He dragged both hands down his face in frustration, pacing back and forth like a caged animal, before finally collapsing into his chair with a heavy exhale that echoed his defeat.
“Domino…” His voice cracked, just barely. “I apologize for roughing you up. That revelation just…” He shook his head, struggling to find the right words. “It was unexpected.”
I took a moment to adjust my posture, still tense but now holding a fragile understanding of his violent reaction.
“But a daughter? Her?” I questioned.
Alejandro released a long, exhausted sigh, the sound filled with years of regret. “Look, I know you want answers, but it’s a long story… one I owe you. But I can’t give you the full story until I talk to her first.”
When he finally glanced up, his eyes were clouded by something I’d never seen in him before—shame.
“Ajori deserves to hear it from me… not from you, not from Marcos, not from anyone.”
I nodded.
He cleared his throat. “So what was it you wanted to tell me about her?”
I sat down across from him. “She wants out. She cursed Marcos out, cursed me out, hell, cursed the whole damn organization out. She’s done. I’m willing to let her go, and now that you know she’s your daughter, I’m pretty sure you’ll back that decision.”
Without pausing to consider it, his response came swift and firm. “Without a doubt. Today was her official last day. Effective immediately.” He jabbed a finger at the desk, his voice rising, filled with a fierce conviction. “No daughter of mine will be out there dodging federales, getting guns shoved in her face, risking her life to deliver product I wouldn’t even let half my men touch.” He shook his head vigorously. “I don’t care who you have to get to replace her. Hell, I’ll do the routes myself if necessary!”
His fist slammed against the desk.
“But my daughter will not be in that line of fire another damn day!”
He stood up again; that time not pacing but standing with a newfound determination.
“That being said…” His voice lowered, thick with emotion. “I want to see her… I need to see her. Get her here… soon. I’m done watching my daughter from a distance.”
He swallowed hard, his fingers nervously fixing his suit jacket, the tremor in his hands betraying the calm facade he tried to maintain.
“She can’t spend another year thinking she doesn’t have a father.”
Of all the shit I expected today? That was not on the list. Today didn’t just take a turn; it spunthe whole damn block, crashed the car, and set the street on fire with a reckless truth that would change everything.