"He only cares about himself, Liliana. Everything he does is for the purpose of his own selfish interest. Soon enough you’ll find out the reason why he’s been so accommodating. And I promise when you do, you’ll never see him the same way again.”
“If you hate him so much then why are you still here?”
“My siblings left,” he says darkly. “But I can’t, not yet at least.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want him to suffer for what he did. He’s the reason I lost my little brother."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
“Gabriel?” I whisper.
He shakes his head, “No, Gabriel’s twin, Gavin. But after he died, Gabriel might as well have died as well. He disowned our father and left swearing never to return.”
I stop moving. It’s a lot to process.
“How was Ignacio responsible?”
The music comes to an end and Santiago's expression closes immediately. The brief glimpse of vulnerability disappearing.
"Just watch your back, Liliana."
Before I can ask another question, he releases me and walks away.
Leaving me standing there, confused and suddenly afraid.
* * *
The next morning, Milagro decides she hates socks.
I spend nearly ten minutes trying to put a pair on her tiny feet. She spends the entire time kicking them off.
"You're impossible,” I say, trying to keep my voice stern and failing.
Mila giggles. Completely unrepentant.
I smile despite myself.
"You know where we're going today, mimi?" I ask the little baby that can’t reply or speak to me just yet.
When I lift her onto my lap, her tiny hands immediately grab a fistful of my hair.
Naturally.
"Ouch."
She giggles again. She’s such a tiny troublemaker.
"We're going to see your Uncle Carlos."
Her dark eyes blink up at me.
"He's going to love you."
Because everyone loves my little baby girl. It's impossible not to. She’s so adorable.
My chest warms at the thought of seeing Carlos. He reached out a couple of days ago asking if he could take me for lunch and meet my daughter as well. And I agreed because why wouldn’t I?
