chapter 2

I remembered the day Dante and I ran into each other in Miami three months ago. He wouldn’t stop begging me to come visit him and the family, saying everyone was dying to see me again. The truth is, the moment I saw him, something in me lit up. I had missed him and his family more than I wanted to admit. We used to be one big, loud, happy family.

That was before my father got sick.

I dropped everything and left for Miami. Then he died, leaving me in charge of his empire—the Marquez Family business. A dangerous world full of enemies, betrayals, and constant discomfort. I never wanted to get my hands dirty, but I had promised him I would carry on his legacy. So I did.

I was never close to my father growing up. My mother had taken me away because she believed his world was too deadly for a family. After she died, I was out there struggling alone. When word reached me that my father was sick, he was the only blood I had left. I had no choice but to leave the people who had loved me like their own—the only real family I had known.

Since that day, I’ve become someone else entirely. Heartless. Cold. Nothing like the playful, happy Pedro they used to know. So much has changed, and Dante had no idea.

That’s why, even though he kept begging me to visit that everyone misses me terribly, I had to be careful. I asked Eric to look into his profile because in my line of work, I can’t afford to trust anyone. I have no friends here — only enemies waiting for a moment of weakness.

That night, around 8 PM, I stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around my waist, and was just about to get into bed when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and picked it up immediately.

“Speak to me, Eric.”

“Boss, my source found Andrew. He’s in Havana, Cuba. He’s being heavily protected by Arnold’s men.”

I smirked, the familiar cold thrill running through my veins. “That’s not a problem. We will fly out to Cuba first thing tomorrow morning. Prepare the private plane. We’ll handle him there.”

I hung up and stood still for a moment, a slow smile spreading across my face as I put on my pants and was ready for a good night sleep.

Looks like I’ll be visiting Dante after all.

I walked over to the bedside table, picked up my phone again, and searched for Dante’s number — the one he had given me three months ago when we bumped into each other here in Miami. I hadn’t called him once since then. But now… now it was the perfect time.

The phone rang twice before he picked up, his voice thick with sleep.

“Hello?”

I smiled to myself. Since when does this guy sleep so early? The Dante I knew was a wild one, always causing trouble deep into the night. He was the one who would wake me up late at night just to go party till dawn. Thinking of those days puts a surprising smile on my face.

“It’s me,” I said calmly. “Pedro.”

“Pedro?! My God! You finally called!” His voice exploded with energy. “How are you, man? Where the hell are you?”

“Calm down, Dante,” I laughed softly. “Slow down before you wake the whole house.”

“Pedro, you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this call. Where have you been all these years, my man? Fuck, I missed you so much!”

“I’m sorry I haven’t reached out,” I replied. “I’ve been… busy with business.”

“Is that Pedro?” I heard a woman’s voice in the background, warm and familiar.

“Yes, darling!” Dante answered happily.

“Hello Pedro!” Cassie’s sweet voice filled the line. “Oh my God, is it really you!”

“Hello Cassie,it's really me.”I said, my tone softening just a little. “How are you, beautiful?”

“Pedro, where have you been? We’ve missed you so much. Everybody has missed you so much,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Hearing her—gentle, kind, the same Cassie who had always treated me like her own—something inside my chest tightened. For the first time in years, the ice around my heart gave the smallest crack. She was still the same lovely woman who only ever wanted the best for her husband and the people she loved.

“I’m sorry, Cassie,” I said quietly. “But I promise I’ll come visit tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” Dante cut in almost shouting. “You’re serious?”

“Yes. I’ll be in Havana. I’ll let you know the moment I land.”

“Oh Pedro, we can’t wait!” Cassie cried happily. “I swear, I can’t wait to see you.”

Dante came back on the line, laughing.

Hello, Pedro, are you still there?”

“Yes, Dante, I’m here.”

“My God, it’s been years. This feels like a dream, man. I can’t wait to show you everything I’ve built and the crazy way I got it.” He burst into loud laughter,the same infectious sound I remembered from our wild nights.

I only chuckled. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ve been looking for you for so long, you are just too hard to find man,” Dante continued, his voice turning emotional. “There’s so much I want to tell you.”

“Come on, Dante,” I said lightly, “stop being so emotional. We’re not kids anymore.”

“I know, I know… but you’re staying with us for a while, right?”

“ Hmmm yes, for a while.”

“Perfect! Michelle is going to be so happy. She’s missed you like crazy. And guess what? Her birthday is this week.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

Yeah—Michelle’s turning nineteen. Can you believe our little girl is all grown up now?”

Nineteen…

The number hit me harder than I expected. I remembered the little girl with big curious eyes who used to follow me everywhere, always wanting to hold my hand. Now she is turning nineteen. Time had moved fast while I was buried in blood and shadows.

“Wow… she’s really grown up,” I muttered.

“Alright Dante, I’ll let you get back to sleep. I’ll call you as soon as I land tomorrow.”

“We will be expecting you.”

“Alright man.”

I ended the call and stared at the phone for a long moment.

I wouldn’t tell him the truth. Not about my world. Not about the blood on my hands or the enemies constantly hunting me,or that I'm Don wani. The famous mafia known to all but not seen.

Dante and his family still lived in the light—the same warm, loud, happy world I had once belonged to. It was better if he stayed clueless — safe in his little bubble of normal life.