Page 98 of No Sweeter Poison

“If I do this, you have to keep your promise. You can’t try to save me or protect me. If I’m choosing, then it has to be real. Otherwise, I’ll never trust you again.”

All I want is for him to give in and change his mind. Kiss me senseless and carry me back to my room where we make love until the sun rises and he promises to never let me go.

He does none of those things.

“Three months. That’s all I’m asking.” When he kisses me, it isn’t nearly as long as it needs to be. “You aren’t mine yet, Dahlia. But you will be. Soon. I promise.”

EPILOGUE

THIRD PARTY INVASION

Alejandro

“Y ou don’t think it was Sandro who put the initial hit on you?”

Ash gathers at the end of my cigar and as it burns, it covers the dark armrest like a light coating of dust. I nod before bringing it to my lips.

My brother asks, “If not him then who?”

Absently, I reply, “I haven’t figured that out yet.”

I can’t hear a word he says after that. Nothing permeates the fog clouding my mind and his voice goes in one ear and out the other. My attention is drawn to the two figures standing out in the rain, embracing as if they were the last two people on Earth.

I’ve never seen my sister cry before. But she cries when Dahlia leaves.

A seven-hour flight wasn’t enough to prepare her and even as they say goodbye on the runway, I see how well Dahlia keeps herself together for Lettie’s sake. Neither of them can afford to give into emotion at the same time and so one must make the sacrifice of strength for the other. Though, I’m almost certain most of it has to do with the fact Dahlia already cried all the tears she’ll allow herself. A broken heart won’t see her falter so she fortifies herself with pride and dignity, an effort I actively admire and envy.

She lifts her head to say something but catches me looking instead. I can’t bring myself to turn away so it’s a relief when Beni speaks and moves the umbrella, cutting off my view.

Diego notices. “Why don’t you go say goodbye?”

I shake my head. “I already said goodbye.”

“Properly?”

I take another pull of the cigar. “Are you asking if we became members of the mile high club?”

His expression turns somber. “This isn’t funny, Alejandro. You look five seconds away from flinging yourself out that window.”

“That’s because I am.” I put out the cigar on the ashtray in front of us. “Do me a favor, you and Lettie stick around for a few days. Make sure she isn’t followed, set up a security system in her apartment, I want everything taken care of.”

He gets up and I go to walk him off the plane.

“While you’re here, arrange meetings with O’Neil, Antonov, Vellucci, and Huang.” I press my lips together and try to think of anyone else. “Try Sanmartín as well. Doubt he knows anything, but it won’t hurt to be thorough.”

“What am I looking for?”

“Information. I’m not sure what yet but I’ll know it when I hear it.”

“Should I ask about Sandro?”

I consider this a second before nodding. “While you’re with the others, see what else they know about Walsh and Collins but don’t ask unless O’Neil is there. Asking in his absence will make it seem like you don’t trust him and are asking other people behind his back. He’ll take it as an insult.”

Diego hovers at the threshold, torn between taking the first step and staying on the plane with me. “Are you sure it wasn’t Sandro?”

I shake my head. “He’s behind what happened at Moises and Bertha’s. But the hit outside of Vallvidrera couldn’t have been him. Montenegro and Ibanez spoke with a woman.”

“And it couldn’t have been Regina?” Diego casts me a wary look. “I know that when it comes to her—”

“I need to completely rule her out as a possibility. Which is why all the preliminary work you’re doing in New York is so important.” I say. “Regina is a force onto herself. If she wants to take someone out, she’ll do it alone. Not make a bunch of back-alley alliances like her brother.”

“If not her, then someone they know or are related to,” Diego suggests. “It still doesn’t explain why Sandro was looking for Ibanez and Montenegro over the summer. Obviously, he knew enough that Regina picked up on it. Something is off here.”

Whether or not the relationship between Regina and Sandro is as strained as she claims is a mystery to me. What I do know is that no woman in our world has ever held the same power and influence she does. The strength of the Sandoval empire rests squarely on her shoulders, relying solely on her cunning, intellect, and ruthless iron fist. Sandro has his own talents but he’s mostly a figurehead used to cover up the fact that their family business isn’t as patriarchal as tradition dictates. Regina is the real capo in that family.

Diego almost says more but decides against it. He pulls me in for a quick embrace and pats my back before pulling away. “When you get home—”

“I won’t. Don’t be alarmed if you can’t reach me for a few weeks,” I warn. “I’m going to be off the radar.”

“What the Hell do you mean you aren’t going home? Abuelo té está esperando—”

I usher him out the door and when he’s halfway down the stairs towards the runway, I say, “I’m not going home. I’m going to find Mom.”