Cora
The morning after I was released, I got a call from a social worker asking if she could swing by the hotel and pick up River’s things. After the fire, the kid didn’t own much, so I went to the mall and picked up a few things I’d thought she would like. She’d probably hate them all. But it made me feel better. The social worker also informed me that she was allowed to have her phone. I nearly burst into tears at that news. They wouldn’t let me see her, but at least we’d been able to talk.
River called me each night and I could tell by the tone of her voice it was because she missed me.
But in the mornings, I knew she only called because she was worried about me.
It was no secret that mornings were hard for me. That first blink when I’d slip from blissful lala land into consciousness, remembering where I was as an avalanche of hellish memories hit me like they were happening the very first time.
Day after day, every time the sun rose, that moment of realization was agony.
But if I wanted to get my daughter back, I couldn’t wallow in self-pity. I had to get up and make things happen.
River was not wrong. Seven hundred and fifty dollars didn’t get you much when it came to housing in the city. Though, on the outskirts, it got me a two-bedroom quasi-piece-of-shit house that included water.
Drew and I were picking up the keys late that afternoon when I got a call from the group home letting me know the case against me had been dropped and I could come get River anytime I would like. I shrieked and my new landlord looked at me like he was already regretting his decision to give me the house. I could not have cared less how crazy he thought I was though. My girl was coming home.
And then we were getting out of that life for good.
I couldn’t decide what Thomas was playing at. My court date wasn’t for another few days and I’d figured he’d drag it out as long as the law would allow.
But whatever the reason, if it got me River back, I wasn’t going to complain.
As Drew pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Thomas’s Cadillac. Dread filled my stomach, but with the countdown on, his reign of corruption was nearing an end.
I froze halfway out. “What are you doing?”
Drew also stilled, his door open, one of his boots on the asphalt. He quirked an eyebrow. “Going with you?”
“No. You’re staying here.”
“You’ve lost your damn mind, woman.”
“You walk in there with me, he’s going to assume you’re my boyfriend. I’m not handing him one more person to use against me next time he gets pissed.”
“He can assume whatever the fuck he wants, but he gets the wild hair to put his hands on you again and I’m gonna be there to lock that shit down real quick.”
And that was exactly why I couldn’t let Drew come inside with me.
Over the last week, I’d learned that, while in jail, Manuel had filled Drew in on all things Thomas Lyons. It didn’t surprise me in the least that even four years later, Manuel was still fuming. He firmly believed that no one crossed a Guerrero. And Thomas had not only turned on him, but he’d used Manuel’s own daughter to put him away—the ultimate stab in the back.
It also didn’t surprise me that Drew had spent the last week ranting and raving about Thomas. He hadn’t been able to look at me without getting pissed over the bruises on my face and neck. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if they came face-to-face. Thomas’s monstrosity of an ego would never allow that confrontation to end in Drew’s favor.
“He’s not going to pull anything,” I assured him. “It’s a group home for teens. I won’t be the only one in there. He’ll be on his best pretentious-lawyer behavior. Come on, Drew. He got the charges dropped. Don’t give him another reason to stir up more trouble for us.”
“They were bullshit charges to begin with. He’s hardly a hero.”
“No. But I’m getting River back. Let’s try not to make any waves today.” I climbed the rest of the way out of the truck, facing him as I straightened my mint green tank-top and smoothed my wind-tousled hair down. “What about this…” I retrieved my phone and punched in his number. A muffled ringing came from his back pocket. “You can listen. If you hear anything that doesn’t seem right, you’re only a few yards away.”
He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Penn would literally body-slam me for even considering this.”
Some days were easier than others. Sometimes the thought of Penn slashed through me like shrapnel. Other times, the memory of him gave me peace and comfort. And that day, as I was only minutes away from getting my daughter back, I actually smiled at the thought of Penn’s angry scowl.
“Please, Drew.”
He retrieved the phone and answered by putting it to his ear and saying, “This line disconnects and I’m busting through that door like the Kool-Aid man.”
I giggled.
He glowered—definitely related to Penn.
But before he had the chance to change his mind, I said, “I’ll be right back,” and shut the door.
Holding my phone, I jogged up the sidewalk to the front door and then knocked.
A woman in her late forties with a severe case of resting bitch face answered. “Can I help you?”
I smiled wide and genuine. “I’m here to pick up my daughter.”
Her nose crinkled as she gave me a confused head-to-toe. It was everyone’s reaction when they found out I had a teenage daughter. I’d always looked younger than I was, which at twenty-nine was a blessing when it came to forking out cash on anti-wrinkle serum, but not so much when it came to convincing people I was a fit mother.
“River,” I filled in when she didn’t reply. “Guerrero.”
Her eyebrows shot up, but it didn’t soften her judgmental glare.
Thomas’s large frame appeared behind her. His lips tipped up in a slimy grin as he met my gaze, his words aimed at the woman. “Cynthia, I’ll handle this. Get the child.”
“Sure. No problem,” she said, strolling away with the speed of a slug.
My pulse quickened and I clutched the phone tighter, careful not to press any of the buttons.
“Cora,” he greeted, shoving a hand into the pocket of his slacks. “Do come in.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, stepping over the threshold.
He glanced over his shoulder in time to see Ms. Cheery exit through a door leading deeper into the building. “I trust you’ve been in touch with Catalina.”
I shifted my gaze to the wall and used my free hand to worry my necklace. “She won’t be back.”
He arched a dark eyebrow. “And what happens if that changes?”
“I’ll lose River forever,” I answered robotically.
He lowered his voice and stepped forward, crowding me. “Or?”
I swallowed hard, but it was purely for show. I wasn’t scared of Thomas anymore. “Or you’ll kill me.”
He traced a finger around the curve of my face, dipping under my chin to tip my head back. “How is my daughter, Cora? She’s, what…fourteen now?”
I didn’t reply. He didn’t deserve to know anything about Isabel.
The day he married Catalina, it was nothing more than a deal brokered by Manuel. He made the corrupt attorney with dreams of becoming a judge a part of the family. And Thomas got a beautiful wife to stand at his side, her father’s money backing him, and one of the city’s biggest criminals in his back pocket feeding him the competition like shark bait.
Isabel hadn’t been planned. Two people usually needed to be having sex to plan something like that. But one night after Thomas had come home drunk declaring that it was his wife’s duty to open her legs to him, everything changed. She was already pregnant when I’d met Nic. But the family knew what was happening between him and Catalina. Nic and Dante had gone to blows over it.
But Manuel had needed Thomas, so he’d turned a blind eye and his daughter later sold him down the river for it.
“She won’t be back,” I repeated. “I swear to you. They won’t cause you any problems.”
Playing up the fear, I allowed my breath to hitch as he leaned in close.
His face was mere inches from mine, his breath whispering across my skin as he said, “That’s good to hear. But do not get comfortable, Cora. I don’t waste my time with idle threats. You cross me and you’re done. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to pass that message along to my wife as well.”
“Of course. I’ll remind her.”
He grinned, and then in time with the creak of a door behind us, he abruptly stepped away.
“Cora,” River called, jogging over and throwing her arms around my neck.
I kept my eyes on Thomas as I pulled her into a hug. “Hey, baby.”
“Here’s your things,” the woman said, shuffling over with a grocery sack dangling from the tip of her finger, her phone charger hanging out of a hole in the bottom. She turned a scowl on me. “Maybe next time you should get her an actual bag.”
“There won’t be a next time,” I stated as absolute fact.
“Then we’re clear?” he pressed.
“Crystal,” I murmured.
“Don’t forget your phone.” He grabbed River’s cell off the corner of the woman’s desk and offered it her way.
If looks could kill, River would have saved us all a lot of trouble right then and there.
“Thanks,” she muttered, snatching it from his hand.
After I threw my arm around her shoulders, we started toward the door together. While I wasn’t buying into Thomas’s all-powerful Godfather routine, I was more than ready to get the hell out of there.
“Oh, and, Cora,” he called.
I curled River into my front as I put my chin to my shoulder to look at him. “Yeah?”
“Do say hello to Drew for me. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to meet him today, especially after hearing about what happened to his sister.”
I blinked, and for the first time since I’d entered that room, I felt a sick sense of unease wash over me. I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Penn had point-blank told me that Drew was his only sibling. But it was the wicked smirk like he’d just dropped a bomb on me that set my teeth on edge. With chills prickling my skin, I opted not to stand around and ask questions.
I dipped my head in acknowledgement and then hurried out the door.
Drew was already out of the truck, sprinting toward us, his face dark and thunderous. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just get in the truck.”
His jaw ticked as he stared at the building.
“Drew,” I hissed, giving his arm a sharp tug. “Let’s go.”
“Right,” he growled, reluctantly following after me.
After we were all in the truck and safely on the road, I turned to Drew. “Do you have a sister?”
He shook his head and white-knuckled the steering wheel. “He had to have been talking about Penn’s wife.”
I guessed that would have been his sister-in-law. “How does he know about that?”
“I don’t know. But the fact that he knows who I am and that he’s been digging around in my past doesn’t sit right with me.”
It didn’t sit right with me, either, but by this time the next day, we wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.
“Drive around for a little while.” I turned in my seat and looked out the back window. “Make sure we’re not being followed.”
His eyebrows drew together. “I thought you gave the social worker the new address yesterday?”
“I did. But we’re not going home tonight.” I reached into the back seat and took River’s hand. “We’re going to Catalina’s.”
Drew’s head swung in my direction so fast that it was a wonder it didn’t fly off his neck. “What!”
River gasped, stretching her seat belt to the limit as she lurched forward. “Is she back?”
I smiled; my girl did love her aunt. “Yeah. I fronted her some money to get a house a few days ago. With Marcos and Dante gone, she doesn’t have to hide anymore.”
Her big, doe eyes flared. “What about Thomas?”
“Yeah. What about Thomas?” Drew parroted, flicking his furious gaze between me and the road.
“Relax,” I told them both.
“He took me away for funsies. Don’t you think he’ll do the same to Isabel?” River asked, her anxiety making an all-too-frequent appearance.
I gave her hand a squeeze. “He might try. But he won’t be a problem after tomorrow. Catalina’s going to the police. And before you say it, yes, I know firsthand how many crooked people he has at his disposal all across the city. But Catalina has been a missing person for years. Her sudden return will draw national attention the same way it did when she disappeared. Thomas doesn’t have that kind of reach. Besides, she has more than enough on him to put him away forever. Thomas is an idiot. I never would have thought about it if he hadn’t panicked and arrested me. Dante and Marcos didn’t exactly have wills, and since Manuel is still in jail, Cat’s the only Guerrero left. She’ll inherit everything, River. Everything. The legit businesses. The property. The houses. All the stuff Manuel was forced to sign away to his sons when Thomas went after him.”
“Great, so she has money now,” Drew deadpanned. “That doesn’t give her invincibility.”
“No. But it makes him vulnerable. She’s not stuck anymore. Whether you want to admit it or not, money is power for people like us. No, it won’t fix our problems, but it does give us room to breathe and a safety net to fall back on. Catalina walked away the first time with her pride and two hundred dollars. Best decision she ever made. But, now, she doesn’t have to worry about how she’s going to put food on the table. Or pay for a doctor when Isabel gets sick. Or buy school supplies or clothes or put gas in the car. Money doesn’t equal security, but it does offer opportunity. This is our chance, Drew. Me and Cat. We’ve been dreaming of getting out of this life once and for all. And thanks to Penn, now that Marcos and Dante are out of the way, there’s only one obstacle left.” I rested my hand on his forearm. “I’m done hiding. I’m done letting the world roll over me. I’m done being a Guerrero. I want out. I can taste it. It’s so close.”
“Jesus, Cora,” Drew breathed. “You think a man like that is just gonna let Catalina strut back in after four years without consequences?”
“There’s not much he can do to her anymore. He’s aching to get a spot on the bench. And with elections coming in a few months, he needs to start his campaign. Imagine how it’s going to look when his wife and child pop back up, stating that they endured countless years of mental and physical abuse at his hands. Not to mention all the information Catalina has about his extracurricular activities. He fronts like he’s a man of the law, but really, he’s the puppet master behind at least half the crimes that happen in the city everyday. If she can get someone to listen, the proof is already there in the court records. Someone just needs to know where to look.”
“He could kill her!” Drew exclaimed, his sudden outburst causing River to flinch. “And you in the process. I’m sorry, but this is a stupid idea. That man is fucking dangerous, Cora. And I’m not talking about him trying to take River or whatever other bullshit he has up his sleeve. He has connections far worse than judges and Polo-wearing attorneys he plays golf with on the weekends. I’m talking about bad men who are trying to avoid being prosecuted. Desperate men who will literally do anything to stay on his good side. Finding someone to plow over you and Catalina will be a walk in the park.”
I hooked my leg up onto the seat and turned to face him. “Wow. I’m truly touched by your confidence.”
“This isn’t a pep talk. This is the truth. That’s what you said you wanted from me, right? No more lies? Fine. Then this is insane. And I want no part of it.”
“Then walk away. No one is asking you to stay with us.”
He barked a loud, humorless laugh. “If only that were true.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t fucking matter. You’re going to do this shit whether I go with you or not, aren’t you?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Yep.”
Through clenched teeth, he gritted out, “Then I guess we’re going to see the infamous Catalina Lyons today.”
A victorious grin split my mouth.
He must have caught it out of the corner of his eye, because without looking at me, he bit out, “Wipe that smile off your face. I’m not happy about this.” But he said it as he turned down a side street that was not on our way home. And as he started our hour-long detour through random neighborhoods, his gaze constantly flicking to the rearview mirror, he muttered, “Christ. Another fucking Nancy Drew. And he says he doesn’t have a type.”