Page 40 of Stealing His Christmas Present

“She supported him and his business and lived her life the way he wanted it, but he promised her he’d retire and then they’d get to live the kind of life she wanted: simple, like regular people. He fulfilled his promise. When we visited, we’d stay for a few weeks.”

I took a quick glance at the cookies and went to find some plates.

“She taught me how to bake cookies too, and I fell in love with it. It’s the only thing my family lets me do in the kitchen. When I told them I wanted to be a baker, they all laughed at me, though, even my grandma.”

“Why? You could be a baker.” His frown deepened.

“Like you said, I’m a mafia princess.”

“Yeah, but your sister runs a school. You could have a cookie store at the best location and get the best ingredients, and you’d have the best protection in the world thanks to your family.”

“Apparently, not. Stella’s an exception to the rule.” I lifted my gaze to his. “Oh, and you kidnapped me and plan to do who knows what with me. So who the hell cares about my dreams right now?” I flashed him a smile that I knew wouldn’t reach my eyes.

He actually averted his gaze. Had he forgotten for a moment that I was his captive?

“I answered your question, so you now have to answer mine,” I said. “How did you become the boss of the Red Eagles?”

“The previous boss died.”

I pursed my lips together. “Really? That’s all I get? Come on!”

“I killed him.” His dark gaze held mine. “And a few others who got in the way.”

There was something else in his eyes, but it was gone so quickly that I couldn’t identify it. I suspected there was more to the story, but maybe he wasn’t ready to tell me.

I could try to use his reluctance to talk about it to get him to answer another question. “I always wondered one thing. Stella told me you were a member of Águila Roja. I thought you lived in Spain.”

He licked his lips. “Águila Roja is just the Spanish branch—or well, the original gang—of the Red Eagles. The Red Eagles started when a few members of Águila Roja decided to branch out the business. We’re still connected. My mother was a member of Águila Roja. I was born in Madrid, but I was sent here when I was very young. My mother bought her freedom with me.”

“What?” I gaped at him. “What do you mean she bought her freedom?”

“It’s not easy to get out of a gang, especially when you’ve been a member for a long time. But sometimes, you find a way if you offer something valuable to the gang and you agree to follow the code of silence. She didn’t have money, so she offered me to the Red Eagles, and they agreed to let her go.”

I blinked at him in shock. “So you didn’t have a choice? You had to join the gang?”

He nodded.

“That’s terrible.” I almost dropped a plate I’d been holding.

I couldn’t imagine my mom giving me away for her freedom. My mom would rather die than give up any of her children. When Isabella had died, I’d heard my mom say to my dad that she would’ve gladly taken Isabella’s place if it would bring Isabella back.

Stella would do anything for her twins. What Pablo’s mother had done to him was just unimaginable, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for him.

He just shrugged, as if none of it mattered.

“But if you were here, then your boss sent you to Spain after Stella?” I asked.

He gave me a nod. “Since Pietro Casas had a deal with the Red Eagles, my boss decided to send me to Spain. Through my mother, I had strong ties with Águila Roja too, so they agreed to let me into their territory without too many checks. Águila Roja and the Red Eagles have been operating separately for years now, so they don’t always welcome each other’s members with open arms. My boss didn’t want Águila Roja to know why I was really there.”

“And why were you there? What were your orders, exactly?”

“To figure out if Stella was really at that private college and report back to my boss.”

“And once you figured it out?” I held my breath.

“I was supposed to kill you and the guards, and take Stella captive.”

I stared at him.

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