My son was as happy as he could be. The toys and stuffed animals that Carlito was playing with held a Paw Patrol theme. My son was in love with Paw Patrol which meant my father had to be watching us closely. That caused me to lose my breath and that gasp for air caused them both to look up.

“Carlito! I told you Mommy was coming!”

“Mommy!” Carlito continued to play with the toys in each hand. He was having the time of his life not even bothering to come and give me a hug.

My father took a seat and motioned for me to sit down. I kept my eyes on my son. The silence was awkward, but I was not going to break it.

“You look so much like your mother.”

“How dare you! You killed my mother. You left us for dead.”

“Is that what you think? I didn’t even know you existed until you were 13. I was looking for your mother, but she moved around a lot. As if she was intentionally trying to keep us apart.”

“You are lying! My mother told me everything. She told me about how you seduced her. You knew that she was young, and you manipulated her. You made her feel that you were in love with her, but instead you were just using her. You always wanted power. She told me about you. She said you are power driven.”

Don Carlos let out a chuckle. The type of chuckle that says, you dumb little chick. “Is that what she told you? Did she tell you about how we really met? At the club?”

“Club? What club?” In my mind, my mother grew up sheltered and boring.

“It doesn’t matter. But listen, that’s not why I was looking for you. You are blood. And family means more to me than anything. And what type of man would I be if my own family was in danger? Or wasn’t protected?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you get it? You really don’t have a clue? I’ve been watching you since I’ve found you three years ago. You went cold on me for a while, so I had to put a marker on you. I never wanted them to kill you, just to find you.”

This was fucking crazy.

“Do you remember how excited you were to get your first key? Come on, Sina. Every drug dealer gets over excited. You hit the jackpot! How do you think you got your connect from Columbia? I saw the small nickels and dimes you were moving. I am the one who put you on. You’ve been moving work for me.”

“What are you talking about? Everything I got, I got. You never gave me shit!” I was so mad I was seeing red. How dare he say that my success was because of him.