Page 20 of Violent Attraction

“I didn’t get the chance to say congratulations,” I say to her, shrugging my shoulders.

“Thank you,” she answers shyly. I can’t remember the last time that she was shy around me.

“Of course. Being able to graduate high school and going to college is something to be proud of.”

She nods, agreeing. “It is.”

We continue to stand there awkwardly for a few more seconds before I wave for her to go ahead and start walking to catch up to Leo and Cam.

At some point, I have to hold her hand to make it through the crowd.

When we’ are almost to the parking lot, finally away from all the happy families celebrating that their kids graduated, I let her hand go but a few seconds after I feel a hand on my forearm.

I stop walking and look down at the small hand laying on my skin.

Looking up, I find Isabella biting her lip nervously. Raising an eyebrow, I wait for her to speak.

“Thank you for being here. You probably had better things to do, but I appreciate you being here.”

I look at the girl standing in front of me, and for a short moment I’m taken back to when she was twelve and she was looking at me like I was saving her world.

I give her a nod and the smile that is only meant for her.

“I will always be there for you, bella.”

And I mean it.

8

To some people graduating from high school is a monumental steppingstone. They may see it as an official step into adulthood.

For me, graduating high school seems like an unnecessary event, especially if the people who should be the proudest of you, aren’t there to see it.

My mom, because she lost her life too soon and my father, because he had something to take care of. That something had to do with the cartel, I knew it the second that I noticed that he wasn’t there.

I had three other important people there for me, at least.

My brother.

My little sister.

Santiago.

The latter catching me a bit by surprise with his appearance at the stadium. I didn’t expect him to be there. In all honesty, I didn’t think he cared enough to even show up.

But he did, and of course he had to go and make me feel all the feelings I had been suppressing when it came to him, come back up again. All with a simple set of words.

I will always be there for you.

That, and he called me bella. I haven’t heard him say that name in the two years since we last had a real conversation.

Hearing it in that moment did something to me, something that has me thinking about it even hours later.

During the “celebration” my father is currently hosting.

It’s more of a full-blown party than a celebration. The ice cream we got after the ceremony is what I would consider a celebration. This party though, with corridos playing at full blast and tequila shots ringing out is more of my dad showing everyone who holds power.

At least he cared enough to throw a party.