Page 47 of Hostile Love
His brows snap together, the shocked reaction to my revelation completely genuine.
“Did you say…real father… meaning Papá wasn’t our father?”
“The old bastard was your father all right, which explains why he kept you close and pushed me away.”
“Bullshit,” he scoffs, looking over his shoulder and then back to me again. “If Blanco is the fucking oracle, then surely, he gave you the name of your father?”
“That's what I need to talk to Mama about. Dani was kidnapped before he got to finish.”
Tomás scratches his jaw, considering me.
“He said your real father was murdered and Elias took over his organization. Yeah?”
He takes a step back and fingers his collar.
“It couldn't be…” Tomás frowns. “That fucker murdered him. Papá planted the bomb that killed Uncle Angelo? The bomb that destroyed my life until––”
My brows hitch, waiting. “Until?”
“Carina,” he replies simply.
My chest tightens. I’ve known Tomás all my life. Although I was too young to remember the bomb, I do know the explosion screwed him up. It messed with his head and killed his hero.
Because of that alone, I’m certain he had nothing to do with Angelo’s assassination.
“So, if Angelo was my father and you didn’t kill him…”
“Of course I didn’t kill him,” he growls.
“Blanco thinks you assassinated my father all because Elias was testing your loyalty.”
Tomás pinches the bridge of his nose and turns away from me. In a blur, he grabs my arm and pushes me into a vacant side room, slamming the door shut behind us.
“That motherfucker doesn’t know anything,” he grits out, his typically controlled demeanor slipping. “You know what, Mat, I never spoke a word about that day…not even to the long string of shrinks I had to visit. I couldn’t say it out loud because I hated myself. But…yeah, I put a bullet in his skull straight after the bomb went off…and it haunts me, even to this day. Angelo ordered me, a fucking kid, to give him a quick, honorable death…to put him out of his misery. He was dying for fuck’s sake. I didn’t pull the trigger for any other reason than my uncle begged me. So, whatever bullshit Blanco thinks he knows, he doesn’t.” He exhales down his nose. “And that’s strictly between me andyou. I don’t want to talk about it ever again. As for Buffy, there’s no fucking way you’re going to marry a Blancoputa.”
My hackles rise.
“Don’t, Tommy. Don’t call her that,” I warn. “Elias made me feel like an outsider my whole life. Dani makes me feel…content in my own skin. The same way Carina makes you feel inside. Don’t disrespect her again.”
He exhales loudly after my confession. “Carina was never the enemy. I always knew that. As for Dani and Carlos Blanco, I don’t trust either of them.”
“Donotgo after her, Tommy. I’m warning you. If you hurt her––”
Tomás gets in my face, his voice low and threatening.
“If she hurtsyou, brother, or any other member ofourfamily, I won’t send men after the woman. I’ll strangle her with my own fucking hands. I’m responsible for this family, don’t ever forget that. And even if Angelo was your father, you’re still a true blood Souza. You’re one of us and…always have been.”
“Except I was never given a family ring like the rest of you guys, Tommy. I’m just a uni-grad with a sniper rifle.”
Tomás’ hand settles on my shoulder, heavy and dominant.
“You’remyfamilia, Matheus.Mybrother. I watched over you when Papá didn’t. I sent you shipments of product to sell while at university, even when Papá told me not to. I included you, Mat.”
I frown, all the memories of my late teenage years flooding me. The happy times we’d spent together at Mama’s place, carefree inside her secure compound.
My brothers were like any other brother, doing normal shit with me. Not gods of war and drug trafficking lords.
Later on, we’d had over-the-top yacht parties. Speed boat races on the ocean. Late-night phone conversations. Random flights to Vegas for messy weekends.
