Page 119 of Hostile Love
On her approach, I lean in and kiss my mother’s cheek.
“You look beautiful, Mama.”
André shows her love next, followed by Giovanni, who then escorts her to her seat and rejoins us at the altar.
Tomás positions himself in the middle of my brothers and me, clears his throat and calls to the undercover agents at the back of the chapel.
“Lock the doors.”
34
MATHEUS
The orchestral music cuts out and a blanket of silence falls.
Shutting out the heat causes the temperature to drop a few more degrees and a sinister shadow creeps over the guests.
My scalp prickles.
This is it.
A bearded man jumps to his feet and glares at us. He’s on the groom's side of the chapel, which makes him an important Souza associate.
“Where’s the bride?” he demands in a panicked tone as he swivels to the guarded doors.
We all ignore him.
Carina isn’t allowed to step foot in here. Not today. Not ever.
Tomás slots a hand into his suit pants’ pocket and clears his throat, silencing mutters and halting the men who are trying to leave.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to clear up an important matter of respect.” His confident voice drifts to the rafters. “Our enemies thought they could challenge our steadfast Souza reign. After today, there won’t be any doubt about how we deal with opposition. Come formyfamily…” Hishead turns left, then right, eyeballing every agitated guest. “…and face the consequences.”
Tomás chuckles, low and foreboding. Not a lighthearted rumble, but more of a dark and dangerous warning.
If I wasn’t used to his demeanor, I’d think his soul was utterly black.
“Let me show you what happened to the bastards who tried to kill my brother André…”
André steps up beside him and announces in a gritty tone, “How we dish out justice to motherfuckers.”
I smirk and glance at Dani. Her eyes land on me one second and then cut to her frowning father.
Blanco sits sandwiched between my grandfather and Conal, the three powerful men trapped and oblivious to the chaos unfolding as we stand before them.
While we were planning a wedding, Giovanni sent a few of The Covenant agents on a special mission. They stayed under the radar and carried out his order, doing what they do best.
“The Lozanos tried to assassinate my sister-in-law, India.” Tomás continues. “Instead, they shot Dré and went up against Mat and his girlfriend Daniela Blanco at the hospital.”
There’s a collective gasp when he declares her role in our family. I’m showered in goosebumps whereas Dani’s lips part ever so slightly, the shock of his statement causing ripples amongst the associates.
“They did not succeed,” Tomás says matter-of-factly. “And for those acts alone, they deserved to die…but they also had the audacity to putmyqueen in danger…mywoman…myfiancée.”
Darkness moves across his face.
“And that warrants death and fucking destruction.”
Tomás angles his head towards the wall mounted television while Giovanni connects his phone to it remotely.
