25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Cattleya Cardona

T he final match is in two days. If I weren't so fucking nervous about the threats we kept getting all week long, I would be doing my happy dance.

Sunday

Unknown

Instead of training, you should tell your loved ones to go on vacation. We know where they all live; it'd be a shame if they got caught in the crossfire.

Monday

Unknown

I hope you took your day off to say goodbye to your family. Such a pity they came all the way from Colombia to die.

On Tuesday after training, we met with Coach and the management team. We showed them the texts we got, and they weren't surprised.

"We've been getting similar emails too, but we dismissed them, thinking the people behind them would give up once they saw you kept winning," the general manager said, and I couldn't believe it.

"So you kept us in the dark all this time? What if something had happened to us and we were clueless about the motives?" Noelia says, her voice tight.

"Well, nothing has really happened. For all we know, this could be a prank." My jaw hits the floor.

"What on Earth are you talking about? If this was a prank, I think whoever is sending the texts and emails would have gotten bored long ago. We need to call the police. Immediately," I say, tired of hearing his bullshit excuses.

"I agree with Cata, we need to inform the authorities," Coach says, shocking the hell out of me. Once Coach backed me up, it was hard for the manager to keep this under wraps. He called the police, and the officers arrived promptly. After speaking with every single person in the club, the officers assigned a detective to the case. The department decided to keep it quiet until they had more clues about who could be behind the threats .

Once at home, I finally told my parents about the threats. My dad got so furious that I kept it a secret, he gave me chills. Matías isn't any happier either.

"I could have hired a security detail already. All this time, you've been riding the team bus not knowing what could have happened. Cattleya, you know we need to be careful. There's too much on the line for us to lose. You're my baby girl. I couldn't fathom this world without you." My mom breaks into tears while Dad hugs her. He looks at me to join them in the hug.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything, Dad. We just got the first text after the last game. It was only today after training that the team general manager told us they've been getting emails for weeks."

We all take a seat in my living room, and Mati joins us quietly, bringing mates and coffee to the table. I know he's bottling up his feelings, which isn't healthy. I'm hoping he'll open up to me once my parents leave.

"This is unacceptable, Cattleya. If I were you, I'd resign immediately from that team. I'd pay whatever breach of contract fee, and go find a place that truly values the lives of their employees," Dad says as he reaches for a cup of coffee and adds more sugar than he's supposed to. I feel bad I'm making him this upset.

"Samuel, please be reasonable. La ni?a has to tread very carefully here. If she quits, no other team might hire her. She might be a Cardona, but at the end of the day, in the profession she chose, she's just another good player. And you know better than anyone else in this room that nobody wants to hire someone who doesn't follow the rules."

My dad releases a big breath, I'm sure he's feeling helpless right now. He's not used to not getting his way. Mati holds my hand, and I feel his warmth spreading through my body. When I look down, I notice his leg is bouncing up and down in rapid succession. He's more nervous and anxious about this than he's leading on.

"I know right now it feels like we're drowning, but I think we should hire a security detail to be with you, Sofi, and Franco, 24/7. The text said they would hurt the people I love most. Plus, I hired a PI who came recommended by the Bianchi family, and he got some intel on Romina and how she manipulates women's soccer to her advantage and her associates. If anything goes wrong, we can share this with the police and give them a nudge to work on the investigation." I let my words sink in. Everyone in this room, as well as my sister and her husband, are the most important people in my life. This intel Oscar gathered for me gives us somewhat of a life insurance policy, so to speak.

"What? You hired a PI and didn't tell me? Cattleya, hija . This is darker and deeper than you led on. We must be extra vigilant. I'm not taking any risks with this family's safety," Dad spits. I feel so guilty; I handled this situation wrong, but when have I ever dealt with death threats before in my life?

"What about you?" Mati hurries to ask.

"The police are keeping guard at the training facilities, and they're patrolling around the players' houses." I share what we were told today, but their faces tell me that none of the people in this room think that's enough. Even though I hate to admit it, I feel the exact same way. "Look, I'm rarely alone. If I'm not training, I'm with Mati. There will always be a bodyguard nearby to protect me. I'll be fine. I need you all to be safe." Tears threaten to spill down my cheeks, but I take a few deep breaths to calm down.

"I think no matter what we say here, there's not much we can do right now. We're going to let you rest, but expect to see people guarding this building and driving Matías to work first thing in the morning," Dad states as he stands from the couch, making his way to the kitchen to wash the coffee mug. I love that even though he's a billionaire, he's not afraid to clean up after himself. Hugging my parents goodbye, I close the door behind me and collapse on my man's lap.

"Cattleya, why didn't you tell me anything? If something ever happens to you…" His voice breaks. I hug him tight, not knowing how to say what's playing in my mind nonstop.

"Bae, I'm sorry. I didn't really think. All I had in mind was to do right by my team. I needed all of us to be on the same page. I know it sounds lame, but it's the truth." The way Matías is holding me, so tight and close to him, it's like he's afraid I'd disappear if he lets me go. It makes my chest ache for him. "Bae, look at me." And he does, those dark eyes full of emotion and so many unsaid words. "I feel like an idiot for not telling you, sometimes I forget I'm only human and not the warrior I transform into on the pitch." That earns me a chuckle. "It's just that ever since we got those texts, I've been in denial."

Mati keeps looking at me, so much love shining in his eyes. Our furball comes out of his perch and sits on my lap, and Mati and I immediately pet him. He gets comfortable as we continue our conversation.

"I mean, growing up in Colombia, you hear about everything that went down in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when soccer became a branch of the mafia. Even in the early 2000s, a Colombian player got death threats here in Argentina, but you never think that shit is going to happen to you. You know?"

Mati bites the inside of his cheeks. I can tell he's deeply frustrated by this and looking for the best way to express it .

" Mi ángel , I know we haven't been dating for a long time, but with every day that goes by, I fall more and more in love with you. I want to experience the world with you. Find our favorite places, taste all the foods, and create memories that we can share with our kids in the future."

My eyes grow big. "Kids?" I ask, because we've been dating for two months, and with everything that has been going on, we haven't had time to talk about the future.

"Well, yeah. I'd like to have kids with you at some point. No rush of course." He chuckles nervously, and I think about what he just said.

Do I want kids? Yes. No hesitation. With him? Absolutely. He'll be the best dad. When? I don't know. I would like to play for as long as I can before I decide to have a family.

"I'm sorry I brought that up. That needs to be a conversation down the road and not right now as we discuss how we can keep you safe," Mati says, gentleness seeping out of his tone.

"Yeah. Thank you, bae. I think I'd like kids at some point, but that's not something I think about often." I think he is going to be disappointed by my answer but a gorgeous, warm smile spreads through his face.

"So, how many police officers are in your detail?" Well, that's a way to bring us back to the present.

"Only one. He's supposed to be downstairs right now, patrolling." Mati smacks his lips together, and a rush of desire hits my core. I shouldn't be aroused when we're discussing death threats here, but the chemistry I have with this man is beyond any rational thought.

"Your dad will hire an entire company. I think we should be safe. "

I relax in his lap, feeling playful now. "Good, because I want to feel your cock inside me." Mati's eyebrows shoot to the sky, and if I were drinking anything, I'd have spit it out.

"You don't have to tell me twice. Let's go release some stress." He gets up from the couch with Tinta, and me in tow without breaking a sweat. Ugh, he's so fucking hot even when he isn't trying. I can't wait to see the way his tattoos move when he's flexing his arms, holding his weight off me.