It was supposed to be a peaceful morning. Then Antonio called.
"She disappeared," he said.
"Again?" I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "How many times has she skipped school this month? What the hell is she plotting now?"
"I'm tracking her location. Should I bring her back to the academy?"
"No," I said, glancing at the clock. "Bring her straight to my office. If she refuses, drag her. I don't care how you do it."
I didn't have time for Melitza's tantrums. Not today.
Today was the most important negotiation of my life: the alliance between the Rosanera and Martinez families. The Martinez controlled nearly all distribution across the south and east—he was feared, connected, untouchable. Everyone bowed to him. Even Cesar trembled at the mention of his name.
Signing this deal would double my power and protect everything I've rebuilt. It was the final stone in the empire I bled to restore.
Thirty minutes until the meeting.
And my sister chooses now to vanish.
My gut tells me it's over some boy. Probably sneaking off to meet him in some alley, thinking she's invincible. She always escapes before Antonio catches them. I don't know who's dumber—my sister or the idiot risking his life to flirt with her.
But I need to know who this boy is. Every detail. What if he's from an enemy family? What if he's feeding her lies, convincing her to run away and live out some teenage fantasy? Melitza has always been naïve. One compliment and she's gone.
No more distractions.
A knock on the door.
"Come in," I said.
"The Martinez party has arrived, boss."
Already?
Shit. I'd lost track of time.
Two hours later, the negotiation was nearly sealed. We were just a signature away.
"So," I said coolly, "do we have a deal?"
The Martinez patriarch paused, then nodded. "As we discussed. It's a deal."
Relief flooded my chest.
But it didn't last.
Screaming echoed from the hallway. Furniture crashing. A struggle.
Everyone looked around, confused.
I wasn't.
Melitza.
Rage boiled beneath my skin, but I stayed composed. I finished the handshake, closed the meeting, then stormed to my office.
Dealing with mafia lords? Easy. Dealing with my sister? Hell.
She's been impossible ever since our parents died thirteen years ago. She barely remembers them. Or me, back then. I was nineteen—barely more than a girl myself—forced to grow up overnight and run an empire. I sacrificed everything for her.
Antonio burst in, dragging her in like a wild animal. She scratched, kicked, bit. He held her firm.
She saw me and went silent.
Her eyes—those cold, defiant eyes—cut right through me.
"You keep testing my patience," I said calmly. "And I'm running out."
"Tell him to let me go!" she shouted.
"Tell me who the boy is," I demanded. "Tell me now, and maybe I'll go easy on you."
Silence. Then: "You'll kill him if I do."
I turned away, staring out at the sea beyond the window.
"You know why the ocean is dangerous?" I asked. "Because it lures you in with its beauty. But once you're deep enough, it drags you under, suffocates you. The same goes for people. Admire them from afar, or they'll drown you."
"You're saying Leone is using me?" she snapped.
I turned. "So his name is Leone. That's a start."
Her face fell. She realized she'd given him up.
"You see how easy it is to extract information from you?" I said. "No wonder he wants to play you."
She looked down, trembling, hiding tears. "Please, Aurora. Don't hurt him. I won't see him again. I promise. We met by chance… at a party. He's not part of any family. He's just a boy."
I stayed quiet.
"I'll never forgive you if something happens to him."
That hit harder than I expected.
She didn't understand. I've done everything for her—protected her, raised her, built this empire for her future. And she sees me as a monster.
I walked to her, gently placed my hand on her cheek.
"I won't touch him," I whispered. "But this ends now. You don't see him again."
Her face crumpled. But I didn't flinch.
She reminded me too much of myself—of a version I buried years ago. A girl who once believed in love, who once knelt for affection.
"I hate you!" she cried. "I wish you'd disappear, Aurora!"
She ran. Antonio said nothing. He'd heard it all before.
Let her hate me. As long as she's alive to do it.