Silence follows my question, and I fight back tears as nausea threatens to overwhelm me.
“Chris, tell me what’s going on.”
“I would if I could, baby. For now, just get home, and we’ll fill you in. Be safe. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He disconnects the call as I reach my car. I climb in and pull out of the parking lot before I even have my seat belt on. Whatever is going on is serious, and I don’t like not knowing what it is.
I make the normally twenty-minute drive in half that—luckily there aren’t any cops out right now. Not that they’d giveme a ticket as soon as they realized who I am, but that would just slow me down.
I park haphazardly in the circular drive and rush up the steps to our family home, throwing the door open. “Chris? Papa? Mama?”
“Good, you made it.” Fabian steps into the entryway, gesturing for me to follow him. “I need to speak with you and your brothers. It’s better if I only have to do this once.”
I hesitate before trailing behind him to the family room where Matías and JC are sitting on the couch, whispering to each other. Their eyes are wide with fear when they lift to find me stepping into the room.
“Mari, you’re here.” Matías jumps to his feet, about to step toward me, but when Fabian clears his throat, he stops and returns to a seated position.
Fabian gestures for me to take a seat, but I cross my arms. “What’s going on, Fabian? Where’s Mama and Papa? Christian?”
“I’m right here, baby.” Christian hurries into the room, his eyes red and glassy as he pulls me into his arms. “Come on, let’s have a seat.”
I allow him to lead me to the love seat, ignoring Fabian’s eye roll.
“There’s no easy way to say this, but you’re all old enough not to pussyfoot around this. Your parents are dead. The meeting Papa was at was attacked, and he was killed. Your mom was on her way to an appointment when her car was run off the road.”
I blink at him, not sure I’ve heard him correctly. His face is completely blank, and his voice devoid of emotion as he tells us our parents are dead?
That can’t be right.
“No.” I shake my head. “You must be mistaken.”
Fabian scoffs. “Don’t be a child, Mariana.”
Don’t. Be. A. Child?
Anger rises in me, and I begin to push to my feet, but Christian stops me with a shake of his head.
“I’m sorry, baby, but they’re gone. I was there with your papa—I tried to save him, but I couldn’t. They came out of nowhere. And I was the one who identified your mama’s body. I’m so fucking sorry, Mari.”
I suck in a gasping breath as I shake my head, wanting to deny his words. I open my mouth, unsure of what I’m going to say, but a wail leaves my lips instead—loud and pain-filled.
Christian pulls me into his arms as sobs wrack my body, unable to stop the keening sound that grows louder as waves of grief pound at me when I realize my parents are dead.
“Of course, you have to respond dramatically,” Fabian growls. “Get your shit together, Mariana. There’s more to tell you.”
I pull back from Christian, nose flaring as I stare at him, but at least I’m able to stop keening as tears stream down my face. “Dramatic? I can show you fucking dramatic,cabrón. You just told us our parents are dead, and you expect what? Us to sit here unfeeling like you?Come mierda.“
Fabian’s face draws back into a sneer. “Listen here,puta. I don’t have time for your fucking bullshit. I have a cartel to run after the sudden death of our father. I don’t have time for female hysterics. Shut the fuck up and know your place. Papa might have let you get away with this, but I’m the head of the family now, and I won’t allow you to disrespect me.”
“Then you should kick me out now, because I’ll never have respect for someone who has hated me my entire life for being born a woman.” I gasp as my stomach cramps, pain coursing through me for a moment before the scent of cacao and orchids fills the room.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Fabian throws his hands in the air. “Of course you’re a fucking omega. You’ve always been a useless bitch.”
“That’s enough, Fabian.” Christian’s voice is low, his head bowed.
Fabian throws his head back as he laughs. “Oh, Christian. I don’t give a shit what you think is enough. Don’t forget you work for me, and I can easily decide you and Mariana aren’t a good match any longer—that I have better uses for her.”
