“Lila, quit squealing. You must not mention that Eliza is pregnant,” Thiago says.
“So, you are pregnant?” Lila asks.
“I took the test to confirm, and it was positive.”
“Fuck.” She sighs heavily. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell anyone. As Eliza hadn’t even taken the test and I wouldn’t tell anyone that, anyway.”
“Enzo reckoned you’re such a motormouth it would get back to Pablo in Mexico,” I say, smirking at him.
“Hey, that’s not fair!” she protests.
“You’re a bit of a gossip, Lila, admit it,” Enzo says.
“You are such an asshole, Enzo.” She doesn’t deny it, as we all know she can’t help herself with spreading gossip. “So this means Eliza is safe, but what about the leadership of the cartel?”
I sit back and let my brothers explain. All the while, my mind is racing. Can I really lead the father of my child to his death? Do I even want to? And why the fuck don’t I want to after everything he’s done to me?
It feels like I’m on a rollercoaster of emotions as Thiago’s voice drones in the background, talking to Lila. My mind so overwhelmed I can hardly think. I should want Adrik dead, but I don’t. Maybe he carved my heart out and I’m as dead inside as him for even considering crossing my family for that monster.
“Eliza?” Lila says.
“Sorry, what?” I ask, shaking my head.
“I said, how are you feeling? Any morning sickness?”
I place my hand on my stomach instinctively. “No, I haven’t had any symptoms, really.”
“Thiago, get her to a doctor and make sure everything’s alright,” Lila says.
“All in good time, she just got here,” Thiago replies.
“Have you heard at all from mom?” I ask, wondering if she’s been in touch since Papá’s death.
Thiago stiffens and I notice Enzo’s mood change, too. “She’s been as good as useless to us,” Enzo says.
Thiago stands and crosses his arms over his chest. “I rang her to inform her of Papá’s death and Adrik’s coup. Do you know what she said?”
I shake my head, but from the tone of his voice, it couldn’t have been good.
“She said that I shouldn’t have been so weak, allowing him to steal the crown.” His jaw clenches. “And that I should have died alongside my papá, fighting for our family.”
“Bitch,” I murmur.
“Damn straight,” Lila says. “She’s not getting anything from me for Christmas this year.”
All of us chuckle at that, as Christmas is a mile away. Not to mention, we never even see her on the holidays. “I’m sure she’ll be torn up about that,” I say, feeling a little angry that even in a time of need like this, she still doesn’t really care about her children. Papá was ruthless, but he did care about us in his own way. He was there when she wasn’t.
A sadness pulls at my chest as his loss hasn’t sunk in, even though I saw Adrik put a bullet through his head. It all happened so fast that I’m not sure my mind believed it. “What was the funeral like?” I ask.
Thiago sighs. “It was a big affair, of course. Even Pablo came to attend.”
Enzo looks tense at the mention of it. “Many people were there, but not as many as there should have been. The cartel has fallen in line like dogs for Adrik Volkov, even though he’s not Mexican.” He looks disgusted. “No fucking loyalty.”
“You will have to visit the grave,” Lila says through the phone.
“Yes, when do you come back to Chicago next?” I ask.
“I could request leave and come back now?” she suggests, but I can sense the hesitation in her voice. She’s happy being away from all this shit, and I don’t blame her.