Page 16 of Vicious Angel

The fact of the matter is I’ve always been loyal to my father, but my loyalty isn’t automatically given anymore. It’s something that must be earned, and I know my place when it comes to him. I’m only a means to an end, and I know he hates my opinions when I speak up. He’s going to replace me as soon as he can, and I won’t be shocked if he eventually tries to kill me. Like Eset said, it’s kill or be killed, and I won’t be experiencing the latter.

I only found out about his child-trafficking enterprise last year, and my father told me he had never said anything before because he believed I was too “soft”. I haven’t ever been soft in my life, but I do have a conscience, which is something he doesn’t have. How could you when you sell and trade children like they’re fucking Pokémon cards? It’s despicable, and he deserves every horrible thing that will happen to him.

Now, I know my father’s child-trafficking business doesn’t simply start and end with him. He has higher-ups he deals with, as well as clients and suppliers… though I don’t have all their names since he just brought me on this last year. It’ll be hard for me to damage his business as much as I want to, but it won’t be impossible. I want to make sure those children get into safe families, ones where they never have to experience the pain that my father has made them endure.

“I hate to cut this short, but I really need to get going. First, I need to head back to my condo and pack for snowy weather. Then I’ll be handling some business matters and flying out,” I explain and then take a couple more sips of my Coke.

“I understand. What business are you handling?” My father cocks a brow.

“Remember Juan Carlos?”

“Pérez?”

“Yes. I’m heading to Mexico City to have a chat with him since he’s been talking shit about our family.”

My father smirks. “Good. It’s about time we put more people in their place.”

“I’m done with the disrespect our family has dealt with. I really do need to get going, so I’ll call you later once I’m in Switzerland. Okay?”

“Perfect. I’m glad things are going so well with the two of you. Keep on the track you’re on, son. It’ll work out for all of us. I’m certain of it.”

Yeah. It’ll end up working out for Eset and me in the long run.

I say my goodbyes and leave my father’s home, get into my car, and then leave. I’m actually heading straight to the airport, so I can get on a flight to Mexico City to see my Great-Uncle Alejandro. The flight shouldn’t take too long, and as soon as I’m there, everything is going to change.

***

I arrive at my great-uncle’s compound in Mexico City. I didn’t call before I arrived, but Eset texted me and said that she informed them he should be expecting me and that I had something very important to discuss with him.

I knock on the giant hundred-year-old wooden doors. It’s possible they could be older than a century old. They have bits of iron through them, as well as a lion knocker in the middle. After a few moments, the door is unlocked, and a younger woman with jet-black hair opens the door. “Santos, I presume.”

“Yes, and you are?”

“Your cousin, Gia. Come on, he’s waiting for you.” Gia proceeds to open the door wider, and I step inside. Behind her are three armed men staring right at me. Do they think I pose that much of a threat? I shut the door, and Gia locks it, then walks me across the stone floor to the stairwell. This part of his estate is completely exposed to the elements, and off to either side, you can see rooms in the actual building.

We head up a wide stairwell and then right up another set of stairs. Once we’re at the top of the second set of stairs, Gia takes me into a room on the left. There’s a decorative rug on a wooden floor while a large wooden coffee table sits atop it. To the left, along the wall, is a large green sofa, and there are two bronze armchairs on either end of the coffee table. He sits in one of the bronze armchairs, and the moment I walk into the room, his eyes are on me.

“I was this close to telling Eset that you aren’t welcome here,” he tells me, using his finger and thumb to show me how little he wanted me to show up here.

“I have a good reason for the visit, I assure you,” I immediately explain. I doubt he knows this meeting is a stipulation of my marriage to Eset.

“That’s what Eset said, and still, I find it odd that you’d want to visit with me. Eset has told me this is a cordial visit, but I know what you and your father have been trying to achieve.”

“My father, Uncle. Not me. I’ve only ever stood behind him because I’ve had nowhere else to stand, or at least I thought I didn’t. That’s why I’m here now. Because I see him for what he is. I don’t want to support his business ventures or his desperate attempt to take the power you have. The fact of the matter is that you’ve led Mexico well for many years, and disrupting the power would only cause more problems. I’m here to tell you that I am supporting you. I’m pledging my loyalty to you.”

My great-uncle raises his head up a bit and cranes it. “Then what Eset said is true. You’re going to marry her?”

“Yes, Uncle, I am.” I nod, confirming his thoughts.

“I must be correct in understanding your marriage to Eset means you’re turning on your own father?”

“I am, but… he is… he is like his father, Uncle. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories.”

“I have, and it’s why I will never let him ruin Mexico. I’ve put in a lot of work getting it back to what it always should’ve been. Your father won’t setback all the hard work I’ve done, and he’ll pay with his life if he has to.”

“I understand.” I swallow hard because I don’t want my father to be killed, but he needs to be the one who knows when it’s time to give up on his desperate claim for power. I know he won’t. He’d rather die than give up.

“I have a question for you since you’re now engaged to Eset. Are the rumors true about Ruslan having Eset and Nazyr change their surname to Umarova?”

---