Tick, tock, Ana Sofia.
Chapter One
I letout a happy sigh as I stretch out on the pool chair. The weather is beautiful, the sun is shining, and I slept amazingly last night, all things considered.
Today is going to be a busy day for me so I’ve decided to relax a little before I have to put on my bitch heels and handle some business for Papa.
Even though he doesn’t allow me to go as far as he does Ana Sofia, I can still be a brutal bitch when I have to be. Unlike her, I use words to get my point across and having the power of the Cancio name behind me almost always gets me what I want.
“Move over, bitch.”
I grin as I turn my head and see Ana Sofia walking toward me with a towel in her hand.
We may not be the best of friends, but I know she would die for me, and I for her. Thankfully, we haven’t come across a scenario that would require the life of one for the other yet.
“Digame,” she says as she pulls another of the pool chairs close to mine and removes the towel from around her waist. I lower my sunglasses just enough to look at her over the brim and take in her tattoos.
She has so many but her favorite—and mine—is the homage she has to Papa high on her arm where everyone can see it.
Ana Sofia literally wears her heart for him on her sleeve and I’m pretty sure he almost cried when she showed him. Though whether it was out of appreciation or frustration that she marked her body yet again, was something I couldn’t figure out.
“Tell you what?” I ask her lazily after I stifle a yawn with my hand.
“Anything,” Ana Sofia responds with a shrug as she lies down and gets comfortable. “Maybe start with where you’re going today?”
I give her a smug smile as I turn my face away and let my sunglasses fall back into place. “Papa doesn’t want anyone to know. Not evenyou.”
She chuckles as she crosses her hands behind her neck. I wish I was as uneasily bothered by most things as my sister, but where I envy her that, I know she envies my patience. That’s something she’s never been able to grasp which is why she usually makes a mess of her projects.
“It’s nice outside today,” she states, changing the subject.
I nod as I cross my legs and turn my face back up toward the sun. Papa likes to tease us about lying around in the mornings, but he knows it’s the only time we really get to relax and spend together.
Normally, we’re both too busy doing things for him, or ourselves, to be able to have conversations. Even though it usually turns into mindless bickering.
“Tati?” she begins curiously.
“Yes?”
“Where are you going?”
I sit up and grab my towel, slipping my feet into my chanclas, and walk away from the pool. I can’t be in a bad mood today when I’m going to be trying to make Papa’s deal and sitting through one of her less violent interrogations is going to piss me off.
“Llorona!” she shouts after me and I grit my teeth.
Not everything one needs is prodded by a sharp object as she’s fond of doing. Sometimes all it takes is a silver tongue and I’m blessed to be very much like my mother in that aspect.
Wherever the fuck she is.
I quickly walk across the garden, through the back patio, and into the house, almost bumping into our longest serving maid, who looks almost as startled as I do.
“Don’t forget to take out the trash by the pool,” I tell her as soon as I regain my composure and keep walking.
Anabella lets out a nervous laugh.
She knows exactly what I mean, and it bothers her that Ana Sofia and I don’t really get along as much as she would like us to. No matter how much my sister tries, I always feel like everything she does is to outshine me in the eyes of our father instead of standing equally side by side.
Maybe we will again one day.