Page 103 of Hostile Love
Stroking André’s inked hand, she begins.
“It was my duty as a mafia princess to marry Elias. The wedding was arranged by my father and Elias’ older brother, Angelo. Do you understand what that meant for me, Matheus? Moving to a different country and marrying a stranger—Elias Souza, of all people?”
Her green eyes find mine.
I nod as Dani shifts. My mother had hated her husband. She tolerated the man, probably even played the game better than he did. She certainly didn’t fold because of him.
Then it hits me. Teresa, my mama, was a Souza victim too.
“I wasn’t in love with him. It wasn’t even one of those relationships where we could grow to love each other, either. He was a prick and I had to stand my ground most days. Your grandfather wanted inside the Colombian cartel and forcing his daughter to marry a drug lord's younger brother was how he did it.”
Mama stares off into space and my heart sinks. I was too young and naive to understand the dynamics of her marriage. To me, she was the backbone of my family. And still is.
“I gave that fucker three children,” she mutters. “My beautiful boys were the reason I didn’t go mad. I made a vow to myself that no matter what happened, I’d be there for each of you. I’d be the parent he was incapable of being. And then…”
This is the first time my mother has ever spoken out. Where Elias was concerned, she always kept her opinions to herself.
Probably because he was so paranoid and had spies everywhere. If he caught a whiff of deception, she’d be murdered in her sleep.
Mag Mel was her personal sanctuary, away from his bullshit. The one place my brothers and I called home.
“I had to marry Elias, because Angelo thought he was infertile. My father wanted my children to become powerful in their own right. Anyway, Angelo was already married to a party girl he’d met in Vegas.”
She shrugs a little.
“Once Tomás was born, Angelo realized what he was missing. Over time, those two developed a special relationship and it drove Elias crazy. Rather than win his son's love, he pushed him harder and harder. And that made Tomás look up to Angelo even more.”
Being the youngest, I never knew Tomás as a little boy. To me, he’s always been the leader. The patient guy who would just as easily turn volatile.
Truth is Tomás was a kid once. He was vulnerable and suffered at the hands of a tyrant like the rest of us.
“Somehow their bond brought Angelo and me closer together too.” Her gaze drifts to mine. “He was your father, Matheus…and he never knew you were his.”
I scowl. “Why didn’t you tell him about me?”
She shakes her head and drops her gaze.
“It wasn’t hard for Elias to figure out you weren’t his, given he was getting it elsewhere. So, he put a gun to my pregnant belly and said he’d pull the trigger if I didn’t tell him who the real father was,” Mama explains, “so when he found out you were Angelo’s son, he made me promise to keep it quiet. I didn’t think anyone else knew.”
I exhale slowly. “Did Elias plant the bomb that killed him?”
She blinks quickly, like she’s holding back tears.
“I promise you, Matheus, I had no idea Elias would go that far. He was cruel, but I never expected him to murder his own brother.”
My stomach churns and my shoes stick to the floor.
“Tommy was in the blast,” I point out, feeling sick. “He nearly murdered his own son as well.”
She exhales and looks to the ceiling, remembering.
“You had a fever. I asked Angelo to pick Tomás up from school while I took you to the doctor. I had no idea what Elias had planned for that day and he didn’t expect your brother to attend a meeting with Angelo.”
I scratch my jaw and glance at Dani when she strolls to the bedside table on the other side of the bed. She plucks a few tissues from a box, returns to her spot beside me, and hands them to my mother.
Mama nods at her and accepts the offering.
“Blanco was on his way to the meeting that day too. But there was an accident on the road. It blocked off the streets near the bar. If he hadn’t been caught up in traffic, he would have died in the bomb. That’s when he lost all trust in Elias, even though they were friends since childhood.”
