Page 47 of Sweet
Felix comforted me for a bit before we finally drew apart. He gave me his shirt to wear, and we laid back down on the blanket, cuddling beneath the stars. We remained like that for a long time, existing together in a world known only to us.
“Felix?”
He kissed the top of my head as I traced my favorite tattoo on his chest.
“Will you sing to me?”
He looked over, appearing taken back by my request. “Sing? Sing what?”
I smiled. “The song your mom used to sing to you. Will you sing it for me?”
Felix smiled and nodded. “Ay-ay-ay-ay. Canta y no llores. Porque cantando se alegran. Cielito lindo, los corazones. Ese lunar que tienes. Cielito lindo junto a la boca. No se lo des a nadie. Cielito lindo, que a mi me toca. Ese lunar que tienes.Cielito lindo junto a la boca. No se lo des a nadie. Cielito lindo que a mí me toca. Ay-ay-ay-ay. Canta y no llores. Porque cantando se alegran. Cielito lindo, los corazones. Ay-ay-ay-ay. Canta y no llores. Porque cantando se alegran. Cielito lindo, los corazones…”
His sweet voice faded away as we both stared up at the moon.
“What does Kief want with me?”
He sighed. “He wants to use you to get to me.”
“Why?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes, lighting one before offering it to me. I took it from his fingers and inhaled, waiting for him to answer.
“It’s a long story, but our family used to run the Mafia down in Cuba.” I nearly choked on the smoke. “Yeah…my grandfather was the head of the Osvaldo Mafia family. He was both feared and respected. My father was his oldest, followed by Kief’s mother.” He took the cigarette and raised it to his lips. “Everything was fine until he died.” He inhaled deeply, holding the smoke in for a moment before blowing it toward the stars. “My parents had moved to this country to expand their power, joining another Cuban Mafia family that had already been established here called Charlotte’s Web. But while they were away, my grandfather passed. And when my father wasn’t there to take his seat as the new head of the family, my aunt decided to take it for herself. Long story short, a family war broke out. And we lost members on both sides.” He stared up at the sky.
I tried to piece it all together. “Is that how your mom died?”
He nodded. “Once she died, my father cut all ties to his sister and the family back in Cuba. He remarried a high-standing member of Charlotte’s Web and kept the rest of us in the dark, living two lives. Haze and Indigo never knew anything of his past or our family, but I did. I knew everything ‘cause I was raised in it.”
“That must’ve been hard.”
He handed the cigarette back. “It was. I rebelled and acted out a lot. And after my mother died, our father was never the same. He was angry and abusive—a temper we all seemed to inherit. I couldn’t get away from him fast enough.”
“Where is he now?”
Felix paused, slowly sitting up. I did the same, leaning against him. “Kief killed him a while back…claimed he was taking revenge for his mother.” He sighed and turned to look at me. “You sure you still want to be with me? Me and my murderous family?”
I smiled, kissing his forehead. “Always.” He smirked. “Why don’t we go take a shower…clean up a little.” I winked.
Felix nodded. “You go ahead, I need to make a call first.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FELIX
“Dream…”I called out her name, rolling around the bed. I reached my arm out to feel for her, but she wasn’t there. “Cottontail?” My head raised with half opened eyes, looking for her. But she wasn’t there. Instead, sitting on the nightstand was a note with my name written in cursive next to a heart.
That’s cute.
I rolled around and picked it up, reading it.
Went to get Lady Zaza’s crickets. Be back soon. P.S. You look so peaceful when you sleep.
I smiled, grabbed my phone, and opened the app I used to track her, checking her location. Sure enough, she was at her apartment.
Good…she’s safe.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
