A message comes in from my brother, confirming what I knew all along.
Carlos:Turns out it wasn’t Santiago who sent that hit out on Mateo and his father. It was only made to look that way.
Me:It was Julia.
Carlos:How did you know?
Me:I had a gut feeling.
Carlos:You and your gut feelings. Are you sure it’s not from all those tostadas you’re always eating for lunch?
I laugh and slide my phone back in my pocket. The truth is I knew because I could see it in her eyes. I know the look of a killer because I see it every time I look in the mirror.
Epilogue
Mateo
Six months later
My mother never did respond that first time. It took six months for me to hear back from her. I knew where she was this whole time. Every restaurant she ate in, every hotel she stayed in, every man she went to bed with and every business deal she made with someone. As long as she was alive she would never stop going after my father. Any threat to my father was a threat to me. I needed her to come to me on her own. She needed to think she was still sitting in the winner's seat. I slide into my car; the seats are warm from the hot sun coming through the window. It’s the middle of summer and I hate how the humidity always leaves my clothes sticking to my body. My phone vibrates and it’s a message from my mother.
Mother:I’m here. I can’t wait to see you,mijo.
Me:I just pulled in.
I step out of the car, nodding at the black sedan parked across the road. Even from the distance I can see Gabriel’s wicked smile. We both know my mother’s tricks and knew she wouldn’t be coming alone but neither would I. I walk past one of my father’s men pretending to read the paper on a bench outside the restaurant. Most of his men were new and I made sure to bring the ones she wouldn’t recognize.
Her smile is wide, and she looks the exact same from when I last saw her. She is wearing a red, subtle dress with a matching hat. There are a few men sitting behind her. I know right away that they are friends of hers as is the man sitting alone in the corner of the restaurant. I’ve learned a lot from Gabriel and my father over the last six months. Reading people was always something he was best at and now I carry that trait. Taking the seat in front of her, I ignore her inviting arms. I didn’t come here to hug the woman who tried to kill me. The arms I once sought out for comfort have become the last ones I’d ever go to.
“I’m glad you finally decided to meet me, Mother.”
Her red lipstick stretches with her lips. “Me too. It’s been a long time. I’ve missed you.”
I laugh. “How about you cut the bullshit and tell me why you finally agreed to meet me?”
Her lips become a straight line and she sits back in her chair, crossing her hands over the table. “I told you already Mateo. I’ve missed you. That’s all. Can’t a mother miss her own son?”
I nod. “I suppose she could, but you lost that title a long time ago.”
“I didn’t come here to fight, Mateo. I came here because I want to come home.”
“Father would never take you back and you know it.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not talking about your father. You are my home, Mateo. You always have been,mi amor.”
My jaw tightens and I cringe at that name. “Don’t call me that. You no longer have a place anywhere near me. You burned that bridge the moment you tried to marry me off to that monster knowing exactly what he was. How do I know you won’t try to kill me again?”
She holds her hands out in front of her. “I promise, Mateo. I’m done being that person. I’ve learned a lot over these last six months. All I want to do is be the mother to you that I always should have been. Now, will you please have a drink with your mother?”
I nod. “Fine. Let's get this over with then.”
My mother orders a chai latte and I order an espresso. The guy from behind the counter hands me the drinks, his stare lingering on me for too long. I take a seat at the table with the hot cups in my hands and when I glance back at the counter, he’s gone.
My mother sips her tea. “I was thinking, I could come help you run the clubs left to you by Santiago. I know you’ve had your hands full lately having to take on so much responsibility suddenly. You were never that good with too much responsibility, were you,mijo?”
“I’ve been getting along just fine.” I reassure her with a smile. I crack my knuckles, never letting my eyes leave hers. “I think that’s a good idea though. Maybe you’d even be more suited to help running the whore houses but I guess that would be hard to do when you’re dead.”
Her eyes widen and her gaze drops down to her drink. “Wait. You couldn’t have. I...”
