“His grandfather sold him to the gang I was associated with.”
She nods, entirely unsurprised. “They were the ones doing the trafficking. You weren’t any part of that.”
“But I didn’t stop it when I could have.”
“You didn’t know then what you know now.”
I dip my head. “I don’t think he would ever forgive me if he found out I was part of the same gang.”
“Of course I forgive you. There’s nothing to forgive.”
I startle at the gentle words. Ant’s standing by my shoulder, and I didn’t hear him walk up. Fuck.
“Antonio…”
He holds up his hand. “Ant. Please. And I already put it together from Wimberley’s report.”
I raise my brows, wondering how he got his hands on that report to begin with. I also wonder if Erik gave it to him willingly or if Ant stole it. Both are entirely possible.
Ant grabs a Pacifico and takes a sip. “In ten years, you only ever bought commercial plane tickets once. In the twelve hours you were home, two men from a local gang died. One of the men has an old arrest record that matches yours in a couple of spots.”
I clench my jaw, proud of him and wishing he wasn’t so damn sharp.
“Which I’m guessing means you found out who my grandfather sold me to and immediately got on a plane.”
“Yes.”
“So, you sacrificed yourself for ten yearsandkilled the man who put me on that first plane out of Mexico. That’s more loyalty than I have ever felt from anyone.”
I pull him into a hug. “I’m so proud of who you are.”
“Even the parts that scare you?”
“Especially the parts that scare me,” I whisper in his hair as Yaya joins the hug.
“I’m so proud of both of you,” she says, her voice wobbly with emotion.
We probably look ridiculous, holding on to one another fiercely, but we don’t care. Finally, after several long moments, Yaya grabs the bucket of beers from the bar.
“Okay. Enough wallowing. We are here to celebrate.”
19
LEVY
We’re all staying in the bunkhouse because…I don’t know. None of us wants to miss out on anything. Bram and Nacho are staying in one of the guest rooms and, surprisingly, Erik is staying in another.
After lunch at the Broken Oak, we take Gael and Yaya on a drive around the Hill Country, showing them the sights.
When we get back to the ranch, we introduce them to the horses. Gael is a little timid around the big beasts, but Ant explains how he was also afraid of them at first, but I’d shown him how kind our horses are.
Ant saddles Luna and shows off some of the things he’s learned in the training arena. When he gets down and invites Gael to climb on, Gael hesitates. Ant is incredibly patient and walks him through his fears without pushing. Eventually, Gael gets up on the horse.
Watching them work together, Yaya comes up to my side and wraps her arm around my waist, resting her head on my shoulder. It’s familiar and welcome.
“I have never once been able to convince my son to get up on a horse. He is—and this is no exaggeration—deathly afraid of horses. I can’t believe he’s up there now.”
“I’m sure it helps to see that Ant felt the same way and was able to work through it.”
