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Outside, the limo idles like a beast waiting to whisk me away from everything familiar, from the comfort and safety of home. The driver takes my suitcase, his stoic face giving nothing away, a professional mask that mirrors the one I’m trying to maintain.
Mom hugs me tight, her perfume a lingering reminder of home, love, and support. “Te amo, mija,” she says, and her voice doesn’t tremble. Mine might if I try to speak, emotions threatening to spill over.
I nod instead and hug her tight before sliding into the limo’s cool interior, the leather seats starkly contrasting with the warmth of my mom’s embrace. The door shuts with a soft thud—too soft for such a significant departure, for the moment’s weight. I watch Mom wave through the tinted windows, her smile unwavering as the car pulls away, a beacon of strength and encouragement.
This is the first step into a world where tradition clashes with ambition and where being an Aguilar means more than shared bloodlines or college legacies. It’s my turn now—to find my path, to make my mark, to prove myself worthy of the name I carry.
But as the home I’ve known all my life disappears from view, I can’t shake the feeling that Crystal Lake will demand more from me than I’m prepared to give, that the challenges ahead will test me in ways I’ve never been tested before. Yet here I am, leaving for the first time in my life—for months without the warmth of my family, without the comfort of familiarity.
It’s too late for second thoughts. Crystal Lake is my fate; I must face it alone and be strong. I have to embrace this new chapter, this opportunity to grow and discover who I am beyond the confines of my family name. With a deep breath, I settle into my seat, ready to meet whatever lies ahead and show the world what I’m truly made of.
2
ELIO
Determination fills me as I march through the halls of our mansion, my briefcase clutched tightly in my hand. We will be leaving shortly for Crystal Lake University and I’m on my way to say goodbye to my father.
Tomorrow marks the start of my senior year. My younger brother, Renzo, along with our closest friend and future capo, Dante, will begin their junior year.
As I approach Father’s office, I pause outside the door and knock, waiting for his response.
“Come in,” he drones, his voice carrying a hint of impatience.
I open the door and clear my throat, announcing my presence. “I’m merely coming to say goodbye before I leave for Crystal Lake.”
A smile appears on his face but doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Good, as I’ve got a job for you.”
Great. Just what I need.
Whenever my father has a job for me, it’s never a good sign. It always involves something challenging, dangerous, or morally questionable. “What kind of job?” I ask, bracing myself for his response.
“Take a seat,” he instructs, gesturing toward the chair before his desk.
This can’t be good. Father rarely asks me to sit with him, which only heightens my apprehension. Nevertheless, I comply and sit, waiting for him to continue.
“Have you heard of the Aguilar Cartel?” he inquires, his gaze intense and unwavering.
I sit up straighter, my attention fully captured by the mention of the notorious cartel. “Of course. What of them?”
Father’s gaze pins me to my seat, a glint of steel in his eyes that always signals trouble brewing on the horizon. “The Aguilars are making moves on our turf, Elio. They’re branching out into New York, seeking to establish a foothold in our city.”
My heart sinks like a stone plunging into the depths of a murky lake. New York is our domain, our kingdom built on a foundation of loyalty and fear. The Aguilar Cartel is a formidable giant from Mexico, its tendrils reaching out to grasp our city with an insatiable hunger that I know all too well.
“We need to nip this in the bud,” he continues, his voice as cold as the grave. “They’ve got a daughter, Camila. She’s starting at Crystal Lake as a freshman this year.”
I clench my jaw, an uncomfortable heat flaring in my chest as I realize exactly where he’s going with this. The girl is our link to the cartel and their plans, which means he’ll want me to seduce her, to use her as a pawn in our game of power and control. Using the girl feels dirty, a stain on my already tarnished soul, but the end always justifies the means in our world.
“You want me to get close to her?” I ask, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it from his lips.
“Yes. She’s your way in. Find out what her father is planning.” His eyes flash with a dangerous intensity. “And I hear she’s quite the beauty, so fucking her shouldn’t be too much of a chore for you.” He smirks.
It may not be a chore physically, but the real problem lies with Renzo. He always wants a piece of whatever girl I pursue. We’ve often shared girls, a twisted game of dominance and control. Our bond as brothers is strong, unbreakable even. Still, Renzo’s lack of gentleness and restraint with the girls we’ve been involved with has always been a point of contention between us.
“I don’t expect fucking her would be a chore, the chore will be keeping Renzo away from her,” I respond.
Father’s eyes flash with a mixture of annoyance and understanding.
Suddenly, Renzo barges into the room, his usual chaos trailing behind him like a dark cloud, a force of nature that cannot be contained. “Did I hear you say my name? What’s this about a job?” he asks, his voice laced with excitement.
