Mikhail rolls his eyes, but says nothing as he leaves the kitchen to find Elias’ uncle.
Siena remains sitting on a stool at the island and turns to me. “You are certain about this?”
I look at Elias again and know without a doubt that I’ve never been more certain of anything. “Positive.”
Elias smiles and my heart leaps in my chest. “I’m certain.” He squeezes my hand.
“Okay, it’s just you are both very young to get married.”
I give Siena a look, since she can’t be a lot older than me. “You just got married.”
“I’m twenty-one years old and Mikhail is ten years older at thirty-one.”
I arch a brow. “And how long have you known him?” I ask, shaking my head. “I’ve known Elias six years.”
She shrugs. “Fair point.”
Mikhail returns then with a Hispanic looking older man with dark, cold eyes. He looks irritated, even more so than Mikhail.
“Elias, what the fuck are you doing here?” He growls.
Elias stands and holds his hands up. “I may have forged a letter from you and got the principal to sign me out of school so I could attend the wedding.”
Hernandez stares at him for a few moments before he cracks a smile. “You always were a smart kid.”
Everyone seems to be more at ease the moment the Cartel boss smiles.
“He wants to marry my sister,” Mikhail announces.
Hernandez stops smiling, eyes darting between me and Elias. “Is this true?”
Elias nods. “It is.”
“You know that it’s a tradition for our family to marry our own kind. Mexicans.”
“Fuck tradition,” he says, eyes narrowing. “I love Natalya.”
Hernandez scoffs. “You don’t know the meaning of the word, boy.”
Mikhail clears his throat. “Can we barter a deal?”
Hernandez looks at him then and nods. “I’m sure we can. You have been a powerful ally since the Estrada Cartel moved into North America.” He rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “Why not strengthen our allegiance to one another with this marriage?”
Mikhail nods. “I agree.”
Hernandez claps. “Right then, you two can leave and enjoy the party while Mikhail and I come to an agreement. You will not marry until after you graduate.”
Elias approaches his uncle and holds out a hand to him, which Hernandez looks at with suspicion. “Thank you, uncle.”
He takes it and shakes. “Now, off with you both. And I want the two of you back at the academy tomorrow.” He glances between the two of us. “I think I’ve learned the exact reason your grades are so fucking terrible this year, Elias. Sort it out.”
That’s news to me that his grades are suffering, as Elias has always aced classes without really trying. It always frustrated me to no end, as I study hard to get the grades I achieve.
“Of course, sir,” he says. “I’ll make sure of it.” He takes my hand and leads me out of the kitchen, my heart racing as I hardly believe we made it out without bloodshed.
Mikhail was ready to kill the man I love and I’m not surprised after what he heard. Elias Morales doesn’t deserve my love after everything he’s put me through, but somehow he already had my heart before he professed his love for me. I fear he’s had a hold on it far longer than I realize.
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