Page 135 of Cartel Devil

“Joaquin, when’s the last time you developed an app?”

“I don’t know. Probably four or five years ago. Why?”

“I think it’s time the neighborhood had a community message board. We post a list of all the shit the holier-than-thou bratva did to the other three families that we stopped. Could you design it and get it onto their phones?”

“Definitely.”

“Hermano?”

Tío Luis looks at his older brother, and Tío Enrique nods. Tío Luis turns his attention back to me.

“How long would you need?”

“For the app itself, probably a couple days. Depends on what you want sent out.” I look over at Alejandro to see what he’s thinking.

“All the receipts.”

“That’ll take at least a week. I was planning to—go house hunting with Tre.” I catch myself before I give away my real plan.

“You can make time to do that.”

“Thank you, Tío.” I’m truly appreciative that Tío Enrique’s still letting me prioritize Tre.

Tre and I are at the mansion Papá bought Mamá right after they got married. It’s along the coast in Greenwich. Until recently, when Javier had some trouble with Madeline’s ex, it was our most guarded residence. We’ve made sure it’s returned to that. It’s our fallout shelter should we ever need one in the U.S., but it’s also where my family often goes when we want to get away from NYC but can’t go somewhere abroad. We always make people think we’ve left the country, but we haven’t. We’ve gone an hour—on a good day—outside the city.

“Tre, the house overlooks the water. Come see the view.”

I lead her out through the French doors to the back patio. There are steps leading down a paved path. We talk as we make our way along the breathtaking cliffs.

“I’m glad I can share this place with you, Tre. It’s precious to my family just like you’re precious to me.”

“I never imagined any of this, Joaco. I came to New York wanting a fresh start but with an albatross around my neck. A mission I knew I needed to take seriously but couldn’t because it was doomed before it began. I could’ve looked at your interest in me as a gift from above, the chance I needed to infiltrate your family. I never did. I wanted you, and I thought—I feared—I’d never have you. I wanted Joaquin the man, not Joaquin Diaz. I thought you didn’t want me. Then I thought my family ties would get in the way. So many people have tried to keep us apart, but you’ve been unwavering from the start. I just didn’t realize it. I wish I’d seen it sooner.”

“You saw it at the right time, Tre. It made me confront things about my childhood that I didn’t want to. Things that haunt me still but no longer control me. They’re no longer buried and able to consume me. Without you, I’d be destined for a life alone. I thought that was fine, but now I can’t imagine a worse fate than going through life without you. You’ve forever changed me, and for once, change is for the better. For once, I’m not terrified of change. I’m looking forward to it. No one else has ever given me hope.”

“That is the most profound thing anyone has ever said to me, Joaco.”

When we get to the end of the promontory, I position her to see the beach below. I finally got the text that everything is in place.

In pebbles, my brothers spelled out Tu sei la mia vita, il mio amore. “You are my love, my life,” in Italian.

Took the idiots like two hours to get it right.

Tre stares at the sand and rocks for so long that I grow worried, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. When she turns away from reading the rock message, I’m already down on one knee.

“I was attracted to you the moment I saw you. I thought your speech at the reception was witty and intelligent. Asking you to dance was the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Walking out of that hotel room was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Thank you for giving me a chance to redeem myself. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you I’m the man from the reception not the one from the morning after. I love you, chiquita. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

I haven’t even pulled out the ring box yet, and she’s tugging on my hand to pull me to my feet. She flings her arms around my neck, and I lift her off her feet. She smothers my face in kisses before our lips meet. It’s passionate, but there’s so much tenderness in it that I know I could never find this with anyone else. I’ve never shared a tender kiss with anyone but Tre.

I set her on her feet and reach into my pants pocket and pull out the ring box. I snap it open, and her mouth drops open.

“It’s perfect. How’d⁠—”

“Sera and Toria helped me.”

“Really? Carmine let you…”