I sprinkled salt and pepper on top of the rice and vegetables, tossed them in the pan and drained the excess grease and poured the concoction over the rice and plated it all into my best dish. I passed Alessandra the garlic bread and vegetables to put on the table.
“Joaquin, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Why are you with my daughter?” my father blurted out.
“Your daughter is amazing, and I love everything about her.”
I stayed quiet as my father grilled him.
“She’s our baby. For her to get kidnapped on your watch doesn't sit well with us,” Mom spoke.
“I understand. But let me make this clear, Sofia will never be in that situation again,” Joaquin said.
“My brother can be an ass, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers,” Alessandra said and I giggled.
“Sofia,” Mom chastised.
“Sorry.”
“He’s old school about the way men should be protective over their women.”
“Alessandra, our daughter was kidnapped and the police said it was because of your brother,” Mom explained.
“The police were trying to scare you,” Joaquin said.
“Ma, they will say anything to get me to turn against Joaquin,” I said, putting the plate of lasagna on the table. Joaquin pulled me into his arms.
“Do you love our daughter?” Father questioned.
Joaquin stared into my eyes.
“She’s my soul,” Joaquin replied.
“We can’t say who she could be with, our baby is grown. But your job is to protect her,” Father stated.
“He’s done that. He bought a house for us.”
“You're moving in together?” Mom asked.
“Yeah.”
“I hope a ring is coming?” Father narrowed his eyes in Joaquin’s direction and I felt embarrassed.
“Can we focus on one thing for right now?” I asked.
“I consider her my wife now, but marriage is the next step.”
“Joaquin why didn’t you tell me?” Alessandra asked, offended.
“Because I knew you’d tell her if I did bring it up,” he joked.
“What do you do for work?” Father inquired.
“Business,” we both answered at the same time.
“If you're happy then we’ll leave it alone,” Mom told me.
“Thank you and I am.”
“That’s all that matters,” Mom spoke.
“Can we talk about my boyfriend problems?” Alessandra questioned.
“No,” Joaquin responded so I slapped his shoulder.
“Stop acting like that.”
“I’m fine with her dating my best friend, but don’t want to hear about it,” Joaquin informed me.
“He’s such an asshole,” Alessanda mumbled, as Joaquin buried his face in my neck.
“Let's eat,” I said, before he could go further.
He groaned and let me up out of his lap to take a seat next to him.
We laughed and talked with my parents and his sister all night, then Hugo drove them back to the hotel and Alessandra to her condo.
“Fuck!” Joaquin shouted, as I sat with my back to him and bounced with both feet flat on top of the bed.
“Mmmm…”
“Ughhhh...fuck you’re so beautiful,” Joaquin spoke as he smacked my ass.
“Tell me you love me.”
“I love you!” Joaquin bellowed as I jumped off and sucked him into my mouth and massaged his balls. I wanted to show him my gratitude for all he’d done for keeping me safe, trusting me with the other side of his world and not letting the darkness keep him away from loving me purely.