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Alessio joined her in the bathroom, and I muted the feed. I didn’t want to add to my nightmares.

CHAPTER 26

Emilia

You’d think I’d run out of the ability to be shocked for the day, but as we loaded onto a golf cart, my jaw dropped.

We took his yacht to his bigger yacht to get on his helicopter to fly to Cuba, where we landed on his mother’s property.

I wanted to make a joke about planes, trains, and automobiles before I remembered I was an heiress. This was Millie’s life. No big deal. Private jets and yachts big enough to house a small town were completely normal in this warped world.

It was as disgusting as it was magical.

He had anything and everything one call away and the ability to go anywhere when the whim struck. A complete wardrobe in under an hour? Done. People waited to execute his next request.

I was used to money. Mansions were commonplace in the Pack.

But this was next level.

I swore his mom’s house took up half the coast.

“This is where she lives? Alone?”

He chuckled. “This was the house where Ama and I grew up. She refused to downsize. Says she can still feel my father here with her.”

Well, that was sweet and horribly heartbreaking.

The yellow structure with dozens of arches across the front and sides was exactly what I pictured for a Cuban house, just super-sized.

I hadn’t been able to slip a text to the guys to let them know what was happening, so I had to trust they were listening and tracking my phone. They wouldn’t get here faster than we did, so I was without surveillance. Not that I needed them to protect me, but knowing I was on my own felt unfamiliar after weeks with them spoiling me with backup. I had let my guard down, knowing they always had my back.

“She knows we’re coming, right?”

He started waving, and I glanced past him to see a beautiful woman with chin-length black hair and tan skin waiting for us.

We stopped next to the pool deck, and she hurried forward.

“My boy!” She pulled him into a hug the second he was standing. “And who do you bring me?” She practically shoved him aside to take me in. “Oh, hermosa!” Her arms were around me, squeezing me tight despite her petite frame.

“Come, come!” She took my hand and led the way through a set of glass doors to a spacious dining room already set for lunch.

“I had chef make your favorites.” She pointed out the dishes of pork, chicken, and rice.

“Thank you, Mamá.” He kissed her cheek before pulling out a chair for her to sit.

She patted his cheek and sat before he moved around the table and did the same for me.

“Thank you so much for having us, Maria.” I placed the napkin on my lap while Alessio found his seat.

“Of course! It’s my honor.” Like Ama, her accent was thick, but she didn’t struggle to speak English. “I love any time my boy comes home.”

They exchanged a look as full of tenderness and love as her house. Despite its size, it felt warm and inviting. A true home.

And she let me in without question.

A complete stranger, and she greeted me with a hug.

I was a shitty person.