offered compensation for her hand—a bride price. We negotiated.” He waved his hand up and down. “You just take her? Is that because she’s no longer of value. She’s not a virgin.” He spat out the last sentence like the words were sour.
Gritting my teeth, I took another step forward. “You stopped being her father after Gerardo was killed. You have no right to make any decisions for her.”
“Nailea,” he said. “I told you he wouldn’t pay for used goods.”
Rage roiled through my circulation. I didn’t plan or strategize my next move. Within a second or two, I had my knife unsheathed, Socorro’s suit coat gathered in my fist, and the tip of my knife at Socorro’s throat.
My name was shouted from around the room.
“Rei, you deal with your soldier,” el Patrón said.
Liliana’s mother was now standing. “El Patrón, we’re sorry. We’ll leave.”
“How much?” I asked through clenched teeth.
A trickle of blood appeared on Socorro’s neck.
“How much did my uncle pay?” I asked again.
Socorro’s eyes bulged.
“Fifty thousand,” Nailea replied. “Socorro tried for more, but el Patrón, Jorge, agreed to fifty thousand.”
Liliana gasped. “You sold me to that monster for fifty thousand dollars?”
I pulled my knife an inch away from my father-in-law’s flesh. “Leave today. Do not contact my wife again, ever, and I’ll pay you one hundred thousand dollars.”
“Nick,” my wife gasped. “No. He doesn’t—they don’t deserve your money.”
