"What?" I press the phone to my ear.

"How dare you break up with my daughter!" His voice booms through the phone.

"We can't be together. Find another solution or don't. I don't care."

"You have just declared war on us, Rafael. Be ready." With that, he hangs up, making me slam the phone on the nearest wall in my office.

I don't care about fighting with him, my only concern is my father. I let him down and I couldn't push myself to stay with her. I am supposed to be with her forever, yet I couldn't stay with her for more than a month like a pussy. My emotions got the best of me and I acted according to my heart, something I can't bear to do. Mafia dons acting with their hearts will only result in their doom.

And I am not going to let that happen to me.

"Carmen knows where we live, we need to move," I tell Alex.

"What do you mean move? We can't just move like that."

"We can. We have many mansions across the country, choose one and let me know."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Alex."

I walk to my sister's room and knock on the door. She opens the door after a few seconds and glares at me.

"What do you want, Rafe?"

"Is it a bad time?"

"Yes! I am painting my nails. You can't just knock and disturb me."

I roll my eyes and walk in, making her yell at me to leave. "What the hell, Rafael?"

Oh, she used my full name. This is not good.

"I need your help with something."

She looks weirdly at me and says, "is it a girl problem again?"

"Yes," I reply hesitantly.

"What happened again?" She sighs, putting the nail polish away.

I sit on her bed beside her and start talking. "An hour ago, we were in the backyard and—"

"We as in who?" She cuts me off.

"You know who, Alba." I glare, making her giggle.

"Anyways, we were talking and she was making sure I was okay and—" I stop mid-sentence, scared to say the next words as I am embarrassed for an unknown reason. Maybe because I don't want to talk about this with my sister, but I have no one else to talk to, and I certainly won't talk about Ana to the guys.

"And what, Rafa?"

"I wanted to...kiss her."

"Good god, why do I have to listen to all of this!" She exclaims playfully.

"But I didn't! I was about to ask her but Alex cut me off."

"Well, good thing you have morals," she mumbles, picking up the nail polish again.

"But I am not finished!" I frown as she avoids me.

"Did something else happen?" She asks.

"No."

"Then you're finished."

"Alba..." I whine.

"If you want something, fucking get it before somebody else does."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Well, I do see Cody and Ana spending so much time together."

Anger arises as all I could feel and see is red. Ana and Cody? He wouldn't dare.

I storm out of the room and make my way to the infirmary. I push the door open only to see Ana and Cody sitting together and laughing. They seem taken aback by my visit and quickly stood up.

"Did something happen?" Cody asks.

"Follow me, Cody," I say firmly and walk out of the room.

I go to my office with him following me. My face is so red that Cody is avoiding looking at me, probably scared.

"Did I do something?" He hesitantly asks.

"Yes, yes you did."

"What?"

"Is there...is there something going on with you and Ana?"

"Ana? Of course, not. Why would you think that?"

"You seem cozy whenever I come to you."

"Rafa, did you forget that I am engaged?" He chuckles, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Didn't you say you broke up five months ago?"

"We got back together and I told you."

Fuck, I am stupid. Alba is stupid!

"Oh...okay."

"Rafa...do you like Ana?" He asks with a smile on his face.

"Me? Ana?—" I chuckle, "—of course, not."

"Oh, too bad."

"What's too bad?" I ask.

"She talks about you a lot that someone would think you two have something going on."

"She does?"

"Mhmm...now if there are no more accusations, I'd like to go back to work."

"Sorry," I say, scratching the back of my neck.

He smiles at me, shakes his head, and leaves.

Fuck, she talks about me...what does she say? I should have asked.

I go to the living room and see my mother sitting on the couch, drinking tea.

"Hey."

"Hola, honey."

"Can we talk?"

"Of course," she replies, placing the tea on the table. "Tell me, honey."

"Are you mad at me? For breaking up with Carmen?"

She gasps dramatically and says, "of course, not. I didn't even like her. I admit, she was good for business, but that's it. Besides, I want you to choose someone that you want and I apologize for forcing you to get engaged with Carmen."

"It's okay...you don't have to apologize. It's just...my priorities have changed."

"Does that mean you like another girl?" She smirks, making me roll my eyes.

"No, mom."

"Mhm, anyways, tomorrow is your party, how do you feel?"

"Can we not do it?"

"We are doing it, Rafa!" She glares, making me shut my mouth.

"Fine."

* * *

The next day arrives and I could sense that it was going to be a disaster, mostly because it is my birthday and my mother insists on giving me the party of my life. The party will be small, and only close family members are allowed. I am sure my uncle from my mother's side will come along with his wife and two daughters whom I love. One is fifteen and the other is twelve.

He's my mother's younger brother.

I take a shower and wear my outfit for today. I wear a black suit, wanting to get it over with and not change later for the party. I comb my hair and style it how I like it. I spray perfume and walk out of the room.

The first person I see is Ana, right in front of my bedroom door...in a towel wrapped around her body. A little short towel.

The air is knocked off of my chest.

"G-Good morning," I say, trying hard not to stutter.

"Hey...sorry, I'm...I wanted to bring something from Alba's room."

"It's okay..."

This is awkward. How could I tell her that I want to ravish her right now but that I can't?

She nods and walks fast to Alba's room, shutting the door behind her.

I try to breathe in and out to get some oxygen back into my body.

I walk downstairs, not wanting to stay outside of my bedroom door, looking like a fool.

I find my mother cooking in the kitchen, not letting anyone touch anything.

"Morning."

"Buenos Dias, son," she replies.

"What are you doing?"

"Food for the party," she replies.

"Mom, you know you don't have to do all this."

"Really? Then who'll do this if it's not your mother?"

"We didn't have to do anything of this at all."

"Bullshit!" She sneers. "This is your 31st birthday and it has to be special."

"Why?"

"Because it is the year that you will find love."

"And how do you know that?"

"Oh, honey, everyone in this house saw how you look at Ana, we are not stupid."

I quickly cover her mouth just in time that my sister and Ana to walk in. I look like I have been caught saying something wrong and I hope Ana didn't hear anything.

"What's going on?" Alba asks.

"Nothing!" I quickly reply, giving my mother a side glare as if telling her not to say anything.

"Nothing, darling. How are you?"

"I am good, mama," Alba replies, kissing her on the cheek.

"And what about you, Ana?" My mother asks.

"I am good, thank you."

Ana's cheeks are red and she looks extremely shy for the first time. She was never this shy.

"You okay?" I ask when I stood near her.

"Yes, everything's okay," she replies with a smile. She puts a strand of her front behind her ear, an act she often does whenever she's with me.

Is she shy because I am here?

I grin like a stupid man thinking about it and earn a weird, questioning look from my sister.

"Anyways, your uncle Arturo is coming today with Camila and the kids." My mother's voice snaps me out of my daydream.

Alba and just shrug. I already knew and I am sure Alba did too.

In the evening, uncle Arturo came and we all gathered in the backyard, along with Cash, Alex, and Cody. Cody's fiancée also came.

"Happy birthday, son," uncle Arturo says, hugging me. Camila, his wife, wishes me a good year and gives me a gift.

The girls, Alma and Alicia, gave me a hug that lasted about ten minutes.

Nah, just kidding.

"Rafael," Ana calls.

"Yes?"

"Can we talk a little bit inside?" She asks, pointing at the house.

"Sure."

We walk inside and upstairs to her room. She tells me to come in and goes to bring something from her wardrobe.

"This is for you," she gives me a small bag.

"Oh, you didn't have to," I say, opening the bag and taking out the silver bracelet, and putting it on.

"I love it, thank you," I say, hugging her.

She seems taken aback by my sudden hug but hugs me back.

"It's nothing."

"How did you even get it?"

"Cody. I told him to send me photos and I chose one."

"Thanks again." I smile and I hesitate whether to kiss her on the cheek or not, but I decided to go for it.

I lean in and kiss her cheek. Her face is hot and the breath intake she took makes me think that I affect her.

She gives me a timid smile, showing off her dimples that I have never seen before.

She stays frozen in her place as if waiting for me to do something else, but I don't. I want to take it slow as much as I could. She's too precious that I don't want to rush things. Besides, I still have to have a conversation with my father because Ana is so important to him and I know what he might think. I just need to sort my stuff first before going into anything.