by J Q Anderson
“Oh, Laura, they’re gorgeous. You wouldn’t have any extras? Maybe a size one?” I grazed the fabric with my fingers. It was delicately embroidered with silver rhinestones.
“Actually, we need to order more. They added some extra girls to the corps.” She browsed through the boxes and pulled a small pair from the bottom. “Ah. Here. A size one. Take them. And these are on me, or I won’t give them to you.” She held them up in the air.
“Fine?” I rolled my eyes and she nodded, reaching for my hand.
“Now tell me some naughty gossip from life in the company.”
An hour later, Sebastián parked the Clío by Rosa and Luciana’s modest house. The afternoon sun cast angled shadows through the trees. A group of sparrows flew away from the front window when we approached. The neighborhood looked ghostly.
The front door swung open, and Luciana ran to us and wrapped her arms around my hips.
“Camila, Camila, did you bring your tutu?”
“I brought you something better. Let’s go inside.”
She reached up to Sebastián so he would pick her up. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed his cheek. “You smell fancy.”
Rosa appeared at the door and waved us inside. “What a surprise.” Her smile reached her dark eyes, which had sunk a bit deeper than the last time I saw her. I imagined she was tired.
“I just have a little present for Luciana and wanted to bring it to her.”
Luciana’s eyes were trained on the box in my hands. Rosa greeted Sebastián and signaled for us to sit down at the small dining table.
“Is that box for me? Is that my present?” Luciana said.
“Yes,” I said, opening the box. “These are ballet slippers. My mother bought me my first pair when I was a little younger than you. And look, they come with silk ribbons that your mother can sew on them.”
Luciana immediately discarded her shoes and put on the slippers.
“Mami, look. They fit.” She stood en pointe, and once again I was blown away at her natural ability.
“Camila, thank you. Thank you so much.” Rosa squeezed my hand, her eyes moistening while Luciana danced around the house, leaping and holding her hands over her head.
“Look! I’m like you now, Camila.”
I grinned and leaned over to Rosa. “You know, if you want, I could leave two tickets for you and Luciana at the Colón to see Giselle on Saturday. Would you like that? It would be an honor for me if you came to see me dance. They’ll be under your name at the box office. Just pick them up at seven thirty, half hour before the show.”
“You’ve found your angel, Sebastián,” Rosa said. “God rewarded you for all the good you do for us.” She turned to me. “We’ll come. I promise. God knows this little one will never stop talkin’ about it.”
We stepped out onto the desolate street where we said good-bye to Rosa and Luciana. The sky bled crimson and purple that smudged with a graying horizon. Sebastián took my hand as we headed to the car. Tires screeched behind us, and a black SUV with tinted windows pulled over beside us. Sebastián stopped abruptly, squeezing my hand.
“What the fuck,” he growled. Despite Rafa’s apprehension, Sebastián had ordered his bodyguards to stay at home while we made this short trip, and for once, I wished they were with us. Two guys in black suits exited the car and stood on each side of us.
“Palacios,” one said. “El Patrón wants to have a word.”
“Have him call me, then.”
“We’re already here, sir.” The other guy opened the door to the SUV, and the one who spoke gestured to the back seat.
“Camila, wait for me in the car,” Sebastián said, the muscles in his jaw tensing as he handed me the keys. “Go on.” The look in his eyes dismissed any argument, and I nodded, then hurried to the parked Clío a few yards away. The SUV didn’t move. It just stood immobile with the men inside. Blood rushed in my ears as anxiety coiled in my stomach. Shit. What was this? Should I call the cops? I squeezed the back of my neck in thought, then pulled out my phone, and without lifting it into view, I dialed Sebastián’s home line. Marcél answered promptly, and I urged him to get Rafa who cursed out loud when I explained what had happened. He said he would text me his direct number, and stressed I should lock myself in the car until he got there.
Five agonizing minutes passed. Now the street was completely dark. I fidgeted in my seat, vainly trying to see through the SUV’s tinted windows. What was happening in there? Rafa, please hurry. A few more minutes passed, and Sebastián finally stepped out of the SUV. The second he was out, it skidded away, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
With clumsy fingers, I unlocked the doors. He slipped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“I’m really sorry about that,” he said in a clipped tone that was charged with tension. He glanced at the rearview mirror as Rafa pulled over beside us and exited the BMW, clutching his gun, the veins on his forehead bulging.
“What the fuck happened, Sebastián?”
“The Medina brothers.”
“What did they want?”
“Let’s talk at home. I want to get Camila out of here.”
Rafa rushed back to his car and waited for us to pull forward so he could trail behind.
“What was that about? Are you okay?” I asked, my heart still galloping with fear.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry you had to witness that. Won’t happen again. From now on, you’ll be protected. Always.”
“Who were those guys? Who’s El Patrón?” Suddenly I needed to know everything about the dark aura around the Palacios name.
“Business partners of my father’s,” he said, glancing at the rearview mirror.
“What do they want with you?”
“Camila.”
“This is scary shit. I was sweating bullets back there. I deserve to know.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “My father doesn’t like the Medinas. I’ve helped in the past, mediating with them. But last week I told them I was done. Things at the docks have been unstable since the incident with the girls, and they’re…nervous.”
“Okay, so?”
“They want my help again.”
“Will you help them?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He groaned. “Because they’re not good people. And they’re volatile.”
“And they’ll accept that?”
“They’ll have to.”
“Sebastián…”
He reached for my hand. “I’ll deal with it.”
We rode the rest of the way in silence, and I thought of all the warnings Nata had given me about the Palacios family. Unease unfurled inside me. What if it wasn’t possible for Sebastián to walk away from his father’s businesses? Would I, too, eventually get tangled with Don Martín’s affairs? As if Sebastián had heard my thought, he reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
Sebastián tossed the keys onto the kitchen counter and pulled me into his arms. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry, so sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t.” He pulled away and paced toward the window, his hands raking his hair. “Fuck, this is my fault.”
“How is this your fault?” I walked over to him and placed my hand on his bicep.
“I dragged you into my fucked-up world,” he said, his gaze lost somewhere in the distant forest. “It was selfish. I had no right.”
“Shh,” I said. “I’m all right, I promise.” I forced him to turn to me. “Don’t say those things. I chose you as much as you chose me. But I am worried about you.”
“There’s nothing to worry about,” he said, kissing my head. “I know how to take care of myself. And I meant it when I said I’ll keep you safe. Always.”
“I know.” I closed my eyes and hugged him tightly.
“Let’s stay here tonight. Maybe watch a movie and lie low?”
“Sure. Sounds great.”
>
“I gave Marcél the night off. Let’s order something.”
I nodded.
“Don’t be worried. Come here.” He pulled me back into his arms and kissed me sensually. My insides quivered. Rafa appeared at the door and Sebastián detangled from my arms. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I made myself a chamomile tea and sat at the kitchen bar. I stared at the cup, watching the steam rise while I reflected on what had happened. The front doorbell chimed twice. What now? Male voices approached, and a couple of seconds later, Julián walked in behind Sebastián. Fucking peachy.
I gave him a curt smile. “Hi.”
“Camila,” he said, nodding without approaching me. “Good to see you.” Once again, the words were right, but the meaning was completely absent. I tried to imagine Julián as the philanthropist Sebastián said he was, but I couldn’t.
“Likewise,” I said. His eyes narrowed a fraction and I looked away. Why did I find him so intimidating?
Sebastián kissed my cheek. “Do you mind ordering something while Julián and I talk? Look through the menus in that drawer and choose whatever you like. I won’t take long.” He pulled out his wallet and took out a wad of cash, placing it on the counter. My eyes widened with horror, and I pushed it away.
“I’ve got this,” I said. He gave me an admonishing look, but I smiled and turned to Julián. “Will you be joining us?”
He paused for a moment, and that familiar shiver I had felt in his presence crept through me.
“I have plans,” he finally said. “But thanks.”
Relief washed through me. They disappeared into Sebastián’s office, and I pulled out a Chinese food menu and scanned through it, then ordered the food. The delivery would take a half hour, so I had time for a quick shower. As I turned into the hallway, I browsed through the emails on my phone and froze when I saw Federico’s name. An urgent email from Federico summoned the whole cast for a meeting the following afternoon. I leaned back against the wall. Excitement bloomed in my chest, my pulse racing as I read the rest of the message. The tour to New York was back on. Holy shit. The theater had planned it over a year ago but had then canceled it due to lack of funding. In the message, Federico vaguely stated that an anonymous donor had made an extremely generous contribution to support the company’s performances overseas. My heart pumped hard. New York was my big dream. I could finally share my mother’s legacy of performing at Lincoln Center.
Julián’s loud voice from Sebastián’s office startled me. Knowing Marcél wasn’t around, I stepped closer and quietly leaned on the thick mahogany door.
“Your father wants you at the docks until things settle down. Ivanov is becoming a problem, and that’s enough in our hands. Don’t fuck with the Medinas. This is not the time to make a statement, Sebastián.”
“This is exactly the time to make a statement. I told you. I want out.”
“What the fuck, man. What did this girl do to you?”
I held my breath. This girl? Me?
“Leave her out of it. I thought you of all people would get it. I don’t want to end up like my father, surrounded by crooks and alone. She’s what I want in my future. Not this.” There was silence. I turned and pressed myself against the wall, processing, that last sentence circling inside my head. She’s what I want in my future. Not this.
“The Medinas only want you as their mediator,” Julián said in a calmer voice. “If you want to protect Camila, play along for now.”
“They had the balls to show up today in broad daylight. How in the fuck did they know where I was? Less than a handful of people knew: Rafa, JP, Tano, and the school principal. All trustworthy.”
“I don’t know, but I’d say we have a problem now that they saw Camila.”
“They will not get near her. Nobody will,” Sebastián said in a guttural, chilling tone. Then the voices lowered, no longer discernible. I scurried away, my heart racing. Shit. No wonder Julián didn’t like me. I was in the way. I was the reason why Sebastián had once and for all decided to sever his ties to the family business. Closing my eyes, I rubbed them hard. The last twenty-four hours had been more than sobering, a clear picture of what I was walking into. Why had I consistently ignored the signs? Perhaps that said more about me than it did about Sebastián. At first, all this gangster stuff seemed distant to me, a dramatic tale fabricated by the media, but as I learned more, each realization that I was stepping into dangerous territory became more solemn than the one before.
I was almost at the bedroom when the office door opened. I rushed inside and into the bathroom. Quickly stripping off my clothes, I slipped into the shower, my blood pulsing with a mix of adrenaline and anxiety.
Sebastián walked in a few seconds later, his body radiating tension. I wiped the fog off the glass and gestured for him to join me.
He undressed and stepped into the shower. His eyes were etched in anger. I caressed his face, and he relaxed slightly as I pulled him under the cascade of warm water. Wrapping my arms around his back, I pressed my face to his chest, kissing him there. His arms closed around me.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said, kissing my head. “I’ll always keep you safe. I promise. No matter what I have to do.”
Chapter 31
I blinked at the late morning sun and turned to Sebastián, but found a note on his pillow. It was just three lines in his perfect handwriting:
I have an early meeting. Will be back soon.
Don’t leave.
I love you. S
I rubbed my eyes, unease wreathing my mind. His argument with Julián the night before lingered in my head. I hadn’t asked Sebastián about it. But the fact that Julián—and possibly Don Martín—saw me as a threat had me on edge.
Rolling off the bed, I lumbered to the shower. A knot in my stomach reminded me that in just a few hours, Federico would announce the casting for the performances of Sleeping Beauty on the international tour. The news of the tour had been sudden, and we were running against the clock. There was no time for auditions, so Federico had told the cast that the decisions would be based on the performances in Giselle. Being invited to join the cast was a long shot for me, and it would mean traveling for a few weeks, so I wasn’t sure how Sebastián would react.
The coil of tension in my stomach tightened. Today could be a turning point in my career.
In the kitchen, Marcél was busy with something that smelled heavenly. He looked up and smiled with the usual warmth in his eyes.
“Good morning ma chérie. Sleep well, yes? Would you like your breakfast?”
“Just orange juice, I think. But I can get it.” I stood, but he raised his palm.
“No, no, I will get it. You sit.” His tone told me he was not to be argued with.
“Marcél, you don’t have to cater to me. I’m used to taking care of myself.”
“Ma chérie, it is my pleasure to take care of you when I get the chance. Please allow me. Sebastián won’t be long. May I get you something else? I am making beef Bourguignon for dinner. A favorite of his.”
“It smells amazing. I actually need to run to the theater to look at my schedule.”
“Will you be back for dinner?”
I smiled. Nobody had asked me that since I left my parents’ home. I loved how Marcél took care of Sebastián. He was overindulging, the way a grandfather would be.
“Yes, thank you. Wish me luck. They’re announcing the cast today. I’m hoping for a big role.”
“Ah. Bonne chance, ma chérie. I am sure you will get it.” His smile was triumphant.
I sighed. If only Marcél could have switched bodies with Federico when he assigned the roles.
I texted Sebastián to let him know I wouldn’t be back till later, then Nata to tell her to wait for me so we could go to the theater together.
By the time I made it to my apartment, it was one in the afternoon. My nerves were frayed. The roles were probably being posted at this very moment.
“There you are. I wa
s worried you’d chickened out,” Nata said from the couch, her languid body stretched out as she flipped lazily through the TV channels. I envied her. She had an almost sure shot at the lead role as Princess Aurora, and she was just…ugh. So freaking calm.
“You alone? Where’s Alexei?”
“I told him to leave. He can meet up with me later.” She swung her legs and ambled toward me. Her lips stretched into a wicked smile. Shit. I knew that smile.
“What is it?” I said. “I can’t take any bad news right now.”
“It’s good.”
“The last time you looked at me like that, you left for Russia with what’s his name, and I didn’t see you for three months.”
“That was different. Besides, I did a two-month workshop there.”
“Whatever. Spill’em.”
“Okay. I didn’t tell you before because I knew you would freak out—and you just confirmed I was right. But…I got engaaaged!”
“What? Why in the hell would you do that?”
“Because…Teo proposed to me last night.” She squeezed my hands. “And I said yes.”
“What the hell, Nata? What about your career? You’re at the top.”
“I know. But I want a family too. Not now, but in the future. We can’t do this forever. Can you just be happy for me?”
“I am. It’s just…I didn’t realize you guys were that serious.”
“I would’ve told you, but…with all this stuff between us, we haven’t talked much. Teo is the one. He’s very supportive of my career, and that won’t change. I thought you would get it.”
“I do get it. Come here.” I pulled her into a hug. I loved this girl like a sister, but Jesus, engaged? “Just give me a few seconds to recover.”
“I got your mind away from casting.”
“Yeah.” I chuckled. “Have you set a date?”
“Not yet. But I’d like to have the wedding in Punta del Este, at the beach.”
“It’s great. Really.”
“Let’s get out of here and go celebrate afterwards, whatever roles we get.” She hooked her arm in mine and tugged me to the door.
