Page 95 of Hostile Rival
“I don’t want to be like Tommy. I just want you to fucking see me.”
Papá cocks his brow at me, displeasure tightening his mouth. “All I see is an ungrateful fucker who thinks he deserves more than what he’s already been given. You were born intowealth. Raised with a powerful family name and given an upper tier education. You have everything you could ever need. Yet here you are, a spoiled little shit, standing before the most influential man in Colombia with a gun to his head and no plan.” He chuckles and my heart pounds. “Grow up, Matheus. I don’t give a fuck who the hell you think you are, but if you don’t put your gun down, I’ll give the order for my men to fill your skull with bullets and feed you to my tigers.”
Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me. I peer over my shoulder where two armed men crowd the doorway. “You're not a soldier and you’ll never be anything other than a suit behind a desk. Now get the fuck out of my house and run back to your mama.”
“Papá,” I bite out. “Train me too. That’s all I ask.”
My father grunts out his annoyance. “You’re worthless to me, Matheus. I have plenty of money to pay a good lawyer, which means I don’t really need you. If you want me to take you seriously, kill Tommy and maybe then we’ll talk—if Dré and Gio keep you alive, that is. Tommy is next in line and you, you’re at the bottom of the list.”
PRESENT
Back on our motorcycles, I follow Dani through the city. She told me there was something she had to do and wanted me to come with her.
The sun had come up and the clear sky was bright blue. I’d like to say it feels good to be back in Colombia. Rather, it's bittersweet. I’d spent most of my youth between the States and my mother’s private compound on the Colombian north coast.
Outside of that, the only memories I have of this country are partying in penthouses where the liquor was free flowing, and the women were too easy. Over the years, my brothers and I had spent time together doing things normal people couldn’t even dream of. We built bonds that our father couldn’t destroy.
They’re myfamilia.
AndPapá,he’s rotting in a creepy crypt all on his own.
We’d been driving through the streets for a while now and, at this rate, we’ll run out of fuel soon. During the ride, all I’ve thought about are the words Eduardo had spouted.
Is that what everyone else really thinks of me too? The youngest Souza who’s too weak to actually be taken seriously.
Tomás, André, and Giovanni had all earned the family bloodstone in their teens. And me, I’m twenty-two and still don't have one. I don’t know what the hell I have to do to earn it.
At a crossroads, Dani comes to a stop and flips up her visor. I pull to a stop beside her and do the same. Her eyes hold a sadness that makes my chest tighten.
Nodding at me, she lowers the visor again and revs the engine. Checking the road is clear, she speeds off faster this time.
I follow her and accelerate on a straight stretch until we’re side by side. Together, we race past colorful buildings and dodge early morning traffic.
Time with her is priceless.
Eventually her bike reduces speed, and she swerves off the road, heading for a white-washed mansion surrounded by trees and a black iron fence. When we reach a set of iron gates, she stops, dismounts, and taps a code into a wall mounted keypad.
I flip up my visor. “Where are we?”
She walks towards me and removes her helmet. Unsettled silver eyes meet mine. Thinking, she brushes flyaway strands from her pretty face. “Blanco said he knows who killed yourfather,” she says, a little breathy. “He’ll tell you today. I thought you’d want to know.”
I’m off the bike in a blur, standing in front of her. I slam my helmet down on the seat and run a hand down my face. “You brought me to Blanco’s place?”
She swallows hard. “We won't be here long, I promise. This is one of his city safe houses. I know it well.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me we were coming here, Dani?” I take a step back and look around. “You know I’d never agree to this. You played me.”
She reaches for me, and I flinch, not sure what the hell to think. Her brows snap together and hurt darkens her eyes. “He wants to talk, that's all, Mat,” she says quietly, sensing my mood switch to volatile. “Hear him out, and then you can leave.”
I glare at her, my chest heaving. “Ican leave?” Somewhere along the way, the enemy lines had blurred. I fell for her. Hard. Maybe I made it too easy for her and she just played along.
“So, you brought me to Blanco, and once he’s done with me, you’ll move onto the next order…and I can fuck off. Is that right?”
My stomach aches when she draws her lips between her teeth and stays quiet. “Dani?” I hiss. “Was this your end goal…to deliver me to Blanco?”
Her head shakes and she bumps her chest into mine. Instantly, the connection sets my body on fire. “I’m going to tell you something that I’ve never said to any man?” Her breath hitches. “And I want you to hear me…like reallyhearme, Mat.”
I frown at her and stop myself from cuffing her throat, too damn angry to listen. “Well?” I bite out.
