Page 32 of Bound By A Promise
“Hombre a hombre.”
We both turned to the sound of Aléjandro’s voice.
“Qué pasa?” His eyes narrowed and his forehead furrowed. “It’s awfully loud in here for a conversation with your sister.”
“You’re right,” I admitted. “Mia, I apologize.” My attention went to Aléjandro. “What changed? Why does Reinaldo want Camila?”
“She’s a beautiful woman. Rei is closer to her age.Mí padrethinks it’s a better pairing.” He walked to Mia and after kissing her softly, wrapped his arm around her waist. “Mia has opened my eyes to the importance of creating healthy relationships.”
“Dante isn’t Gerardo,” Mia said, looking at her husband. “Not all age gaps are bad.”
“Sí, I married an older woman.”
Pink filled my sister’s cheeks.
“Does he love her?” I asked.
Aléjandro shrugged. “He hasn’t used that word. I don’t know about you and Dario, but Rei and I weren’t exactly raised to recognize the intangibles of feelings and love.”
“That’s not true,” Mia interjected. “Your mother raised you?—”
“Sí, I stand corrected. However, results, money, power, prestige, those were emphasized.”
“And who is getting the power and prestige in that pairing—Rei or Camila? No. Andrés.”
Aléjandro didn’t respond.
I stood taller. “How about your word? Is that important?”
My brother-in-law squared his shoulders, facing me, challenging me. “We Roríguezes keep our word.”
Bring it on. I kicked your ass once. I’ll do it again.
My fingers itched to pull the blade from my leg holster. Instead, I worked to keep things civil. After all, now Aléjandro was my brother-in-law. Pulling a knife on him in my sister’s home wouldn’t help Dario’s precious alliance or my chances to wed Camila. “Then stand behind that. Jorge approved of Camila’s and my wedding. I gave her my word. I intend to keep it.”
Aléjandro’s stare narrowed. “Andrés wants Camila to marry Rei.”
“Is he—Andrés—a liability? Like Gerardo was?”
“I’ve known Andrés all my life.”
“You knew Gerardo.”
Aléjandro pressed his lips together. “Your point?”
“Is Andrés’s status within the cartel that threatened that he needs to sell his youngest daughter to ensure it?”
“I trust him. But after what happened to Gerardo, I can see why he wants to tighten the connection tomí padre.”
“I want to talk to him. Come with me.” Shit, I didn’t know if this was a good idea or not. “Come with me to talk to Andrés and Valentina. They didn’t know that Camila and I had?—”
“Had what?” Mia asked.
“Spoken…alone. Discussed marriage.”
Mia let out a long breath. “Oh, I was afraid…”
“I haven’t taken what isn’t mine yet.” My attention went back to Aléjandro. “Andrés will at least listen to me if you’re there. He owes you that respect.”