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Elio and Dante force Sergio into a chair, their grips like iron. Camila watches, her eyes wide with fear.
“Your father is trying to move in on our turf,” I tell them, my voice low and dangerous. “He thinks he can waltz into New York and take over? Not a chance.”
Sergio scoffs, shaking his head. “That’s bullshit,” he spits out. “My father isn’t trying to infiltrate New York. Your father has been moving in on Aguilar turf in Texas and Mexico.”
I freeze, my mind racing. Could it be true? Has our father been keeping secrets from us? Lying to us.
Elio and Dante exchange a glance, their expressions grim. “If that’s true, then we’ve got bigger problems than we thought,” Elio announces.
I nod, my jaw clenched. “We need to get to the bottom of this,” I growl, my eyes narrowing. “And you two are going to help us.”
Camila and Sergio stare at us, their expressions a mix of fear and defiance. They know they don’t have a choice. They’re in this now, whether they like it or not.
“Start talking,” I demand, leaning close to Sergio’s face. “Tell us everything you know about the conflict between our fathers.”
“A few months ago, your father started hitting our shipments from Mexico. Ever since we’ve been fighting a war with you guys down south.”
Sergio’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. I can feel my anger rising, my fists clenching at my sides. Father was trying to use us when he’s the one fucking with the Aguilar Cartel. “You’re telling me that my father, Amerigo Barone, has been stealing from the Aguilar cartel?” I growl, my eyes narrowing.
Sergio nods, his expression grim. “He’s been intercepting our shipments, taking the supply for himself. He’s trying to increase his profits by cutting us out.”
I exchange glances with Elio and Dante, their faces mirroring my disbelief. “That fucking bastard,” Elio mutters, shaking his head.
“He’s always been greedy,” Dante adds, “but this? This is a new low, even for him.”
I turn back to Sergio, my mind racing with the implications of his revelation. “If you’re telling the truth, we must stop this. Now.”
Elio nods, his expression determined. “We can’t let our father treat us like this. We’ve got to take him down.”
Dante looks at Camila, who’s been watching the exchange with wide, shocked eyes. “We’re going to help you,” he tells her, his voice softening slightly. “We’re going to protect you and your family’s business.”
Camila stares at us, her mouth falling open in surprise. “You...you’re going to help us? But why?”
I step closer to her, my eyes locking onto hers. “Because you’re important to us, bookworm. More important than you realize.”
She blinks, her cheeks flushing at my words. I can see the confusion and uncertainty in her eyes, but there’s something else there, too—something that looks a lot like hope.
“We’re not going to let anything happen to you or your family,” Elio adds, his voice firm. “We’ll do whatever it takes to stop our father and make this right.”
Sergio looks at us, his expression still wary. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
I grin, my eyes glinting with a dangerous light. “Oh, we have our ways. Trust me, when we’re done with dear old dad, he won’t know what hit him.”
43
ELIO
Camila sits beside me in the back of our car, staring out the window.
Her brother is somewhere safe, away from Columbia University. He didn’t like the idea of them splitting up, but it’s necessary to trick Dad into thinking we’re on his side.
I study Camila’s profile as she gazes out the window, her brow furrowed in thought. “What’s on your mind?” I ask softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
She turns to me, her dark eyes filled with uncertainty. “I don’t understand,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why are you helping me against your own father?”
I sigh, leaning back against the leather seat. “Our father is treating us like idiots. He’s been lying to us, manipulating us.” My jaw clenches as anger bubbles up inside me. “We won’t stand for it anymore.”
Camila searches my face, trying to read my intentions.
