But now, to hear them said aloud as Rafael stared intently into his eyes, he knew. A moment of pure elation was all he got, before the reality of the situation came crashing back in.
Summer breathed out, strangled by the intensity of the emotions surging in him. He wanted so badly to reach for Rafael, to pull him close and never let go, but the shadow of his father’s anger loomed overhead, making his limbs heavy with terror.
“Please,” he choked out, taking a trembling step forward. His knees felt weak, and he forced himself to stay standing, desperation clawing at his chest. “Don’t do this. Don’t kill him.”
Garcia’s eyes narrowed, and Summer felt with a sinking certainty that his father was going to kill Rafael right in front of him. The very idea of it sent a shudder of horror through him, as if his heart was already beginning to shatter. To watch Rafael die, to watch his father kill him…
And if you do, Summer thought, I’ll throw myself into the sea. I’ll break into the product and overdose in the bath. I’ll wait until you issue me a handgun and I’ll blow my own brains out. But I will never, ever be your son again.
An unnatural calm came over him. He swallowed. “I’ll do anything you want,” Summer said, his voice no longer shaking. He was sure now. “I’ll be the son you want and I’ll never, ever disobey you again. If you let Rafael go.”
Perhaps his father heard the resolution in his voice because he turned slightly, frowning. Summer’s chest tightened as he watched his father’s steely gaze flick between him and Rafael. He could feel the weight of his father’s uncertainty, his mercurial mood shifting.
“Verano,” Garcia finally said, his voice gruff and strained. His grip on the gun loosened slightly, but it remained pointed at Rafael. “Would you really rather live in that decadent shithole Los Angeles than rise to power in the cartel?” There was disbelief in his tone, an inability to comprehend why anyone would choose a different life.
Summer hesitated, his heart caught in his throat. He didn’t know how to answer, but one thing was clear—he needed to do whatever it took to save Rafael. “It doesn’t matter,” he said steadily. “If you spare Rafael, I promise to dedicate my life to the cartel.”
Garcia’s brow furrowed, and for a moment, Summer thought he saw something akin to sympathy in his father’s eyes. The older man’s body language betrayed his wavering conviction, his posture less rigid as he considered Summer’s words.
“Even if it meant never seeing him again?” Garcia asked, studying his son carefully.
Summer’s heart clenched at the thought, but he forced himself to nod. “As long as Rafael is alive and safe, I’ll do anything you want.” Hope began to build in him, a fragile ember that threatened to be snuffed out at any moment.
His father’s eyes narrowed, but the gun lowered ever so slightly. “You would give up everything else for this man?” Garcia’s voice held a mix of incredulity and something else.
“Yes, Papá,” Summer replied, his voice breaking with sincerity. “For Rafael, I would give up everything.”
Garcia stared at Summer for a long, tense moment, gun barrel still pressed to Rafael’s chest. His face was a battleground of emotions, his brow furrowed and his gaze distant as if he were looking at something no one else could see. He took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, the weariness in his tone unmistakable. “When I was your age, my father wanted me to work in the canning factory. He thought it was the right path for me, a stable job with honest pay.” Garcia’s eyes flickered with regret, his shoulders squaring against the memories of the past.
“But I didn’t want that life,” he continued, the hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. “I knew there was more out there, something that would set my heart on fire and make me feel alive. So, I joined the cartel instead.” Garcia looked away, a pained expression crossing his features. “My father never forgave me for following my heart. He died thinking I had chosen a life of darkness over the light he offered.”
Summer listened silently, that ember of hope flaring hot.
“Is the cartel your heart, Verano?” Garcia asked, his voice low.
Summer hesitated for a moment, swallowing hard before shaking his head. “No, Papá. It never has been, and it never will be.” He stared into his father’s eyes, pleading with him to understand.
Garcia seemed to consider this, his expression softening as he finally nodded. With a sigh, he tucked the gun back into its holster, and Summer let out the breath that had been caught in his throat. Relief washed over him in a cool wave.
“Then you must leave the cartel for your own good,” Garcia said, his voice firm but gentle. “You must find the life that sets your heart on fire, just as I did.”
Summer’s eyes widened, his gut churning with a mixture of surprise and hope. Could it really be that simple? Was his father truly willing to let him go?
“However,” Garcia continued after a moment’s pause, his tone taking on a more serious edge. “You’ll need a bodyguard.”
Summer blinked, momentarily confused. A bodyguard? Why would he need one?
“Rafael,” Garcia said, as if reading Summer’s thoughts. “He’ll protect you. It will be his punishment.”
The pieces clicked into place, but Summer still couldn’t quite understand.
“As for Los Angeles,” Garcia mused aloud, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered something. “I do have some business interests there.”
Summer felt his stomach drop. “So,” he said, his voice shaky. “Do you want me to handle the cartel business in L.A.?”
Garcia scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. “You want out of the cartel, right, mijo? No, I’ll rely on Rafael for that.”
“Rafael?” Summer asked hesitantly, hope rising in him once more.
