“Do you remember it?” Hernandez asks.
I nod. “Yes, we came every week.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yes, Ines loved to visit our parents’ grave regularly.” He nods toward the gates. “Go and say your respects. I’ll give you privacy and have my time when you return.”
“Thanks,” I say, getting out of the car and walking into the cemetery I remember so well.
I never thought I’d step foot back in Mexico again, let alone this place my mom brought me to so frequently. The paths feel familiar as I make my way to the Estrada family plot in the center of the cemetery.
My heart beats harder as I get closer and when I recognize the two grave stones of my grandparents, who died when I was so young, I don’t remember them.
Apparently, they died in a car accident, but I’m sure it probably wasn’t an accident. Now I know the truth about our family and what we’re embroiled in.
I stop still when I see the newer white marble headstone next to my grandmother’s, a wave of emotions coursing through me. I approach slowly and then drop to my knees in front of it when I see her name etched on the headstone.
Ines Martina Estrada.
I’m thankful to see they left my father’s name off of her gravestone. “I’m home, mamá,” I murmur, placing my hand gently on the stone. “I’m sorry it took me so long to visit, but I’ve never been allowed the chance.” A lump forms in my throat and I try to swallow it, tears prickling at my eyes. I won’t allow them to fall, as crying is weak.
I shake my head, struggling with all the different emotions racing around my body. Anger, confusion, sadness, betrayal, and sorrow. If she hadn’t betrayed her family, she’d still be here alive and well.
Hell, we might have still lived here in Reynosa.
“Why, mamá?” I ask, wishing she could answer me. “Why did you do it?”
I’m surprised that despite my hatred for my uncle, I believe what he’s telling me. Hernandez isn’t the kind of man who lies about these things. Why would he bother?
My father, on the other hand, was a coward for not standing up to Don Pablo and telling him no, even if that meant someone else had to do it. It would have been a certain death sentence for him, but it’s no less than he deserves. At least I wouldn’t have spent my entire childhood hating him the way I do.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I say to the gravestone. “I’m just glad I got to come and say goodbye to you after six long years.”
I swallow hard and stand to my feet, wondering if all this time my hatred for the girl from the Gurin family has been wholly unfounded.
I blamed her family as well as my father and uncle, but it felt good to take my rage out on her. A girl who had nothing to do with any of it. I bite the inside of my cheek and then turn away from my mother’s grave, knowing that now the full story of that night has come to light, everything has changed.
20
NATALYA
As the town car pulls through the gates of the academy a day early, I’m kind of thankful I received Eva’s message. Even if I don’t understand why she needs all of us here a day before term actually starts, the idea of getting here before Elias was enticing.
Eva called me two days ago to ask me to come back early as she had some epic news she needs to break to the three of us. I tried to quiz her on it, but she was cryptic. Adrianna was coming back early anyway, as she often does. Camilla has moved up her return to today, aswell.
Popov parks the car in front of the imposing building and turns off the engine, getting out to open the door to me.
I slide out and stare up at the building, surprised when I don’t feel any dread at all. Normally, every time I return that’s all I feel, but ever since things changed between Elias and I, all I feel is a weird sense of excitement to see him again, even though he won’t be here until tomorrow with the rest of the students.
Popov grabs my suitcase out of the back of the car and hefts it up the steps and into the main entryway of the school, glancing at me. “Is that all, Miss?”
I nod. “Yes, thanks, Popov.” I give him a smile.
He bows his head. “You’re welcome. Enjoy the semester.” He turns and walks away, leaving me in the empty corridor.
Within seconds, I hear the click-clack of heels on the stone floor, and then I see Camilla appear. “There you are! Trust you to be the last here. I’m dying to find out what big news Eva has, but she insisted on waiting until you arrived.” Camilla wraps me in a tight hug. “How was your break?”
I swallow hard, as the highlight of my break was seeing Elias, which is fucking pathetic. The family is more torn than ever after Yana betrayed Mikhail, easily blackmailed by the New York Pakhan, Andrei Petrov. It was a shit show and I’m actually glad to be leaving all that behind me. “Uneventful,” I lie, not wishing to get into it. “How was yours?”
“Boring as hell,” she says, shaking her head. “Father won’t let us out of the house much with the war getting worse.”