Page 57 of Of Vows and Betrayal

“Known wh?—”

“Were you in on it since the fake attack? Is that why you went to explore the alleyway?” my father continues, and I feel Dario’s eyes on the side of my face.

“How long have you known of his plan?”

“Whose plan?”

“Alejandro Reyes,” Dario finally pipes in, extending the file he is holding.

I open it and see a photo of Javier. He’s much younger,probably even younger than I am now. His hair is long, and his face is still rounded with youth, but it’s definitely him.

“I don’t—” I shake my head. I’m not even sure all this is real. I have to be in a state of shock because I feel like I’m here, in the moment, but also not—like my brain is taking a break and letting my body still do the work.

I look back up, my eyes filling with tears. Now I understand Javier’s questions about my father and the info I gave him. Now what we shared last night doesn’t sound like a dream. It sounds like something wrong and dark, and all I want is to get into a bath as hot as I can to rid myself of his touch on my skin.

Bile rises to my throat as I look back down at the file, all the information about Alejandro and how all traces of him disappeared fifteen years ago. How could I have been so blind? Part of me still clings to the moments we laughed together, the stories he shared about his childhood, wondering if any of it was real.

I look back at my father, who is staring at my face intently. Suddenly, he lets out a little huff of relief. My heart, which has been pounding furiously, slows just a bit. Maybe he believes me. Maybe there’s still hope. But then his gaze hardens again, reminding me of the precarious tightrope we are walking.

“She didn’t know, Dario—it’s clear.”

“Is it?” Dario replies, his eyes narrowing. He reaches for a little square contraption and waves it in front of me slowly. It crackles until it reaches my bee necklace and starts to beep.

I grab the necklace in my hand and make a fist around it. “This is a gift,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

“From Alejandro?” Dario asks mockingly, his lips curling into a sneer. “It’s not a gift,stupidgirl; it’s a tracker, and you’re just a pawn.”

My father doesn’t defend me, and frankly, I can’t blame him right now. I am a stupid girl. My hand shakes as I reach behind my neck, unclasp the necklace, and give it to him.

“I didn’t know.”

“See, Dario?”

Dario’s face remains hard, locked on me. “It doesn’t matter. You took the man on without doing your due diligence.”

“That’s my fault!” I say quickly. “I wanted a new bodyguard. He did it for me.”

“Yes, he did. How does it feel?”

The guilt is unparalleled, and he can see it in my face because now he’s grinning like a madman.

“Dario,” my father starts, but Dario raises his hand, stopping him, his evil eyes still on me.

“You gave him a present that was nothing more than a Trojan horse, and he put it in his office with pride, giving away all our secrets instead of getting it checked as he should have. Your father got sloppy, and whether it’s your fault or not, he deserves to be judged.”

“No, he doesn’t!” I all but shout. “Judge me!”

He snorts. “No, the judge doesn’t consider youfamiglia, not really. You’re just a half-breed stray dog your father took against his better judgment.”

All the air is sucked out of me, especially due to my father’s silence. I glance his way and see him bowed down,staring at his desk. Does he feel the same? Does he regret taking me in? Is he trying to hide his shame?

I feel my phone vibrate in my bag, and both their faces turn toward it. I know it’s him, Jav—whoever he is. It’s pathetic to admit he’s probably the only person texting me these days. I’ve been so cut off from my old life since moving here, never fitting into this new one.

I’ve always felt like a nomad, not belonging anywhere—a wanderer without a true home. But now, I feel like a fool, a fool and a traitor, which is so much worse. I’d give anything to go back to just not belonging.

I hate myself a little because, despite his betrayal and using me as a pawn, part of me can’t help but worry for his safety.

“Are you going to kill him?” I ask, pleased with how detached my voice sounds. What if they say yes?

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