I bend and kiss my mom on the top of the head and nod at Maria Jose. "Pack a bag for both of you. We'll leave in the morning."
When I see Maria Jose hesitate, I guess her fear. "We'll bring Juanito, too. I will keep you both safe, I promise."
She relaxes and dips into a curtsy. "Thank you, Señor."
~.~
Sedona
By some miracle, I find a flight to Mexico City going out tonight and call an Uber to meet me at a block from my parents' house. The last thing I want to do is get some pack member in trouble for driving me to the airport and I know my dad would never let me leave. I slip out of the house with nothing more than a backpack, because-yeah-a suitcase might signal to my family that I'm going somewhere.
I know they'll be on my tail, and that's fine. I just want to get there first.
I board the plane, strong with determination. I'm not letting anyone take my pup's father from her. Or from me. It's funny how things become crystal clear when you stand to lose it all.
I won't lose Carlos. He's mine. My mate. The father of my pup. He has an enormous heart-cares deeply for his mother, the little servant boy who set me free, his pack.
For me.
It's so obvious now to me how much he both cares for and respects me. He worshipped my body, dominated me, but still gave me my congress. I'm not willing to live without him.
I don't know how we'll make it work, but we'll figure something out. If the council is eliminated from the picture, my trauma and resentments from my captivity could be put to rest. I'd be willing to help him make the changes he envisions for his pack. If we worked together, I have no doubt we could do great things there.
Look what my brother did in Tucson with just a little startup capital and a ragtag pack of young males. Now he has a thriving real estate business, a nightclub, and a strong, loyal pack, willing to do anything for him. And a mate. Having Amber will change things even more-I can't wait to see how. Maybe they'll provide a cousin for our pup.
But I'm getting way ahead of myself. I have to save Carlos first.
The rest, we'll figure out.
~.~
Carlos
I wake up with my head on my desk, drool running down my chin. I must've fallen asleep reviewing the books. I spent the night pouring through more financial journals, following the trails of money. Since Don Santiago was the only tech-savvy member of el consejo, he's been the one to handle the on-line accounts. He appears to be the one stealing from the pack. Whether it's with the complicity of el consejo or not, I can't be sure.
I swore for a moment, I saw surprise in Don Jose's eyes when I told him what I'd found, but he quickly covered it up. That was what pissed me off. El consejo always operates alone, without bringing me in on discussions or decisions. I know that's not how it should be.
My father was a member of the council. I remember him being locked in the conference room for long hours, coming out looking beaten down and haggard, angry and stressed by whatever discussion they'd had.
I haven't even been invited in on such meetings. I'm ready to disband the whole fucking council. If I thought I had support from the pack, I'd do it today. This minute. Before I drive my mom down to el D. F.
Which reminds me-I never looked at her journal. I pull it out of my pocket and skim through the pages. It's what I remembered-poetry, quotes. Snippets of beauty my mother liked to share with me.
I thumb toward the back of the journal. Does she still write in this thing? I wouldn't think she'd even be capable with her shaky hands and addled brain. No. The last entries are dated fifteen years ago.
Which would be around the time of my father's death. I slow down and read. Her handwriting is messier, as if writing in a hurry, or under duress. The ink on the last pages is smeared with tears.
My mate, my Carlos disappeared today. How will I go on without him? How can this be? I know who killed him. It's as plain to me as day.
The argument with the council last night had gone on late. When he came back, he told me they seized control over all the monetary assets, told him he is no longer allowed to make financial decisions for the pack. He was furious. He paced in the bedroom all night and left early this morning, but he never returned.
Don Jose says there was an accident in the mine, but I know it's a lie. They killed him, just like they kill everyone who goes up against them. Everyone knows there's a pile of bodies in that mine. Every young shifter who might be a physical threat. Every wolf who dissents on any point. Any male or female who doesn't toe the line.
Everyone lives in fear here. I only have one choice-to get Carlitos out of here before he becomes their next victim. If only I knew who I could trust.
Ice sluices through my veins as I read.
The council killed my father. I always thought it was an accident in the mine. Like so many others. But my mother suspected none of them were accidents.
Are these simply the ravings of a madwoman? They don't seem it. Paranoid, perhaps. But fully coherent. Logical. They must have offered the first drugs to her as something to calm her down, ease her grieving. Then they kept her silent all these years.
But why not just kill her? Wouldn't that be easier than keeping her around? Perhaps they feared it would arouse too much suspicion.