“I know. It just won’t be the same without you,” she says.
“We’ll have to make the most of wedding planning then!” I smile.
“God. I don’t even want to think about the wedding. No one in this family understands the word: small. Did you see the huge article in theHoustoniaon Ariella and Preston? That’s the kind of exposure I’m trying to avoid.”
“I can’t believe she’s going to marry that ass-hat.” I wince. “I still need to talk to her. I feel bad about being jealous of her and Efren.”
For fucks sake they’re cousins.
“You’re human, amiga, and men sometimes bring out the worst in us. Ariella’s very sweet. I think once you’re able to talk to her without a knife to your chest and explain everything, she’ll be understanding,” Mireya replies.
“That was crazy! Have you seen Genesis since?”
“Once. At the hospital.” Mireya says, her eyes shifting to the side.
“You went back to work?” I ask in confusion.
“Not exactly. I was there visiting my brother.”
“Cassiel?” I say his name like a disease in my mouth. What the hell wasshedoing visiting him? “Wait—What were you doing visiting him?”
Mireya sighs and looks out the window briefly before turning back to me. “I don’t know. After he was shot, I felt like I needed to see him. So I went one day, and that’s when I saw Genesis in there. She looked like she’d been crying.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Didn’t he kidnap her and Ari that one time?”
“Yeah.” Mireya winces. “Can you not tell Efren about this? Adrian still doesn’t know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“I won’t tell a soul,” I promise.
“Thank you.” She smiles, then lets it fade. “You know he woke up from his coma?”
“No,” I reply. “You’re not going to see him again, are you?”
“No. I think it’s best I just keep my distance.”
“Good. Cause I’m with Adrian on this. Cassiel is dangerous. Look at everything he’s done? Kidnapping, adultnapping, I mean, he killed your mother?—”
“And my mother was going to kill my baby and me!” Mireya exclaims. “Listen, I know he’s done some questionable things. I’m not saying I forgive him, but the same way you want to understand where you come from, I can’t help but want to understand him. He’s my blood.”
“I’m sorry, Mireya. It’s not my place to tell you what’s right or wrong. Do what you need to do, just be careful, okay?” The words fall blasphemously from my mouth.
I hate that guy. Cassiel is a train wreck in human form. He killed Mireya’s mother and kidnapped Lucia—from her kidnapper—but that’s beside the point. I believe in second chances, but not when it means making a deal with the devil. But I don’t say that. I can’t tell her how to live her life, knowing damn well someone could be looking from the outside in at mine and wondering why I still love someone like Missy.
Mireya changes the subject and drills me about stripping and the club. Somehow we end up making a last minute plan to host her bachelorette party at La Cuevita.
_______
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Efren ties the apron around my waist, his fingers lingering at the knot like he’s bracing himself.
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
When Efren told me he’d be catering Ariella’s engagement party, I begged him to let me come. I need to see her. Need to make this one thing right before I leave Houston.
“I’m here if you need anything,” he says quietly. “Okay?”
I nod and take the tray of hors d’oeuvres from him, carrying it into the front room where the guests mingle in clusters of laughter and clinking glasses. Ariella doesn’t notice me at first. She floats from group to group, radiant and restless. By the time I work up enough courage to approach her, she’s four glasses of champagne in deep.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” she says, her smile sharp, rehearsed.
