Alvaro's POV.I was nine years old when my father passed. No, I shouldn't say he passed, it made it sound like a natural cause when he was murdered in cold blood on the street. There was an up-and-coming gang in the city called the Diabolos and for initiation—to be the gang leader's left nut I suppose—my father was the target. Put a bullet in him and you were going to be the pet. The right hand man of the new boss. My father didn't know it yet because he was too distracted by my mother. She was cheating on him with one of his men and he found out. It drove him insane. Heartbroken he turned to the bottle. I would come home from school to find him passed out in the living room. I was just a kid but I should have done something more to save my father from himself and what we didn't know was coming. He felt embarrassed. He had a lot of regrets and I remembered one crucial piece of advice he gave me. "No te cases Una mujer te romperá de maneras que no sabías que eran posibles."He sai
Jane's POV First Mateo left and Alvaro left, leaving me with his mother and grandfather at the table. His mother seemed horrible and Alvaro looked like he couldn't stand her— maybe that's why I hadn't met her till now. I hated the way Alvaro's mother spoke about Mateo and the way she spoke to him as if she was better than him. I could see Mateo felt uncomfortable and irritated in her presence. "Excuse me," she said and stood. Her heels clicked against the porcelain tiles with each step she took to the door. Soon after I heard yelling and abuelo shut his eyes tightly, taking a sip of his wine. "Can you please check on Mateo, mi hija?" He asked, "I'd do it myself but his room is upstairs." "Of course," I bowed my head, standing. "But I don't want to leave you alone here," I said and he smiled. "Mi hija, my nurse will be right in. Plus I need to check on Alvaro." I could see the sadness in his eyes. "I shouldn't have asked his mother to come." "You were just trying to help, abuelo
The doctor had set the date of the procedure a week after my first visit. My appointment day had arrived and Alvaro said he would pick me up from work because my boss refused to give me the day off. Julia said she'd cover for me when she got out of school since she was picking up extra shifts. Her dad lost his job and I didn't mind working fewer hours so she can earn a little extra. I was anxious. I read on the internet how the process went and it seemed simple enough, nothing to be too afraid of. It was just carrying a baby for nine months that concerned me and then the rest of that baby's life. Motherhood was a big responsibility. It wasn't like having a goldfish. I killed all my goldfish due to my neglecting them. There were some days I forgot to feed them and then there was never time to clean the tank. I couldn't do that with a baby, I wouldn't but there was this part of me that felt like I wasn't good enough to be a parent. Some people were meant to be parents while others w
"How do I look?" Mateo asked, grinning at himself in the mirror. "You look great..." I lied. He looked like he stepped out of a cliche high school movie."You look like an idiot," Alvaro laughed, "pull your pants up, mi hijo. Why is your underwear showing?" Mateo was dressed in a burned orange T, black baggy pants that hung low and a baseball cap. "It's hip." He defended, looking down at himself. "Dios mío! Jane do something," Alvaro said, putting me on the spot. "Tell him if you were a girl you would never be impressed by that." "Hey!" I exclaimed, "I am a girl." Mateo laughed and Alvaro rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean," he said.I walked over to Mateo's closet and found a grey v- neck shirt. I walked over to him and pulled the hat off his head, ruffling his hair around. "Put this shirt on and maybe pull the pants up. This isn't a movie made in 1999 about high school students." Mateo chuckled pulling off the bright traffic cone t-shirt and throwing it on the bed. "I gu
I got dressed for work. I put on my jeans and I put the money I had in my bag. I deliberately left my phone on my pillow for what I was about to do. He could trace me with the phone and I didn't want to be found. My plan was clear and even though it wasn't England it was still considered a safe haven compared to this place. I had come to terms with a decision last night when Mateo left my room. I couldn't sleep knowing what I was going to do today. It was short notice and I would never just leave on a dime without proper preparation but it felt like the walls were closing in on me the longer I stayed here.I left my room to see Alvaro leaning against the wall, opposite my door. I ignored him and carried on walking to the stairs. "Jane," he called and I walked faster. "I didn't expect things to go that way yesterday," he tried to explain. "You didn't expect to get caught," I said and he went silent. "Jane please, just let me explain why." I stopped turning around to face him. "I
Alvaro's POV I fucked up, the look of distrust in her eyes haunted me. She now saw me as the monster I was. Things were getting better and then that puta had to go and give an anonymous tip to the cops about a shipment that was coming in. I couldn't trust a rat and I had to kill him. Jane saw Ricky drag the man's dead body out and she looked mortified. She refused to talk to me and I wanted to make things better between us since there was a possibility she could be carrying my child soon. My phone buzzed on the table and I looked to see it was Carlos, Jane's bodyguard. I picked it up immediately. "Sir it's your wife. She's locked herself in the back room and isn't responding to me." "What!" I stood, "Carlos, break that door down now! I'm coming." I cut the call and got into my car. I sped to her working place. What if she fainted. She hadn't eaten this morning in her rush to get away from me. I parked my car behind Mateo's on the road and ran up the few steps into the small s
Jane's POV I woke up to the smell of something potently sweet lingering in the air. It was day two of living with my grandmother and it seemed her newfound purpose was feeding me. She complained saying I was too skinny and needed to have my energy for when it came time to deliver. I drew my curtains and opened the window allowing the sweet air into the room. My body quivered in delight, welcoming the fresh air into my oxygen stream.My grandmother was excited about having a great-grandchild and I didn't realize before that I wasn't only making abuelo a great-grandfather. I was making my parent's grandparents as well. "You're such a sweetie," I heard my grandmother say to someone and I heard a man chuckle.I went over to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I had been using my grandmother's clothes. It was baggy on me and very freeing. The best thing about living here as a kid was that I could stay in PJs all day. It's not like it was any different when I lived on my own but here it
I stood in place staring at Alvaro. He walked up the porch skipping the broken step and coming over to me. He put an arm around my waist drawing me in and placing a chaste kiss on my forehead. "You must be Jane's husband," Brady said coming over to us. He eyed Alvaro up and down. Alvaro grinned and it was wicked. "So she mentioned me." "Jane," my grandmother came outside. "I heard something break." She paused upon seeing Alvaro. He kept his arm around my waist. "Oh hello," she said looking him over."Abuela," he turned and looked at me, "your grandmother?" I nodded and he walked over to her. I swallowed hard not knowing how to deal with the situation. I was so careful. I thought I would have time before he could even find me. "Are you my Jane's boyfriend?" My grandmother asked and Alvaro turned back to look at me. "Boyfriend?" He questioned. "I always thought it was more than that," he smiled and my grandmother blushed. "Oh well come in," she said, "I've been wanting to meet yo
Mateo's Pov. I always believed I was more lucky than unlucky. I was a homeless boy and then I was adopted by one of the richest families in the city that treated me like their own flesh and blood. I gained a family and it was more than an orphaned boy like me could dream of. I never knew struggle after Alvaro and I was grateful. This time my luck was up again. Maybe I was creepy for this but this was the closest opportunity I'd ever get to see her again. She had tweeted that she would be doing her medical practicals at Hôtel Dieu Hospital in France. I may have admired her from afar for years after I said my final goodbye but I promised her that she would see me again and we kissed one last time. Not a day passed that I haven't thought of her. I saw her in my dreams. From the day I met Julia I was drawn to her. It was like everything in my head just clicked from the moment I saw her in that little boutique. The programme was starting soon and I was stuck in a cab in traffic. I wa
Jane's Pov. 5 years later I sat on a park bench watching a little girl running and leaping with her friends. I couldn't help but wonder how things would be different if it weren't for the sacrifices Alvaro and I made. She was free. I felt two hands come around my eyes and block out the light. "Al?" I asked. "No," I heard Mateo's voice and I sprung up jumping on him. "Easy," he chuckled, stumbling back and trying to regain his footing. "Mat what are you doing here?"I missed him too much to care if I was embarrassing him. "It's Rosie's birthday. What do you think I'm doing here?" He was grinning from ear to ear. "How'd you know we'd be at the park?" I asked. "Today is Saturday. You always come to the park on Saturday to do some bird and people watching." He sat down next to me. Mateo left for college when he turned eighteen. His grades were incredible and he got a bursary to study medicine at Oxford in England. When he chose medicine I asked why and he said it was so he could a
The plane ride was long. My tolerance for travel depreciated. Besides the cramped toilet I couldn't stand being in a compressed space with Alvaro. Especially when he sat close to me. I wanted to choke him and I would have loved to blame my hormones but it would be a lie when I knew it was what I would naturally want. I was upset for a long list of reasons especially this morning when he insisted I get into the car. I didn't know what I would say to my grandmother and mother so he said this wasn't a final goodbye. I could come back after I saw the place and say my goodbyes. Mateo looked between us. He barely spoke to Alvaro it was just mutters and grunts which seemed to amuse Alvaro. "Have you decided?" Alvaro asked him. "Where do you want to stay?" Mateo didn't answer. "Your silence speaks volumes. You chose her, " Alvaro smiled. "I'm not surprised. I knew you would." Mateo looked away from him. "It's okay, mi hijo." Mateo stood and went into the room at the back of the plane.
Jane's POV. "We've been here for a week," Mateo mentioned. I covered my eyes from the sun to look at him. The sun was setting and we were outside painting the barn. Maybe I was just trying to bide time until I was all alone. Mateo agreed to come with me to Texas. I thought it would be better to have him with me this time.My grandmother and mom loved him. They treated him like their own and I appreciated that. Mateo wasn't happy with my decision to leave Alvaro but he did support it. The last thing I wanted was to come between him and Alvaro. If he chose to stay with Alvaro I couldn't force him away. "Why haven't you asked me to come with you?" He questioned. His face held a certain amount of offence. "I thought you would by now." "Because I don't want you to have to choose between him and me. I want you to know that you are always welcome to live with me. I'll take care of you. I might not be able to spoil you the way Alvaro does but you'll have a home and you'll be safe." "Wh
Alvaro's Pov.I would rather have someone shoot me. Empty a cartridge of bullets in me, stab me with the sharpest knife and carve out my heart. Hollow me out physically. Any physical pain would do. But not this pain. Not the pain of her leaving me. It was like all the happiness in the world had been vacuumed out. She broke me and I let her because I chose to love her. I couldn't hate her for it. Because I understood why she was leaving. I couldn't strap her down and force her to stay because the hate she'd have for me would hurt more than her leaving. And I couldn't stand the idea of her hating me again when I experienced how much she loved me. She was my slice of paradise the reason I looked forward to coming home. And she left me and she took Mateo with her to Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if Mateo decided to move out and be with her. He proved there was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He would take care of her and she would take care of him but I couldn't take that thought.
Mateo looked himself over in his long mirror. He was dressed in a navy blue tuxedo and his hair was combed to the side. "You look handsome Mat," I complimented. "I hope she thinks so..." He sounded nervous. "She likes you," I said, "why would you think otherwise?" "She's just so great. It seems like a dream whenever I'm with her." "That's cute." I smiled. "Did you go to your prom?" He asked. My memories of high school were fleeting. I didn't have much of a social life. "Yes. I went with a boy I crushed on for two years. We met in tenth grade and then he ignored me until our senior year. He surprised me by asking me." "Seems like a bad boy," Mateo smirked. "He wasn't a complete bad boy. He was a bit of a nerd too." "What happened to him?" Mat asked. "I moved and then he moved. I haven't seen him since high school." "It's nice to know that my wife had many prospects before me," Alvaro popped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Plenty," I teased. "S
I sat beside Mateo holding his hand as the doctors attempted to remove the bullet. Alvaro was speaking to the nurses in private about how the bullet ended up in his shoulder. I owed my life to Mat. Carlos, unfortunately, had to stay a few days in the hospital. They had to do some blood tests, stitch up his wounds as well as do an X-ray. Fernez was also starving him so he had dropped weight rapidly. Mat squeezed my hand as he ground his teeth. "It's okay just a little more, Mat," I said, wiping his forehead with a cold press. His body was burning up and his face was red. "Motherfucker," he yelped and the doctor removed the bullet with something that looked like very long tweezers. "Fuck," Mateo cried out. "Well I need to go wash my ears out with soap after all that cussing, Mr Castillo," the doctor gave him a reprimanding look as he cleaned up his shoulder and bandaged his arm. I didn't know Mateo had such a sailor's mouth but I guess living with Alvaro did that. "Mrs Castillo," A
I never thought a parent would ever be capable of hating their child. Especially a mother. As I stared at Christine I wondered why. Alvaro was good to his family. When he loved —he loved hard. Christine never gave him a chance. She cast him out and that hurt him. She couldn't accept what she did was wrong and now she had gone too far. She had taken his child. "Water?" Christine held a bottle of water out to me. I never wanted to hurt someone so badly before and my body was shaking with the rage I was trying very hard to contain. "No, what I'd like to know is where we are going and where Mateo and Carlos are," My voice held showed my frustration and Christine gulped hard. "How is the pregnancy going?" She asked and I narrowed my eyes at her, "I'm surprised you came at all. How did you manage to escape my son and his many bodyguards?" "Where are you taking me?" I asked again. It felt like we had been driving for hours and I wanted to see Mateo so badly that I was having anxiety. "
Jane's Pov.I couldn't feel my senses anymore. I was unsure if I was even alive at this point. It felt like my soul had been pushed out of my body and was hovering from above. Everyone moved around me and I was sure they were talking because I saw their lips move, yet I couldn't understand a word they were saying. It all sounded like gibberish. "Find him-" were two words that made sense. I prayed that it was all a nightmare. I was waiting to wake up in bed next to Alvaro, knowing Mateo was sleeping soundly in the next room. But I wasn't waking up. Each second trapped in this reality felt like a lifetime in hell. "Jane," someone called. I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks as my ears finally popped. Everyone's urgent voices hit my ears at once and it was mind-numbing. "Jane," abuelo was calling me. "Take her home," I heard Alvaro's voice. That seemed to stir an emotion in me. "She can't be here." My head snapped in his direction and something inside me quivered as I