Page 99 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

“Oh, no. I thought we could do it through your sketches. You have such a raw talent when it comes to this. The stories come alive in your pages.”

I pause cutting my steak, raising my surprised gaze to her, and frown. “My sketches?” Is this why they asked me to draw them first?

Come to think about it, they never mentioned sculpting in their email, just that I’d work with kids. I just assumed it was sculpting.

Rebecca nods enthusiastically, opening her mouth to elaborate on it. But how in the hell does she even know about my sketches, let alone think they have potential?

Suddenly, Lucian barks, once again interrupting our conversation. “Respóndeme, Santiago!”

“I’m no longer a child to take orders, Father. ”

I briefly close my eyes at his words, inwardly groaning, because Lucian’s face becomes red, and he gets up so swiftly his chair scrapes against the floor before falling back. The thud reverberates through the space, but Rebecca ignores it, although her hands clutch the napkin so hard I see her knuckles turning white.

Judging by all this behavior, I come to the only logical conclusion I can. The father and son must fight all the time, so the women in the family try their best to defuse the situation, although I don’t understand why.

If this kind of simmering rage eats them both alive, shouldn’t they try to face it instead of burying their heads in the sand?

But it’s their household, so I’ll play by their rules.

“Mateo showed me those. They’re very beautiful. I think it will be interesting for the kids once you finish this project.”

“He shouldn’t have done it. They’re private,” I manage to rasp, my heartbeat speeding up at the prospect of God knows how many people seeing what lies deep inside my soul.

Rebecca sends me a reassuring smile. “They’re great. And I would love for you to explore this talent. That’s why I requested you do a sketch story about the Four Horsemen.”

“Sigues siendo mi hijo!” Lucian bellows, and I quickly stuff more rice and vegetables into my mouth. One might get sick eating in such circumstances.

Santiago’s hollow laughter washes over me, sending chills down my spine and freezing my bones at the hatred coating it. “I’m your son? That’s rich. Was I always your son, Dad, or you just remembered it recently?” He gets up too, his chair kicking back while he throws a napkin on the table, looming above me, and I exhale heavily, reining in my panic.

Deadly silence follows his words. Everyone and everything around us freeze, although I’m shocked by something else. Maybe people in normal circumstances don’t notice it, but I’ve lived with hidden pain my whole life.

That’s why I recognize that beneath the anger and lashing out, pain rings so loudly in the words he spits it leaves no doubt he’s still hurting by whatever happened in the past.

My God, what did Lucian do to him?

He told me his parents didn’t inflict the scars, meaning someone who they trusted did, and that’s why he harbors resentment?

The two men face each other, the energy changing rapidly in the room to something dangerous with fury swirling around us, ready to spontaneously erupt.

“Lucian,” Rebecca whispers, grabbing his hand and squeezing it hard while closing her eyes as if it pains her to see what’s going on between them. The man’s hands fist, thousands of emotions flashing on his face, and finally indifference settles on it.

Leaning forward, he places a soft kiss on her palm, puts it back on the table, and picks up his chair. He clears his throat and addresses me. “My apologies, hija. In no way did I mean to scare you. Simply pointed out that with our name, you’ll always have our protection. Let’s continue this dinner, and we can talk some more about your sketches.” He drops back onto his seat and sips his whiskey, while I glance at Santiago, who stares at his father for what seems like an eternity.

For a split second, disappointment and agony cross his face so swiftly I barely catch it as he masks it with indifference almost right away.

And then he shifts his focus on his mom, announcing, “Dinner was great as always, Mamá. I’m done. Until the next time.” He points at me. “I trust you can take care of mi novia. Jimena, drive her home once you’re done.” And with this, he walks away, leaving me alone in his parents’ house, his heavy footsteps echoing in the distance until the door slams so hard it rattles the walls around us and only cements the chaos he evokes in his wake.

Chapter Fifteen

“Once upon a time, I met two boys under the most despicable circumstances.

Their strength amazed me.

Their courage inspired me.

We became united in a nightmare that didn’t end no matter how much we prayed it would.

Meeting them had a purpose.

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