Page 60 of When Sinners Hate
“Huevos rancheros, chorizo, chilaquiles and burritos. All breakfast.”
Dante is passing around dishes and piling eggs onto his and Wren’s plates.
“Does any of that go with waffles? I need something to soak up the tequila.”
He chuckles and signals one of the staff, putting in an order.
I notice that Melena is quieter this morning – maybe even she’s not immune – but I have a feeling she’s soaking up being in the presence of her children and family.
A plate of fluffy waffles is placed in front of me, and the sugary aroma already lessens the pounding thud of my hangover.
Last night I felt accepted by everyone here – something I doubted might ever happen. Family is everything to Abel, and it’s something I’ve never had, not like this. Suddenly, there’s a path in front of me that I’d never considered. I spend time watching the interaction, knowing I'd usually be thinking about what I could use against them – what knowledge I could gain to cause damage, but this time, like last night, I'm part revelling in the genuine happiness and commitment to each other.
My phone vibrates in the back pocket of my jeans, and I ignore it, not wanting to be torn away from this.
“Mother, thank you for the hospitality.” Shaw stands and is the first to leave. After him, Dante and Wren and then Knox all give their thanks, and we all stand and say goodbye.
“Test day, yes?” Knox says to me.
I smile in reply, strangely infatuated with the thought.
“Lexi,” Dante says, nodding at me.
“Dante.” I smile back at him, too, knowing he's the most important person in the room to win over, but my phone rings before I can make conversation.
I slip it out of my pocket to see an unwelcome name.
I glance at Abel. "I’ll just be a minute.” I head out through the back doors and down by the pool to call my father back.
“When I call, I expect you to answer,” he starts.
I shake my head. “Well, maybe you need to consider that before you treat me like garbage in front of my husband.”
“I don’t know what game you were playing by turning up as you did.”
“Like it or not, Father, I’m a part of this. You put me in this position for your own gain. The least you can do is acknowledge that fact, and work with me rather than against me.”
“It’s your lucky day then because I do need your help.” The words ring in my ear as he says them, sending a shiver tickling over my neck.
“What?” I snap.
“Don’t take that tone with me. You’ll listen and do as you’re told.”
“I’m not a child,” I counter, knowing that I sound like one in my protest.
“Alexia, so help me. This is your brother’s doing, and you will fix it. Now, Nicolas was making strides to expand our operation and product. He had a connection and took a large trial of drugs to test the waters.”
I stare at the pool, annoyed that this is spoiling what was almost wonderful. “And.” I should just hang up and leave him to his own business, but a part of me can’t.
“We owe him for that deal. And the terms aren’t favourable to our new venture. Mr Blackford saw that you married Cortez and is demanding more in compensation for waiting for his payment.”
“So, pay him.”
“We have. But he wants something else to sweeten the deal. Apparently, he doesn’t like the Cortezes, and so would take this as a personal reassurance.”
“Spit it out.” I already know what he’s going to say. He’s never this talkative unless he has to be. He wants something,and he wants me to deliver by spreading my legs – something he’s not asked of me for some time. There’s no way I will agree after all these years. Not now.
“You need to step up and give this man what he wants, Alexia.”