“Do you know how we got started?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. “When my grandfather came over here from the DR, he wanted to build a better life for him and my abuela. He had done some things back home to survive but wanted to leave that life there. My abuela was attacked and raped one night and you know what the law did? Nothing. All they saw were illegal immigrants who didn’t matter. My grandfather did a lot of odd jobs when he came over here. He met some people who were able to help him track down who’d attacked my abuela and he made them pay himself. That’s when he realized no matter how great they say this country is, thereareflaws; one being how immigrants are treated. My grandfather took that knowledge and built the Tavarez name by handling trash the courts wouldn’t. Eventually, he got noticed by gangs and other crime bosses, and they paid him to make problems go away.”
“So knowing all that, why go into the same justice system you don’t believe in?”
My question caused one corner of his mouth to lift. “Simple, to make sure my family is protected. When you have a man on the inside, you’re less liable to get caught. Not to mention, the connections I’ve built have helped my family more times than I can count. Do you know why we’ve been able to stay hidden after all these years?”
“Because you were a corrupt lawyer and even more corrupt judge who makes sure of it.”
He chuckled. “You’re a smart ass,” he remarked in Spanish. “My son has his hands full, that’s for sure. We’ve managed to stay off the radar so long because we’re good at what we do and we trust each other. Each person in this operation has a role. Do you think my kids are in their professions for the hell of it? Hell no, each of them is doing something that ultimately helps the business.” My body went still. “Nazai, although I would have loved for him to go into law too, was groomed to take over the business. I know my son was destined to be a leader and born for greatness.”
“So what, you just see your kids as assets?” I asked tightly, gripping the arms of the chair just as tightly. Déjà vu of being around my family hit me.
“All of my kids are smart and talented and they use those skills to keep this family running. Because wearea family. No, I don’t just see my kids as assets, but theyareassets. You can’t build a tower without a foundation. Each of the skills my kids possess are building blocks. Those blocks are what makes the Tavarez family who we are.”
I bit into my bottom lip. “I’m not a threat to your family,” I said slowly.
“Ourfamily, because whether or not either of us likes it, youarea part of this family now, Cashlynn. You might not want to tell me who you really are or what you do, but I didn’t get to where I am by being dumb. I know in ways you are your parents’ kid. And even though they were a disgrace as humans, they were good at their job. If they trained you to be nearly as good as them, then I’ll be proud to have you on our team.”
This time a sincere expression formed on his face.
I didn’t confirm or deny anything. This conversation gave me a lot to think about. What Dominic didn’t know was, the way my parents had trained me made them look like amateurs.
____
I jumped out of my sleep as my heart pounded in my chest, while clenching my covers tightly to my chest. The thunder went off again, louder this time. Rain poured and violently beat against the window near the bed. A few seconds later lightning flashed, illuminating the room.
Blood raced through my veins. I darted my eyes around the room before squeezing them shut as my muscles tensed at the thunder again. My breathing sped up and my chest became taut. I attempted to take a few small breaths to calm myself down, but the beating of the rain made it too hard.
Finally realizing sleep would not come easy, I snatched the cover off me and hurried out of the room down the hall. Stopping at the elevator, I hit the button a few times while bouncing my eyes around the dark hallway. Another wave of thunder came by, causing me to jump just as the elevator opened. Hurrying inside, I quickly hit the third floor button.
Pressing my back against the glass wall, I closed my eyes until the cart stopped and the doors opened again. Quickly, I rushed out of the elevator to Nazai’s door, pushing it open and going inside.
He was still up in bed, an overhead light lit, aimlessly moving a black, charcoal pencil on a sketchpad. His movement paused and he glanced up at me.
“Well, this is a surprise.” He smirked, eyeing me. My mouth clamped shut and I avoided his amused stare. “What can I do for you, wife?” Normally I wouldn’t come into Nazai’s room so easily. He hadn’t pressured me to sleep next to him, although every so often he would come downstairs and carry me into his room.
“I—” Just as I was answering, thunder roared, causing me to jump and hurry across the room. I climbed into the bed, ignoring the embarrassment I felt, and pulled the covers over me. My eyes squeezed shut and I moved so my face was pressed against Nazai’s body.
I felt him move around, heard a small click, then he was lowering himself so he lay flat. I didn’t want to talk about why I was in here and thankfully I think he sensed that. Moving up, I planted my face in his neck, then breathed softly, finally feeling safe. He turned slightly and placed his hand on my hip. My body tensed every so often at the sound of the storm outside, but I tried to tune it out and find sleep again.
CHAPTER 21
NAZAI
“Starting today you’ll officially oversee the business, hijo. When you were growing up, me and you bumped heads a lot. We disagreed on a lot of things, mainly because you follow after me when it comes to being too strong minded for your own good, and you’ve got your mother’s stubbornness.” Dad paused and smirked. “But still I’m proud of the man you’ve become. With this business comes a lot of risk, but I know you’ll continue to lead The Bloodline into success. You might not have followed in my footsteps with law, but you created your own path and now that you’re married, it’s time for you to not only continue our legacy but create your own. To Nazai! Happy birthday, son.” Dad lifted his glass with my brothers, including River, following suit. We were currently at the family meeting house. It was the morning of my birthday and it was starting off just like I always knew it would, me being crowned head of the family.
“How does it feel, old man?” Ezra asked with a grin on his face.
“Like I can still whoop your ass in a fight.”
He chuckled. “Good luck getting past Wilma.”
I grinned at my little brother. “That’s why God made bullets.”
Dad laughed at the head of the rectangle table. It was the same table we had sat around plenty of times while he debriefed us on missions we were taking on. Emmet would provide the information while Dad would explain what needed to be done. I enjoyed what we did, killing with my brothers brought me joy. Killing period excited me but being in charge, knowing the shoes I had to fill, made my nerves a little rattled, but I was up for the task. I had been groomed to take over since I could remember.
“So since you’re the head of the family now, what does it entail exactly?” Cashlynn asked next to me. She had been sitting silently since we’d arrived.
“It means now I distribute the jobs this family does.”
