ISABELLA
Wearing a bikini, I’m lying in the shade near the pool, pretending to scroll through my friends' social media accounts.
Their Instagram pages all look the same. Always showing off their latest purchases and how social they are.
My mother stalks out of the house, and with a sigh, she sits down in one of the plush chairs. A servant rushes to bring her a glass of juice and a fruit salad for lunch.
I keep scrolling through the posts, my attention focused on my mother.
“Is that all you plan on doing with your life?” Mother asks, her tone tight with disapproval.
I let out a lazy chuckle. “Yep.” Knowing it will annoy her, I let the ‘P’ pop.
“You’re a disgrace to the Terrero name,” Mother mutters before she takes a sip of her beverage. “You need to start learning the business.”
I let out a bored sigh. “Why? Hugo can take over. I have no interest in dealing with the filth you sell.”
“But you love spending the money?” Her tone is now ice-cold.
Giving her a wide grin, I get up from the lounge chair and walk toward her. “I’m only doing my part to support the economy.” Taking a seat at the table, I steal one of the grapes from my mother’s salad and pop it into my mouth. “Besides, you know all the killing and torturing freaks me out.”
Mother’s eyes lock on me, emotionless and laced with a deadly poison. “It’s my legacy.”
“I’m thinking of becoming a model,” I flippantly change the subject.
“Over my dead body,” she hisses.
Soon.
I relax back in the chair and cross my legs. Just then, Hugo walks out onto the patio, and I give him a smile. “Hugo, you wouldn’t mind taking my place in the cartel, right?” My voice is sugary sweet, and it earns me a possessive death glare from my mother.
Hugo will never betray my mother. He ignores me as he sits down next to my mother, and leaning into her, he whispers, “We lost another shipment.”
Mother’s eyes snap to his. “Which one?”
“The one meant for the Soacha.”
Surprise.
I bring up the summer catalog for Chanel and scroll through it, pretending not to care about their conversation.
“What are you doing to find out who’s behind it?” Mother asks, doing her best but failing to remain calm as her cheeks flame up and her mouth settles in a grim line.
Hugo brushes his hand over her long black hair to soothe her. “It’s one person. Some vigilante. Don’t worry, we’ll catch him.”
Sure you will. Idiot.
I got the same training as Hugo at St. Monarch’s, only I’m a hell of a lot better than him. The poor bastard doesn’t stand a chance against me.
It’s fun watching them worry, not having the slightest clue the person is right under their noses.
“Double the security on all the shipments,” Mother orders.
Double the fun.
“What about the shipment for the auction?” Hugo asks, and it takes a lot of effort to not glance up.
The auction will be for virgins. It’s held once a year, and I almost got caught last year. I need every bit of information I can get my hands on.
“I’ll have the shipment come through Cali instead of Medellín,” Mother replies.
The shipment is scheduled to dock in three weeks, and then the girls will be brought here, where the auction will take place. I can either free the girls at the docks or en route from Cali to here. Both will be risky as hell.
“Have every man we can spare guard the shipment,” she orders.
Hugo leans into Mother and presses a kiss to her cheek. “I’ll take care of it.”
I peek up, and for a moment, Mother’s features soften as she looks at Hugo.
Four years ago, she bought Hugo during an auction at St. Monarch’s. Even though he’s twenty years younger than her, it was love at first sight, which was totally weird and out of character for my mother. They must be made of the same thing because they fit perfectly together. He’s also the only person who’s managed to get any kind of affection from the Queen of Terror.
As I said, it’s weird and sometimes downright creepy.
“Ooooh,” I coo, and then I hold my phone, so they can see the dress I’m looking at. “Isn’t this pretty? It will be perfect for Nadia’s party tomorrow night.”
“Isabella,” Mother snaps angrily. I can see it’s taking all her self-control to not slap me. “I don’t have time for your shit.” I watch as she gets up and stalks away to deal with business.
Hugo gives me a look of warning which would strike fear in most men. “Don’t you think it’s time you grow up and join the business?”
I smile my sweetest smile. “You do a much better job than I’ll ever be able to. You don’t mind, do you?”
My words stroke his over-inflated ego. He lets out a sigh as if it’s such a burden dealing with me, but then he admits, “Of course, I don’t mind.”
I’m sure you don’t. You better enjoy being at the top of the food chain while you can.
We stand up at the same time, then I say, “I have shopping to do.” Faking excitement, I hurry into the house to change out of the bikini.
Three weeks until the shipment docks. I have a lot of work to do. Luckily Nadia’s party will be held on her father’s superyacht, so I’ll be able to check the shipyard and surrounding areas then.
Sometimes I wish I had enough power to overthrow my mother and Hugo, but seeing as it’s just Ana and me, freeing the slaves is all I can do at the moment.