Page 7 of Bound By A Promise
Papá appeared in the frame of his office door. His dark gaze also scanned me, yet it felt fatherly, much different than Dante’s intense stare. Papá lifted his arms. “Camila.”
It was the first time I’d seen him since the invasion. I went forward, wrapping my arms around my father’s torso. The warmth of his hug facilitated an unwanted release of emotions I’d kept at bay. Papá rubbed my back as tears dampened his shirt.
After a moment, he lifted my face. “You’ll be safe, child.” He tilted his chin toward Dante. “Mr. Luciano will take you and yourmadreto Catalina for a while.”
I knew I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Yet I had to question. “Why isn’t the cartel transporting us?”
“Mr. Luciano was headed back today.”
While I shouldn’t be questioning, I couldn’t seem to stop. My gaze went back and forth between Papá and Dante. “Why is he still here?”
Papá’s forehead furrowed, no doubt growing weary of my insolence. “Mr. Luciano had business after Aléjandro’s wedding.”
I turned to Dante, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “What kind of business?”
An amused smile came to his full lips. “When you’re older, you still won’t be ready to hear the details.”
His comments about my age were wearing on me. I stood taller. “I’m plenty old to understand death.”
Before Dante could respond, Em appeared behind Papá. “Camila, hurry ourmadre. It’s time for you both to go.”
I had no idea what business Dante would have in San Diego, but by his answer, it was Mafia business. Could it have been against the cartel? If Dante was involved with the invasion, Papá wouldn’t trust him with Mama and me. My mind was filled by a cyclone of disconnected thoughts. Maybe it made sense. Aléjandro’s wedding was on Saturday. It didn’t officially end until Sunday midday. Technically, this was only Monday.
“I’ll check on Mama,” I offered.
The men spoke quietly as I slipped down the hallway to my parents’ wing. Without knocking, I opened the door to my parents’ suite and scanned the large space. “Mama,” I called out.
“In here,” she replied, her voice coming from the bathroom.
Step by step, I approached the partially open door. I pushed it inward enough to see my mother dressed in slacks and a casual blouse. Her bloody nightgown from before was gone. Her long damp hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, indicating she’d taken the time to shower. My gaze went to her hands, the ones that only an hour ago were stained with blood. Her skin was pink from scrubbing, but the blood was gone. By the time I made my way back up to her eyes, I noticed how bloodshot and puffy they were.
“They want us to leave.”
She nodded. “Sì,I’m almost ready.”
Her voice was calm, almost too calm.
I went closer, inhaling the aroma of fresh bodywash, shampoo, and conditioner. It was a stark and welcome contrast to the harsh scent of blood and death. “Are you all right?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “We both will be. Your father will see to that.”
“Did you know that Dario’s brother, Dante, is still in California? We’re going to Kansas City with him.”
Her emerald eyes, the color of Catalina’s and mine, opened wider. “I didn’t know.”
“Why would he still be here?”
“I don’t know.” She spoke as she gathered her cosmetics, placing them in a travel case.
I blurted out the question that had been creeping through my thoughts. “Can we trust the famiglia?”
Through the reflection in the mirror, Mama’s stare came to mine. “We must. Think of Cat and their baby.”
“But why didn’t Dante go back to Kansas City with them? What if he had something to do with what happened?”
“You can’t think that way.” She let out a sigh. “If you spend your life questioning the men’s motives or actions, you’ll be consumed. We must trust them.”
It wasn’t exactly the answer I was looking for, yet it was an answer.