Chapter 4

Farren's Point of View

Everything looked different from the vantage point of a car. The buildings seemed to lean away from us. The people as well. Although, the Amador family crest flattened itself against the side of the car. Maybe that was why the people tended to lean and look away. They wanted to live in peace, and our presence blew them in every direction except ours.

It was a sorrowful sight. To know that I was now part of the reason these people hurried inside and shut their doors. Stopped whatever they had to do and fled. But my brother was driving and I couldn't yell at him to stop. Place a few dollars in their hands and tell them to spoil themselves a bit. That I was sorry for causing so much unrest in their lives.

Camilo had sauntered off the moment he realized he was unwelcome. Smiled at my brother and walked away with his hands in his pockets. As if nothing in the world could keep him from me. Not even my own reluctance. Benicio had bristled but our conversation was over. For now. I was sure I would get an ear full the moment we got home.

But I was still in my own mind. Kept my hand firmly tucked beneath my chin as I stared out the car window. This was not in my plan. To find my mate. Settle down. None of it was planned. I had dreamt of the day when I found my better half but this half was nothing better. He was what I had fled when I had gone with Priamos. 

My youngest brother would be utterly disappointed to learn of this new development in my life.

We drove past a few schools. Children lazed around outside. Waited for their mothers or fathers to come and collect them. None of them looked at us when we drove by. Hid their eyes with quick glances away. Or laughed at each other nervously. This broke me even more. They were at the ages I had been when I had gone away. Because this place was no place to raise a child. Fucking hell. At this rate, I would refuse to have my own children. Especially if it was with my mate.

The urban feel of the city passed soon enough. Gave way to lush green trees and horses grazing on the side of the road. We weren't far out of Lupitum. Maybe a kilometer or so. This was where the men of the Amador family lived. Far enough away from the main mansion that there wouldn't be too much trouble and close enough that, if shit hit the fan, they could assist quickly and efficiently.

Mother had always wanted to live on this side of town when I was growing up. Once upon a time, she had. Back when Santos was alive. Back when my mother still had a mate and not some horrible man who had abandoned her whilst pregnant to return to his family in America. Santos had adored his mate and four boys. Or so they had always told me. 

Being the half-sibling had always come at a price. Secrecy was one of them.

Benicio turned into a long driveway when houses started to pop up on either side of us again. This was the neighborhood kids could still play happily in. Yes, it was built on darkness and drugs but the kids were always safe. Guarded. The most precious treasures of them all. On the other side of this neighborhood, there was a dead end. Walls covering the exposed side. No one was getting in, except through the main road. The one where even if you didn't see them, there were men all around you, watching as you came and went.

Their house wasn't as lavish as the one Camilo had. Rightfully so. But it was more than they had had in a long time. Poverty had struck them the hardest when Santos was killed. Forced them to move to a very unsavory part of town. That was where I had grown up. With a roof that was caved in. Walls with large cracks in them. The whole nine yards. 

Now, they lived in a palace compared to those years. 

The house was mostly Hacienda-style. With large pillars and wide arches. A fountain with moss covering it gurgling in front of the home. Sweeping staircase leading up to the front door. Thatched roof of brightest red. Vines crawling along the walls. My mother had clarified that this had been their previous home. That Santos had built it for her. You could see this in the way everything was placed. Built. A love letter to my mother. An ode to the life they had lived together.

The car stopped and I noticed Louisa on the top step. Her hair was pulled back in a braid. Hand on her growing belly. Romano was beside her, clutching his stuffed rabbit. The boy was one of the only sources of happiness I found in this house. Because of its origins, the house left me feeling like an outsider. My brothers acted as if I was one, as well. Louisa also made it clear that once my mother passed away, she would be the lady of the house.

Not that I wanted anything to do with this place. I wanted to return to my true home. Back in Ireland. Cuddle up with my nephew. Laugh with my family over a pint of beer whilst it poured cats and dogs outside. The heat of this place was no longer my friend.

Climbing out of the car, I inhaled the scent of freshly cut grass. Savored the lingering scent of Camilo still on me. It was both a blessing and a curse. Louisa's face turned into a scowl the closer I got. Morphed into something from another world. She had made her distaste for me clear since the day I had gotten here. Benicio truly had gotten the shortest stick when he realized she was his mate.

Not as short a stick as my own, though.

"What nonsense did you get up to this time, Farren? Honestly, your brother puts up with enough shit without you adding on to it." Louisa hissed. Romano's face lit up when I stepped in beside him. The boy extended his arms but his mother tugged him back to her side.

"Has mommy been moaning again, little Romeo?" I cooed when I looked at the boy. Ignored Louisa. The pet name came when he tried to woo me to his room with a rose he had stolen out of his grandmother's vase. Apparently, no one wanted to play legos with him. Except for his Abuela. But her health was failing. And the playing became less and less.

"Farren! Are you listening!" The woman hollered. 

Forcing my face to remain blank, I looked up at her. Batted my eyelids ever so slowly at her. Drew out the moment, as Nerezza had taught me. Because nothing irritated people more than acting as if their urgency wasn't important. Like their presence was a nuisance. 

"I heard you, Louisa. But that doesn't mean you are entitled to a reply. As you heard, I was in the middle of a very important conversation." This made her bristle. Let her eyes narrow in on me. Ants started fighting inside my stomach but I held my ground. Stared her down.

Scoffing, she stood to the side. Dropped her anger and let it sink into irritation. "Still acting like a princess, I see." 

"Well, I am the daughter of a king. Unlike you, I was brought up with manners. What was your father again? A pimp?" This struck another chord in her. Louisa's eyes went wide and her mouth opened. I could see her forming the words. Could see her getting ready to throw them but Benicio cut in. Stopped her in her tracks.

"Louisa, Farren, that is enough. Louisa, take Romano to his playroom, I need to speak with my sister."

Her nostrils flared and being ordered around but she didn't protest. Picked up Romeo with a humph and set off into the house. I followed a little ways behind her. Ignored the murmuring of my brothers behind me. 

Turning right, I aimed for the stairs. Stepped on the first one before Benicio spoke up again. "Farren! I asked to speak with you!" 

Turning around with a sigh, I leveled a flattened glare his way. Let my slight irritation hang in the air between us. "I know. I just wasn't in the mood for it."

"His mate, Farren? Seriously? Do you know who he is? What he does?" 

"Yes. I do. If my memory serves me right, he is your boss. Which makes you almost as bad as he is." 

"I have no choice in this, Farren. I do what I do to support my family. On the other hand, he enjoys this life. It amuses him. He isn't like us. Please. Just keep your distance from him."

"Trust me. I was fucking planning on it. Not like I will be around for much longer anyway. I knew when I am not wanted."

This seemed to strike him in the chest. Benicio took a step back. Looked up at me with wide eyes. Sad eyes. The eyes my mother had made when I had decided to go with Priamos instead of staying here with her. Because I was still their blood, even when I never wanted to be.

"That isn't fair, Farren."

"Nothing in life is fair. The moment she is gone, so am I." With that said, I trotted up the stairs. Felt my short dress bounce against the top of my thighs. Benicio stood and watched as I vanished up the stairs. Took a sharp right turn and he was gone from sight.

The events of today had left me feeling drained. Done. I had found my mate but it was unlike anything I had imagined for myself. For some reason, I had hoped I would find my mate in the hills of Ireland. A farmer with sheep. Cottage with a burning fireplace. Hanf-me-down rugs and a love for nature. Not some mafia man who wanted to rule the world.

Crashing onto my bed, I felt tendrils of fatigue setting in. Not the kind where your body screamed to sleep but the kind where your mind refused to process anymore. The kind that ripped into your soul and refused to let go. It pulled a yawn from my mouth. Forced edges of black into my vision.

I fell into the abyss. Needless to say, no one noticed my absence come dinner time. Thus, I continued to doze. Fell in and out of relentless dreams. Which was a dangerous thing, considering I heard a loud thud. Heard footsteps walking closer. But it was a dream. 

Until it wasn't. Until I woke up to a dark room and an even darker figure leaning over me. The scream lodged itself in my throat. Bubbled and broke on my tongue. Shriveling back to the other side of my bed, I felt cold fear slithering down my spine.

Reaching to the left of me, I hastily put on the bedside light. Flooded the room with a soft glow. Camilo stood on the other side. Frowned so deeply I was sure he had carved it onto his face. 

He had broken into my home. Came straight to my room. I wanted to vomit. Would I ever be able to escape him?