The Cartel (48 page)

Antonio whipped around to see Alex standing behind him. “I know that I was very angry the other day. And, I’m still hurt about your lies, but you
are
my father. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’ve grown to love you over the last year and a half, as if you really were my father.”

Antonio stood up from the wooden bench where he was sitting. He reached for Alex and grabbed him, embracing the larger yet younger man, who didn’t respond at first, until he swore he saw a vision of his mother standing next to one of the rose bushes. She smiled, nodding her head. He hugged his father back.

“I suppose we need to let the others in on our secret,” Antonio said.

“I suppose so, but first I want you to know that Bella and I are getting married.”

“Oh, this is wonderful! I am so happy. This is the happiest, best news!” Antonio cried. He pulled Alex in again to him and held him tight for a long time, neither one of them saying anything, but in that embrace expressing emotions that had been bottled up for years. “I think we should meet with Lydia and your sisters this evening.”

“Fine. I have to say one more thing, and I need your blessing on this. I have already spoken to Javier and received his.”

“Alejandro?”

“Bella and I don’t want any part of the business. We want our families as one and we will respect and love you, but we can’t be a part of what is wrong in your and Javier’s world any longer. We plan to move to France. Bella was happy there. We want to start a horse farm and Bella has already contacted Jean Luc, her old trainer, who has offered to help us. Bella wants to go and see where Delilah is buried—pay her respects—and we want to settle down there in the countryside.”

Antonio didn’t respond at first. He looked into his son’s eyes and gave him the answer they both knew was right. “Of course, son. I wouldn’t want anything else for you. Take your wife and be happy there. Remember though, you have to come home for Christmas, and when you start having children you may have to build me a house on your farm so that I can be a grandpapa. I understand your need. Maybe it is also time that both Javier and I rethink what it is we do with our lives.”

“Thank you.” Alex smiled at him, unsure of himself and the next stage of his life, which would now involve a father he’d been determined to hate until the day he died.

*****

The family was gathered around the dinner table, Alex included. They had finished supper and the servants were clearing the plates. Their conversation had been lively and neither of the girls had asked why Alex was at the table. They’d become accustomed to his presence there, and he and Rosa had become good friends. Alex found Felicia to be somewhat annoying at times, but since the return of her mother, she seemed to have toned her behavior down quite a bit and was staying close to home while she, her sister and Lydia bonded again.

“I have something to announce,” Antonio said once the table was cleared and the servants out of the room.

“Uh-oh,” Rosa replied. “There can’t be more.”

“There is,” Antonio said. The women looked at their mother, who shrugged. “As you all know, I haven’t been a saint, but I have always loved all of you with everything I have.”

“What is it, Papa?” Felicia asked impatiently.

“I have done many terrible deeds, committed sins against your mother that I can never take back, but out of those sins I was, actually we were all, given a gift.”

“What are you talking about?” Rosa asked and glanced back at Lydia.

“There was another woman in my life many years ago. Marta.”

“Who is Marta?” Felicia asked.

“My mother,” Alex replied.

Lydia looked over at Alex, and smiled with happiness as she realized who Alex really was. Here was the little boy she’d wanted to hate all those years ago. But in a short amount of time since she’d been reunited with her family, she’d come to know Alex somewhat. He was a kind young man who she’d noticed liked to smell the flowers in the garden and play with the many dogs on the property. “She worked for Javier years ago,” Lydia answered.

Antonio nodded. “Yes. And I had an affair with her.”

“Oh, my God,” Rosa muttered, realizing who Alex was.

“Isn’t that what all you men do?” Felicia asked nonchalantly. “Big deal. You had an affair.”

“Alex is our brother,” Rosa told Felicia.

“That’s right,” Antonio told them. Alex looked down at the table.

“Are you serious?” Felicia asked.

“One hundred percent.” Antonio said.

Lydia laughed.

They are certainly a crazy family, but I guess they’re mine
, Alex thought as he glanced around, from face to face.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Six Months Later

Costa Careyes, Mexico

“It looks as though we are to be in-laws,” Javier said, finishing off his third tequila, sitting outside on Javier’s veranda at the vacation house, overlooking the jungles and the ocean. It was two nights before Alex and Bella’s wedding and the
Patróns
saw it fit for them to celebrate in honor of the occasion.

“You know, I always knew we’d wind up being a family one way or another.”

“You
loco pinche pendejo
! I only wish Cynthia were here to see this, see all the changes we’ve gone through and now to see our children married. She would rejoice in this.” Javier poured another shot of tequila and tossed it down, swallowing back his tears at the same time.

“Yes, she would,” Antonio replied.

“What are you and Lydia going to do?” Javier asked thinking of the women each of them had loved as young men. The women who had given them beautiful children and sacrificed so much of themselves for their families.

“Too much time has passed. We have both changed. I still love her. She’s the mother of my children, and I think we could be together again, but I know for her she doesn’t feel the same way. She’s suffered greatly and I’m in part to blame. I don’t expect her to try and love me as her husband ever again. She’s going to Paris with Rosa for her art show and then, on to New York.”

“I am sorry,
amigo
. Maybe in time…”

Antonio shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe…”

“What about Felicia?”

“You know my youngest daughter. She’s so full of life. She needs a big city to entertain her.”

“Where did she convince you to send her?”

“New York,” Antonio said, laughing. “Says she’s going to try modeling. At least her mother will be in the same city before long, but I don’t know if anyone of us can ever control that girl.”

“She is a wild one, but good for her. What about you?” Javier asked.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve still got you. And if our children do right by us, we’ll be grandpapas soon enough.” Antonio smiled and shook his head at the possibility of grand children. Where had time gone? “I’m not old enough for this.”

“You said it.” Javier poured his best friend and business partner of twenty-five years more tequila from the bottle they shared. As they sat together, getting drunk and watching the sun slowly make its descent, they reflected on life in that satirical way that only best friends who had suffered with one another, laughed together, and would die for one another, can.

“So what do you think the next twenty-five years have in store for us?” Javier asked, slurring his words.

“I don’t know that I
want
to know the answer to that one,” Antonio replied. The two laughed as they raised their glasses together, in celebration of the lives they had already lived.

Michele Scott is the author of several novels, including the bestselling Wine Lover’s Mystery Series. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and three kids, their dogs, cats, and horses. To learn more about the author and her work, please visit her site at http://www.michelescott.com.