Chapter 18

Peyton

After Hadina and Darío’s argument, the house was tense. Peyton assumed the two must have had talks later, because the following days were spent living almost carefree. Peyton got to know both Itza and Darío, and understood why Hadina found herself so attached to both people. But the idea of Itza leaving sparked fear even in her heart, so it was unimaginable how Hadina was feeling.

“Why are we going to this dinner?” she asked Hadina, throwing herself onto the bed as she watched her love shimmy into her dress.

“Because these people are important to Darío, and that little fucker matters to me. I want to meet his family and…”

“You want to see the people Itza will be living with when he takes her from you,” Peyton finished for her. Hadina nodded.

“I trust him, but I want to see for myself. Besides, Itza has Darío wrapped around her fingers so someone needs to be there to keep that girl in line.”

Peyton chuckled. “Don’t pretend she doesn’t have you wrapped around her finger too.”

Hadina paused from putting on her lipstick, turning her gaze directly to Peyton. Her eyes danced with mischief and Peyton squealed as Hadina leapt onto the bed, straddling her legs. “You’re going to ruin my reputation if you say stuff like that.”

The black dress had rolled up Hadina’s thighs as she climbed onto the bed and Peyton couldn’t help but let her hands roam over the exposed skin. She never grew tired of watching as Hadina’s eyes closed at her touch, her plump lips parting slightly to breathe heavier. Only Peyton could have that effect on her, and she was absolutely drunk on that knowledge.

“Your reputation,” Peyton whispered as she guided her fingertips higher, “Was already ruined the second you decided to fall in love with me. Sorry, not sorry.”

Hadina opened her eyes, those dark irises gazing down at Peyton with a devotion so deep that it almost brought tears to her own eyes. “I’m not sorry about it. Falling in love with you was the best thing to ever happen to me, and to the rest of my family. You make us better, tentadora .”

Peyton allowed herself a second to linger in that look, and that confession, before she sniffed and shook her head. “Okay, enough of this cuteness. We’ve got to get ready.”

“Some of us are already dressed,” Hadina commented with a smirk.

“Well, some of us actually have to put work into our appearances, miss I-roll-out-of-bed-and-look-this-good .”

“Baby, you’re the only person in the world who never needs any work to look as absolutely breathtaking as you always do. And if anyone tells you otherwise, let me know so that I can rip their limbs from them.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Peyton said, chuckling lightly. Her smile dropped almost instantly when a thought popped into her head. “I mean, we both do know one person who could do without a few limbs.”

Hadina put her arms around Peyton’s waist, bringing her close. “Trust me, baby, her days on this earth are numbered. And when her time comes, she’ll be losing more than a few limbs.”

They arrived at a beautiful rooftop restaurant called Rosario’s and Hadina immediately had Peyton hand in a vice-like grip. It was a small act of protection and possessiveness, but it still sent delighted shivers down Peyton’s back.

“Do you think they’ll like me?” Itza asked from Peyton’s other side. She reached down and grabbed the young girl’s hand, bringing it to her lips in a soft kiss of endearment. “There isn’t anyone in the world who could dislike you, Itza.”

Itza beamed, clinging tightly to Peyton’s side. Peyton could almost imagine her as a small child, running around her legs and looking up at her with those big doe eyes. She had never exactly craved having kids or being a mom—the world was a fucked up place and she hated the idea of bringing a child into that—but Itza had wormed her way into Peyton’s heart in an indescribable way and she hated the idea that they would have to say goodbye.

“I’m glad my tía has you, Peyton. Aunt Peyton.”

“And I’m glad she has you, little one. That now we both do.”

The second the elevator door opened, Itza spotted Darío at the table and took off running. “ Papá! ”

Darío grunted as Itza collided with him, chuckling as she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. Standing together, it was a beautiful thing to see father and daughter embrace each other. Peyton glanced at Hadina and saw that she was feeling the same, though a hint of sadness was etched into the woman’s smile and Peyton knew she was thinking how impossible it would be to deny Darío taking his daughter for them to be together.

Peyton hated that Hadina would have to make yet another sacrifice, hurting her own heart more just to please other people. One day…One day, Hadina would stop having to give up pieces of herself for others.

As they walked to the table, Peyton felt Hadina’s grip on her hand tighten. Standing beside Darío was Vicente, whom Hadina had described as kind, respectful, and absolutely deadly . On his other side was Kat, who Peyton had taken an immediate liking to, also. Both Vicente and Kat were strong, determined people and Peyton could feel the energy pulsing off them in waves. She knew that there was something happening between the three of them, but she wasn’t going to pry. Still, she hoped it worked out for them all.

Standing between two handsome, muscled men, was a young woman with long, dark hair cascading down her back. When she turned her gaze to them, Peyton almost gasped. The resemblance to Vicente was uncanny, their honey brown eyes and angled noses exactly the same. Her men—really, there was no other way to describe them after seeing the possessive stance they’d immediately taken up beside her, not unlike the way Hadina was standing at her side—assessed them both, ocean blue and emerald green eyes staring them down. The woman stepped forward, but one of the men pulled her back, forcing her to stand behind them slightly.

Dismissing their show of strength, which seemed futile when they were only there at Hadina’s behest, Peyton forced her gaze away. She let her eyes wander around the rooftop terrace, taking note of the closest exits, how many knives were on their table, and just where the visitors’ clothes didn’t sit quite right, meaning they were concealing their weapons beneath.

“Hadi, I’d like for you to meet the rest of my familia,” Darío said as they took their place at the table. “Little Curse is Vicenta, Vin’s twin sister and these are her men, Romero and Alvaro.”

Hadina raised her brow slightly at Darío’s words, her gaze sliding over Romero and Alvaro as their dynamic clicked into place.

Alvaro, the taller of the two men, held Vicenta’s hand. His shaven head was almost as striking as his blue eyes, icy and vibrant like the ocean. Romero was the dark to his light, with a head of almost curled black hair, dark brows, and mossy green eyes. He slipped his arm around Vicenta’s waist as Peyton smiled, both men sharing a look with each other.

“ Mucho gusto , Vicenta. Esta es mi novia , Peyton.” Hadina held out her hand to the woman, a peace offering to dispel the imposing atmosphere around the table.

“ Mucho gusto, Hadina.” Vicenta shook her hand kindly, then turned to do the same to Peyton. “Pleased to meet you, Peyton.”

Once introductions were finally complete and everyone chilled out with their I’m so powerful looks, wine was served and conversation began to flow. Peyton noted that Vicenta and her men chose to stay relatively silent unless spoken to directly, their watchful gazes always on high alert every time someone moved an inch.

Itza seemed to be enjoying the time with her father, getting to know his friends. Vicente already had a way with the kid, both of them sharing secret smiles and laughing at whispered jokes.

When the dinner plates were almost cleared and everyone was relaxed and full bellied, Peyton leaned forward to speak to Itza. “Did you tell your papí what you want for your quincea?era?”

Darío’s brows furrowed before he leaned forward. “ ?Qué pasa, hija? Tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.”

She looked up at him with a face that could get away with murder. “You promise?”

“ Calro, mijita ,” he promised, making Hadina sigh in her seat.

“ No manches. ” Peyton smirked at Hadina’s frustration. The kid knew how to play them both.

Itza gave her a look that Hadi threw right back at her. When she turned back to her father, Itza’s words came out in a rush. “I want two things: the first is to spend next summer vacation in Puerto Vallarta with you. And I also want a purebred Arabian horse—white, if possible.”

“Tell you what,” Darío finally said after a long few seconds, “I’ll get you the horse, and I’ll do everything in my power to have our home ready for you. Hopefully by then, you’ll be coming home for good.”

Itza’s eyes lit up but quickly dimmed as she looked over at Hadi and Peyton. “But tia Hadi and aunt Peyton?—”

“Can come and visit you anytime they want, for however long they want. You can even come here and visit them when you miss them. But this only works if you keep your grades up this year and I get the house ready in time. Deal?”

“Thank you, daddy!” Itza hugged Darío, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

Peyton could feel Hadina’s tension from beside her. So much for giving them three months to get used to the idea. Darío had practically swept Itza out from under Hadina’s feet, and there was nothing either of them could say to make it better.

Talk quickly shifted onto other topics, with Itza talking about her schoolwork and riding the horses Hadina had bought for her to practice with.

Alvaro—who seemed to be the peacekeeper of his little trio—caught Itza’s attention, leaning forward to speak to her. “You like riding horses, huh? Do you ever ride competitively?”

Peyton bit back her grin and Hadina swore under her breath, rubbing her temples.

“I’m a barrel racer but tia Hadi won’t let me join any leagues. She says I still need training even though I’ve beaten everyone’s times on the ranch—even Beto."

“Being good and fast is not the problem, Itza,” Hadina said, exasperated.

“Then why do I need more training?” Itza pouted.

“Because you don’t follow the rules, ni?a . When you cut corners on the rules and try to skip certain lessons just because you think you know better than the trainer, you’ll lose, even when you win.”

The fourteen year old rolled her eyes, pushing her leftover food around her plate as she replied under her breath, “I actually do know the lessons—it’s called reading ahead. You and papá taught me that.”

Vicente choked on his laughter, using the top of his fingers to lightly pinch Itza’s arm. “Sounds just like something he’d teach you, but sometimes going fast isn’t always good. Slowing down and taking the advice of those who have been in the game longer than you is beneficial.”

“Honestly, that’s advice you and your sister need,” Kat laughed.

“Hey!” Vicenta and Vicente said in unison.

Peyton giggled. “By the looks of it, everyone at this table needs that advice.”

Vicenta huffed, her brows furrowing. “What do you mean, Blancita ?”

Peyton grinned at the nickname, knowing it was said as an endearment rather than an insult. “Really?” she replied, her eyes looking pointedly at how both Alvaro and Romero held Vicenta’s thighs, and Vicente had his arms draped over the back of Itza’s chair and Kat beside him, glancing possessively at Darío every few seconds.

Vicenta burst out laughing. “Yeah, me and my brother have the thrill gene. It can’t be helped.”

“You and that mouth of yours,” Hadi said gruffly into Peyton’s ear, making her blush hard while biting her lip. She lowered her voice to a whisper, her lips brushing Peyton’s soft skin. “I can’t wait to put it to good use later.”

Peyton felt her blush spread throughout her body, making her cross her legs beneath the table.

“Promise?” she asked with a sly smirk. Hadina’s hand slid up her thigh, squeezing gently. It was a silent answer, but Peyton was an expert in Hadina’s silence.

“So,” Vicenta asked, her honey-coloured eyes shining, “Tell me something I don’t know about San Antonio. We’re not here long enough to do the whole tourist thing.”

She pouted and both of her men rolled their eyes. Alvaro pressed a placating kiss to her temple, while Romero gently squeezed her thigh. “We’ll come back for a visit if you wish, Bruja .”

Itza tilted her head. “Aren’t you from here, Vicenta?”

The woman shook her head. A quick darkness passed over her eyes, almost too quick for anyone to notice, but Peyton had perfected that passing look. “Not here. I grew up in Dallas, though Acapulco is definitely home now. I don’t know much about San Antonio.”

Peyton understood finding a new home for yourself. She’d grown up in a country town, Willowbrooks, and it had been oppressive to say the least. The town itself was beautiful, but when dark moments happened in life, they tended to bleed all over the light. What was once home became a trap, and escaping was the only way to let yourself live again. She’d been lucky to go off to college, and then find her way to San Antonio with the Adis family.

That was the thing too; home wasn’t always a place, but a person. Hadina had become Peyton’s whole life and she knew that nowhere would ever feel welcome unless Hadina was by her side.

“Did you know the devil once visited San Antonio in the flesh?” Hadina asked. She wore a smirk like a mask, theatrics laced in her voice.

A shiver went down Vicenta’s spine. “Tell us the entire story.”

“Why don’t we go and get some fresh air?” Darío suggest to Itza. The girl shook her head, giggling excitedly. “Absolutely not! I want to hear every word of this story.”

“You’re too much like your Tía Hadi,” Darío muttered.

Hadina leaned back in her chair, waiting a beat to make sure she had everyone’s attention.

“The story starts in the seventies with a young girl, just turned sixteen, who decided to disobey her parents for the first time. She led them to believe she was going to the cinema with friends, but instead she went to El Camaroncito , a nightclub club in town. As they arrived, they noted a handsome gentleman already making his way around the dance floor. Dressed in a white suit, he caught the eye of everyone in the bar.

“But none caught his eye the way in which our young se?orita did. With her young looks, white dress, and the scent of deception covering her skin, she was exactly what he was looking for. The man and young woman danced and danced, allowing him to lure her more. As the night wore on, the girl leaned in for a kiss from her handsome stranger. However, just before their lips touched, a foul scent arose. Burning her nostrils, the girl stepped back, wondering where such a strong smell was coming from.”

Itza gasped. “Was it him? The devil?”

Hadina smirked at her niece, lowering her voice to add extra drama. From where Peyton sat beside her woman, she couldn’t help but admire her beauty. Hadina was her own personal devil, and Peyton would let herself be lured for the rest of her life.

“The girl happened to look down and in place of the man’s dress shoes were now hooves!”

Peyton couldn’t help but giggle as Itza and Vicenta squealed at the same time.

“At seeing such a hideous sight, the young woman screamed and broke free from his grip. Her cries for help garnered the attention of all the other club patrons, all of whom saw the hooves. Frantic, el diablo ran towards the men’s restroom where he ultimately disappeared. Witnesses who had followed him into the restroom say all he left behind was a puff of smoke and the vile stench of sulfur.”

The table was silent for a few moments as everyone took in the dark meaning behind the story. Even Itza, that little rebel, sat with her mouth agape.

“Did that really happen?” she asked.

Hadina shrugged. “It’s up to you if you believe it. But I will say, my Mami told me the story when she was younger and the haunted look on her face… I’m inclined to say it’s true.”

“And that,” Peyton chimed in, despite the cold feeling trickling down her spine, “Is why you shouldn’t lie to your parents. Isn’t that right, Itza?”

The entire group burst into laughter as Itza stuck her tongue out at Peyton, though there was an edge to everyone’s smiles as the night continued.

If anyone should be worried about the devil coming to visit, it was every one of them sitting at that table.