The second the curse slips through my lips, I realize what I’ve said and wait for a slap to the back of my head.
I may be thirty-eight, but Rosa Morales will still put you in your place if you disrespect her in her house.
When nothing comes, I count myself lucky and run out of there like a little kid in trouble, following Claud into the living room, where she’s already climbing over the back of the couch onto Nate’s head, trying to reach Skye, her true love, Nate and Leo’s german shepherd mix, who they rescued last year for Claud.
They live in the same building and share all the responsibilities.
Leo tickles Claudina relentlessly once she falls onto the couch; you can barely hear her giggles over the TV, blasting the replay of last night’s Yankee game.
“Hi, Dad.” I raise my voice and grab the remote to lower the volume, then slap my brothers on their backs as I walk past to sit in the corner. “Where’s Seb?”
“Just left a job site. He’s on his way,” Nate replies.
He’s been nonstop lately. “How many hotels are under construction at the moment?” I ask Javier and Leo.
Javier is officially retired, but before handing it off to Seb, he built The Valencia Hotel Group from the bottom up and takes pride in still knowing all the ins and outs.
Leo designs all the new buildings, as one of the family architects, making sure he’s still part of the family business.
“Four,” Leo answers, as he stands up and spins Claud around in a circle, Skye following along in case anything happens.
She’s fiercely protective over Claud, no different than the rest of us.
“Five,” Javier interrupts.
“Until the permits come through, I’m not counting Dubai, Dad.”
Javier shrugs. “It will all work itself out. You kids know what you’re doing.”
I glance at Leo as he smiles softly in his father’s direction.
Complete, utter support and unconditional love are what you would call the epitome of the Morales family.
Somehow, I was fortunate to be part of it all growing up, and for my daughter to be their blood, I know every good trait she has comes from them.
My parents don’t have a parental bone in their body—do they love us? In their own way, yes, I think so. But any affection and encouragement came from my chosen parents or my grandparents.
My grandma and grandpa’s names were listed on school documents and legal paperwork, and my grandfather is the only reason I run Abbott today.
When I was younger, I thought I would run the hotels with Seb. I quickly realized my future was with Abbott to keep my grandfather and forefathers’ legacy alive once he passed because, knowing my father and his zero moral compass, he would have disrespected and ruined all the hard work my grandfather put into that company.
My father was CEO for a short time when I was younger and thought he could win over the board and have me voted out, but they saw through his phony exterior.
Since my grandfather appointed me CEO when I turned thirty-five, the board trusted him and his judgment and didn’t hesitate to name me CEO when the time came.
Since then, my father has sulked around, and our already limited relationship has diminished further.
Because you know…it’s hard to be a billionaire with nothing to do, so why not blame your son?
Either way, it would always be my future—I would never let my grandfather down. Although I rule with more of an iron fist than he probably would like, other than that, I’ve kept the integrity of what his grandfather started to build in the nineteen twenties.
Rosa walks in and comes straight to me. “I didn’t give you a proper hello.” She unties her apron, then whips me with it in the side. “And watch your mouth in this house.”
“Sorry,” I tell her, then take her in a tight embrace. “How are you, Mom?”
Seb walks in behind her, and she grabs him, so we’re all hugging in a weird cuddle, but I’d never pull away from her. “Better now that all my kids and granddaughter are here.” I bend and kiss her cheek, and then Sebastian does the same before she walks off and sits on Javier’s lap.
Still, to this day, they are madly in love.
