Page 26 of Bound By A Promise

I pulled my hand free. “I don’t want a mansion. I don’t want to marry Rei.”

“It is your duty,” Papá said sternly. “Especially after what Gerardo did, we need to unite the Ruizes with the Roríguezes. There was a timeel Patr?ndiscussed a marriage between Aléjandro and Catalina.”

The idea made my stomach roil.

Papá continued, “Another marriage between the cartel and famiglia right now wouldn’t be wise. It’s a tense situation among some of the soldiers, especially those in the North. They need to see that we’re strong on our own, too.”

Mama lowered her forehead to my knee. “Camila, you can do this.” She looked up through her long lashes. “Rei, he’s a good boy.”

“He’s not a boy. He’s a man.” I wanted to say that I didn’t know him, but I did. During the months he and Jano lived in our pool house, I got to know him. “Mama, I don’t hate Rei, but I don’t love him. I don’t want to marry him.”

She stood. “We know this is sudden.”

“Does Rei know about this?” My volume rose. “Does he even want this?”

“Of course,” Papá reassured. “To wed the drug lord’s son is an honor. And you are a respectable woman from our strong family.”

“When?”

“The date isn’t set,” Mama said. “At the end of this semester. Christmas time.”

I shook my head. “This isn’t happening. I should have some say.”

Mama tilted her head.

“I have to transfer my classes.” My mind swirled with the logistics of a move I didn’t want to make as I babbled about unimportant details.

“Sí, it will be worked out,” Papá said, retaking his seat behind the desk.

I squared my shoulders. “What if I’m in love with someone else?”

Papá’s dark stare zeroed in on me as Mama gasped and stood. Her voice was strong. “You will learn to love Rei.”

Tears stung the back of my eyes as I stood. “I don’t want this to happen.”

“Ca-mi-la,” Mama elongated my name.

“My decision is made,” Papá said as my phone rang from my backpack. “Who is it?”

I reached down, fumbling for my phone. “Have I lost all my freedoms?”

Papá’s gaze hardened. “Who is on the phone? You said you’re in love. Is it a boy from the university?”

I read the screen. “It’s Catalina.” I turned the screen toward him. “Does she know? May I talk to her, or do I need Rei’s permission?”

Papá huffed. “Talk to your sister. She will help you.”

My sister.

Could Catalina help me?

Chapter

Nine

Camila

With my pulse racing, I ignored the weary stares of my parents, hit the green icon, and lifted my backpack from the floor. In the few minutes since I’d lain it down, the bag had tripled in weight. Maybe it was the heaviness of my future that I was feeling. “Cat,espere por favor,” I said, keeping my eyes downcast and making my way out of Papá’s office.