A guess on his part, since Victoria had never admitted she wanted a relationship. But he wanted his brothers to understand she wasn’t a onetime hookup. He cared about her. That was the only reason he’d risked so much.
“Honestly?” he said. “I fell in love with her in Baja, and I still feel the same way.”
The silence that followed was so gut-wrenching he wanted to throw up. Especially since Martin’s scowl had grown even more menacing.
He took a step back, still jittery as hell. “I’m sorry.”
Martin sat back down, muttering curses under his breath. “After all this, Victoria let Benfireyou? That’s cold.”
Rafael let out a ragged exhale, relieved Martin was angry on his behalf. Like the time some punk-ass bully had hounded Rafael in the third grade, and fourteen-year-old Martin had shown up after school, threatening to pound the kid into the dirt.
“It sucks that she didn’t defend me,” Rafael said. “But that’s not the issue. I lost us a valuable contract. So…I’m going to turn in my apron. Three strikes and you’re out, right? I’ve had more than three strikes. I’m a fucking liability, and I don’t deserve to work for you or anyone in the family.”
The guilt pressed on him, crushing his chest like a vise. Mamá would be so disappointed. And he had no idea what he’d do next, where he’d go. He was running out of family members willing to take a chance on him. “I’ll work through the holiday rush so you’re not left hanging. But after that—”
Martin pointed to the chair. “Sit your ass down. Now.”
Rafael did as he said. Martin in full authority mode wasn’t someone he wanted to challenge.
“Are you saying you don’t want to work for me, little brother?” Martin demanded.
“No. That’s—”
“Then shut up. I’m not firing you. You’re family. And we support each other, even when we make mistakes.”
Rafael looked down, heat prickling his eyes. “But I messed up so badly.”
Tony slid the tin of cookies toward him. “Only because you didn’t tell us about Victoria. And you should have waited until after the wedding to get with her. But she wanted this, too, right?”
Rafael took a cinnamon-sugar cookie from the tin. “I thought she felt the same way I did.”
He sounded like a wuss, but Tony gave him a sympathetic shrug. “That sucks.”
Martin met Rafael’s eyes. “No bullshit, okay? I want you to swear you didn’t touch Ben or threaten him in any way.”
More than ever, Rafael was grateful he’d kept his temper in check. “I swear it on Papá’s grave.”
“Then the guy’s an asshole,” Tony said. “What made him think he could harass the wedding coordinator?”
Jesus. His brothers didn’t know the truth—not the way Ernesto and Araceli did. Taking another cookie for sustenance, Rafael enlightened his brothers on the toxic, twisted history of Victoria and Ben.
Martin stood up again, back in angry older-brother mode. He looked like he was ready to punch the wall. “Let me get this straight. Our guy Ben dates Victoria, cheats on her, gets someone else knocked up, and then uses the same wedding date and venue? And then forces Victoria to coordinate the wedding?”
Rafael rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the throbbing pain. It was no use. He stood and filled a cup from the coffeepot on the back counter, without bothering to add cream or sugar. “The whole situation is dysfunctional as hell. Victoria’s dad insisted she take the job because he’s pals with Senator Macalister.”
“Figures,” Tony said. “Senator Mac’s got some serious clout. At least we get to keep the deposit.”
Rafael downed his coffee, wincing at the bitterness. The deposit was the only blessing in this whole shit show, but it wasn’t much. Ben and Missy owed them thousands more and not just for all the food and labor. His family had worked their asses off on Missy’s projects.
“Could we take him to court?” Tony asked. “Seems like a clear breach of contract.”
“I wouldn’t,” Rafael said. “He’s a wealthy lawyer with major political connections. He’d make it look like I was threatening him. It would be my word against his.”
“Victoria was there, too, right?” Martin asked. “Wouldn’t she speak up for you?”
Rafael snorted. If she hadn’t reached out to him by now, he couldn’t count on her. All she cared about was covering her ass. “I doubt it.”
“Well, fuck,” Tony muttered. “We’re screwed. What are we going to do with all this food?”
