Present Day.
The look in my brother’s eyes was like a sharp dagger to his heart. I didn’t know how we could come back from this betrayal. The rising and falling of his chest, the darkening of his eyes, and the pain in his tone meant I’d done more than disappoint him this time. I was the cause of an enemy getting close and almost killing his family.
“Get the fuck out of my house!” Joaquin shouted, stalking out of the living room. I tried to run after him, but Gael held me back.
“No! You don't understand. He has to listen to me.”
“Gael, take her away,” Sofia said, and my heart broke at her words, I looked around the room at Hugo’s Cassidy’s sad eyes.
“Hugo, you have to believe me. I didn’t know.”
He shook his head.
“We should go.” Gael gripped my elbow and angled me toward the door.
“Wait! Can I say goodbye to JJ and Jianna? Please, Sofia?” I begged.
She waved me off.
“I love them and would never hurt them.”
“You should have thought of that before!” Sofia screamed, and I nodded, understanding my decisions affected the family in a way I couldn’t undo.
“Come on,” Gael repeated, and I let him walk me out of the house. I stopped and glanced at the family as tears pooled in my eyes.
“I am sorry.”
I packed up my things and loaded them in the car, while Gael continued to talk to Joaquin on my behalf. This was not only hard on me but him as well. I swallowed the lump in my throat and closed my eyes. As I sat in the back of the car, I thought of how Odessa had made it her mission to be my friend. All of my life was planned for me, and I thought if I could come to America and make my own decisions and make friends, I would feel normal. My family could see I could handle my life without being constantly watched by guards and hounding me about the people coming in and out of my place. Odessa was friendly and flirty, but fun and outgoing. She never gave off a sign that she was a part of the mafia world. The door opened, and Gael scooted in and covered my hand, lifting it to his lips.
“Give him time.”
“When can I come back?”
“Let's not think about that right now.”
“Do you hate me?”
Gael turned toward me and raised his right hand to my cheek. He caressed it and leaned over to press a kiss on my lips.
“Love you, baby, but disappointed.”
“How much damage is done?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his dark, short, wavy hair.
“A lot we have to clean up.”
“Are you coming with me?”
“To help you get settled in, but I can't stay long.” He released my hand and grabbed his phone to scroll through messages.
“Did he tell my parents?”
“No way to keep this from them.”
“That bitch needs to die.”
I glanced out the window as the car drove down the street.
“You said you met her in class?”
“Yeah, she came in one day while we were designing and sat next to me.”
“How did she come across?”
“Nice, Gael. I’m not Joaquin; I don’t go around thinking everyone is out to get me.”
“Alessandra!” He slammed his hand against the window. I jumped in shock, and tears welled up again.
“You hate me too.”
“No, I want you to go back home and rethink your decision. You’re trying to run away from this life, and there's no running, bella.” He slid his hand on my thigh and squeezed. When we arrived at the airstrip, the door opened, and I hopped out in a somber mood, followed him toward the stairs, and climbed in to take a seat near the window. I buckled my seatbelt, and Gael sat across from me and watched me.
“Give him time,” Gael said.
I nodded and blew out a breath.
“Hello, Miss Fuertes. Do you need anything to drink?” the flight attendant asked.
“A glass of wine please.”
“Bring her water.”
“Gael.”
“You’ve had enough.”
“Sure, water it is. And you, sir?” she questioned.
“Water please,” Gael answered.
The stewardess walked off and left us alone.
“I didn’t know I had drugs in my system,” I whispered.
“Obviously she was drugging you,” Gael told me, and I bit on my bottom lip, thinking of the night with Rich and Odessa.
“Now that I’m thinking about it, she always ordered the drinks for us.”
“Alessandra, you're smarter than you give yourself credit for, and the woman I know wouldn’t fall for the bullshit.”
I started to speak and closed my mouth and stared out of the window.
“My father is going to kill me.”
“Take it one day at a time.”
“Here’s your water. We’ll be taking off shortly.” Gael removed the seatbelt, switched to the seat next to me, and placed his arm around my shoulder. I leaned my head down on his chest and closed my eyes, taking in his clean, crisp cologne.
“She was plotting on me this whole time.”
“Did she ever introduce you to Emile?”
“No, I only met a few guys around her. One guy was Rich.”
He grunted in disapproval, and I pushed off his chest.
“I never cheated on you, Gael. He did kiss me, but I pushed him away.”
“I trust you, baby.”
The pilot came on and let us know he was about to take off. I leaned back on his chest and closed my eyes to sleep the last few hours away. We had a long flight, and I needed to be prepared for when I saw my parents again.
“Hi, I’m Odessa, your designs are gorgeous.” She pointed at my open sketchbook.
“Thanks. I'm Alessandra.”
“How long have you been designing?”
“All my life honestly.”
“Everyone in here seems stuck up, except you.” Odessa looked around the room.
I chuckled and pressed my index finger to my lips to be quiet.
“What? It’s true. You’re the only one who has talked to me since being here.”
“I felt the same way when I first started here and getting my family to agree with me living here and designing clothes.”
“Same, my family is very old fashioned.”
“Seriously, they want you to marry rich and not have a career,” I complained.
“Class, make sure you have the red cocktail dress sketch for next week.” Our professor dismissed us for the day. I started to pack up my things to eat and meet Gael for dinner.
“Where are you off to now?”
I checked my watch.
“Grab something to eat and then meet my boyfriend.”
“We should have lunch together.”
“Uhmmm.”
“Come on, you’re too pretty to eat alone. Besides, I need to know who does your hair.”
“Your hair is longer than mine and prettier.”
“These blondie locks aren’t real,” she whispered in my ear and giggled.
“Lips are zipped. Come on, let's go for lunch.”
Odessa locked her arm in mine, and we talked about everything as we went out for lunch that day and became fast friends.
A few days later in Spain.
I could hear through the walls the loud shouts from my father and mother, going back and forth about me. We lived in a massive compound on acres of land, and I couldn't avoid the conversations that would happen once he saw me. When we arrived, I unpacked my clothes and went straight to bed. Gael was at his family home and would see me soon, but he had a few meetings he needed to handle before he could spend any time together. Without even knocking, my father forced his way into my room.
“Get downstairs now!” Father shouted in Portuguese.
“Papa.”
“Joaquin Sr., leave her alone,” Mother called out.
“Alba, stay out of this,” he demanded.
“I’m coming.”
I slipped on my flat sandals, grabbed my shawl, and followed behind him out of my room and toward his office.
“Are you hungry, sweetie?” Mother asked.
“No, I’m fine, Mommy.”
“Do you know how this family runs?”
My head stayed down as he berated me.
“Yes, Papa.”
“This makes us look weak! Stupid little girl,” Father shouted.
“Stop it! You will not talk to our daughter like that. She made a mistake.” Mother stepped in front of his face.
“Momma, it's okay.”
“No, I will handle Alessandra. You made these problems before she was even born,” Mother remarked.
“Alba, you will not interfere with me disciplining my children.”
“She is not a little kid, Joaquin.”
“Alessandra will be getting married.”
My body trembled in shock as I gasped.
“No, I will not!”
“You’ve been making a lot of stupid mistakes; you can’t handle the world on your own.”
“Alessandra, go to your room,” Mother said.
“I love Gael, and he loves me!” I yelled and stomped out of his office. I ran up to my bedroom, locked the door, and fell on my bed, crying over how my life had spiraled out of control and my father was going to force me to follow his rules.