Brandon
Alberto Cortez stood at the base of the ramp, his eyes widening the moment he saw Marc. "Mierda! You're Maria's boy," he swore. "Where have you been? Do you know how long Emilio has searched for you?"
Marc's mouth gaped, "He...he what? How did you know?"
Alberto pulled him into a hug, which Marc awkwardly returned, "You have your Mamá's eyes, boy. That can't be faked." He let out a laugh as he looked at him, "So you're Violet's father?"
"Yes sir, I am, and if I'm right, then Vivian is trying to find her at this very moment," Marc answered. "I need to speak with my brother, to make him understand what he's up against. She's insane."
"Where is she?" he asked.
"Violet is safe and moving constantly. She thinks it's a sight-seeing trip, but until I contact her guardians, they won't stop moving around the globe and I've got more than enough money to keep her moving for decades if I had to," Marc told him.
Alberto laughed, "Just like your Mamá. She never put up with anyone's shit either. She was a good woman and she'd be proud of you." I squeezed Marc's hand as he once again teared up. "And who is this?"
"Alberto, may I introduce my family. This is Brandon, Axel, Corey, and Raven. These men are with Owen and Sean. Kota, Victor, Luke, Gabriel, Nate, Silas, and North."
"Hmm, more than just family I see," the old man mused as he led us to a series of cars. He looked at us and asked bluntly, "So all of you are in love with my Mariposa?"
"Yes, sir, we are," I answered. "We know she's married and loves Emilio, but we are hoping there might be a way..."
He grinned, "I told him this would happen. I told him someday you'd come and it would work out. Guess I'm not an old fool after all," he chuckled. "Now, let's get you and your brother reacquainted so we can rescue my granddaughter."
"Agreed," we all chorused.
Emilio
"Wait, so Hernandez didn't really send you?" I asked Sean, trying to process what he was saying. "Who the fuck are you? Did you help them take her?" I demanded, jumping to my feet.
Owen was just as quick, pushing Sean behind him. "Emilio, sit down and take a breath. We aren't here to take anyone. We came for Mattie, to help her get better. She made it very clear she wouldn't leave you."
"Are...are you her men, from New Orleans?" I stammered my head swimming.
"No, but we are friends of theirs. We met Mattie a while back when she asked for legal help," he said.
I flinched, "Wait, you're the uncle that's the lawyer she mentioned."
Owen nodded, "Time is of the essence and well, we are running out of it. We think Vivian and some of her former Academy contacts are working with your man, Carlos, to take over the cartels. Alberto is on his way here now with the others. I need you to stay level-headed and hear them out, please."
I didn't have a chance to answer before my door flew open and Alberto stepped in with a shit-eating grin. "I found someone you've been looking for, Emilio," he announced.
I felt my heart stop as the young man stepped out from behind Alberto. "Marcus?" I gasped, his mismatched eyes filled with tears. "How?"
"Hello Milo," he said, "I think we both fell in love with the same girl." My eyes widened and I looked around at the other men that had filled the room. Marcus gave a soft laugh, "Angel calls me Nova, Milo. I'm Violet's father."
I crossed the room in only a few steps and crushed him to me, my sobs coming freely now as he returned my embrace. When we finally pulled away, I took a good look at him. He'd grown so much, but those eyes...he had Mamá's beautiful eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, then showed me a picture of a beautiful brown-haired girl with his eyes. I traced the screen and looked at him, "Violet?" He nodded. "She's beautiful, brother, but how...I mean...what happened to you? I've tried so many times to locate you, but always came up empty."
"It's a long story and once we have Mattie back, I'll tell you everything, but for now we need to focus on her. I have an idea how we can locate her, but it's risky," he said.
We spent the next hour going over his plan. He was right, it was damn risky, and involving Rico worried me. He had a fondness for Mattie, but would he double-cross us? But we really didn't have any other options. Either we enlist his help or Carlos will. His friend North made the call and two hours later, Rico was walking into the room.
"Nova, man is that really you?" Rico said when he laid eyes on my brother. "What the fuck are you doing here?" I flinched but had already known he was in the gang. That's how he met Mattie after all.
"Long story, Rico. We need your help. Carlos flipped and took Angel. You know him, man, he'll hurt her. We were hoping you could check your networks and help us locate her," he said.
"We? Boss, are you okay with this?" Rico asked, eyeing me curiously. "I mean, you know who he is right?"
I chuckled, "I know far better than you. Rico, may I introduce you to my little brother Marcus Cardoza." Rico's eyes bulged. "He left the family for a while, but now he's back and we need to find Mattie. Please, Rico. I'm willing to negotiate if that's what you need."
Rico shook his head, "No man, I owe her. She didn't deserve any of this shit. I'll get the word out immediately. Just let me get a good hit in on that asshole when you catch him."
I nodded to the others, "You might have to get in line. In addition to taking Mattie, he messed up Tori really badly. Her men aren't taking kindly to it."
"Her men?" he gulped and looked around, realizing he was vastly outnumbered. "Wow, things sure change fast around here," he muttered, then turned and left with North and Silas following.
Author's Notes: It will get dark next chapter, but I'll be brief.