Page 46 of Hostile Love
“So, I’m guessing the distribution warehouse that was blown up—that was you sorting it out too, wasn’t it?”
I nod. “Toño recognized Dani and snatched her off the street. Gio sent men to help, and I rallied a few of Blanco’s soldiers. Toño caught me off guard and put a gun to my chest. He threatened me, Tommy. And guess what?” My brows hitch. “Dani killed him before he could pull the trigger.”
“This is a fucking joke,” he mutters under his breath. “Did our guys see your face there too?”
“I’m not scared of those fuckers.”
Tomás’ eyebrows drift up. “You’re getting quite the reputation for burning down buildings. I thought Dré was the impulsive one. This gives Toño’s gang more weight to recruit our own fucking soldiers.”
“There’s one more thing,” I add. “Blanco presented me with a contract. He wanted me to marry his daughter Sofia.”
“Please tell me you didn’t sign it?”
“I did––but picked Dani instead.”
Tomás balks. “Why the fuck would you do that? You studied law, didn’t you?”
I sigh, fed up with having to explain myself.
“Aside from the fact he had important information about our family, I would have asked her to marry me, eventually.” I shrug. “But…”
Tomás folds his arms, standing stoic, almost statuesque.
“But what?”
“She doesn’t want to be associated with us, because of what happened in the past. When you had the barn obliterated with all those…” I look down the empty corridor and lower my voice. “…bodies.”
My brother knows the story. I’d already explained the situation to him, which is why he gave her the green light to kill Eduardo.
He didn’t say much about it at the time and agreed to the hit, since Dani had saved my life in Blackwater. Tomás always comes through for me and that occasion was no different.
“But that doesn't make sense.” His brow scrunches. “Sounds like bullshit to me. Be honest, Mat. Did Dani ask you to hand over Eduardo while she rode your dick?”
His comment hits me in the chest like a bullet. My nostrils flare and I swear if I didn't have a mountain of respect for this man, I’d punch him straight in the teeth.
“Eduardo was my gift to her. Dani knew nothing about it. She didn’t even know what he looked like, otherwise he would have been dead already.”
Annoyance tightens his mouth, so he speaks with a sinister snarl.
“How about you tell me what was so damn important that you signed your life away?”
“Look, we’ll talk about it later. Dré needs us. I just wanted to let you know what’s going on in the background.”
Tomás bares his teeth, his mood darkening.
“We’re talking about it now. What information did he give you, Mat?”
“Fine.” I click my tongue and sigh. “Blanco is sticking to his theory that Papá’s murder was an inside job.”
Slowly, and methodically, Tomás fixes his diamond cufflinks.
“You signed a contract that would unite our family with that fucker, and all he gave you was a conspiracy theory. Jesus fuck, you agreed to marry her forthat?”
“He had other information, Tommy.”
“Like what? What else did he tell you?”
“That's the thing.” I chuckle, my voice hoarse and tired. “He said Elias wasn’t my father. That Papá arranged for my real father's execution and then he took over his organization.”
