His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika
Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Book & The Castillo Cartel: Dear Marvin

(She was known to be a good girl, he was known to be a monster-but that does not stop them fromfalling for each other!

What could go wrong if your prison pen pal ends up being the son and heir of the head of the Castillocartel? What more could go wrong when your overprotective dad is a DEA agent who is determined totake him down?

When Elena Torres, the daughter of a DEA agent, lost i bet and decided to write a prisoner, she had notexpected to get in contact with the son of a cartel boss, Marvin Castillo. What she also didn’t expectwas for him to get released from prison or for him to take an interest in her. It was clear that fate didn’twant them to be together. She was known to be a good girl, he was known to be a monster-but thatdoes not stop them from falling for each other.

For how long will Elena be able to keep her identity a secret?

Elena

‘Dear stranger,

You don’t know me, and I don’t know you either.”

“Delete!”

My best friend, Victoria, screeched in my ears. I took another look at the laptop screen and reread mymessage. “Why?” I asked, confused. “What’s wrong with it?”

Victoria let out an annoyed sigh and grabbed the laptop from my lap. “You’re writing a prisoner, not apoet.” She rolled her eyes. “Have you read this guy’s charges?”

I shrugged my shoulders and read through the endless list of charges.

‘Murder’

Assault

Drug trafficking

I made it easier for myself and stopped the count at the third. “How is this guy even allowed on thiswebsite?” I laughed at Victoria. She scrunched up her nose and gave me a frown. “I have no idea.”

To others, it might’ve seemed crazy why I, Elena Torres, a 21-year-old, would even think of writing aprisoner, but it was easy. It was all because of a stupid bet, and now I had to hold my end of the dealand prove Victoria wrong

Marvin Romero was my unfortunate victim. He was 25-years-old and sentenced to life without parole,he wouldn’t be coming out any time soon, or better yet-he wouldn’t be coming out at all

Every time I stared at his picture, I had this urge to drop everything and tell Victoria that she was rightand that I was a chicken who lived in my family’s shadows, but I didn’t like losing. Marvin seemed like ascary guy, and he was the exact type my dad did not want me to end up with.

That was not the issue, though, because I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, and the big and bold letters atthe top made it pretty clear. This is not a dating site.

“He doesn’t really look like a poet.” I agreed as my eyes landed on his tattoos. “Would it be bad of meto say he looks like a gang member?” Tori pointed out. I tilted my head and took another look at his

countless tattoos. He had only posted. one picture, but I secretly hoped to see more of him. “Hmm, no-lknow he has tattoos, but that’s a bit judgmental, don’t you think?”

I gathered my courage and began writing the email. It would only be a one-time thing, and I had pickedout someone like Marvin Romero on purpose. Guys like him wouldn’t reply. He said it himself-he wasbored, which was pretty understandable because it wasn’t like he could go anywhere.

Hi, Marvin!

My name is Lenag

Just like you, I’m also from San Diego.

I saw your profile on the message board and read you needed someone to talk to

Guess what? I can be that someone!

If you would like to talk and are up for a challenge, I would like for you to solve this riddle

What kind of bars won’t keep a prisoner in jail?

From,

Lena.

“And send.” I smiled as I pressed the key. Tori let out a gasp and burst out laughing. “Jesus, Lena.” Shegiggled. “It looks like you’re sending a mail to a pre-schooler, and what’s up with all the emojis?”

“So?” I shrugged. “I send the email, so I won the bet, right?”

“Won what bet?” A voice suddenly spoke. I quickly closed my laptop and stood up to face my dad.George Torres.

He might’ve been my dad, but to others, he was DEA agent Torres and just for that reason, I did notwant him to see how I had been spending my precious time. “Dad, you’re home!”

“Hi, Mr. Torres,” Victoria greeted him. My dad smiled at us before his eyes moved towards my laptop.“Is it something I’m not allowed to see?”

The worse thing about my dad was that he was annoyingly overprotective, just like my brother, Alex. Itmight’ve been strange, but coming right back home after university to work as a bartender at a cocktailbar was like a dream come true to them. It was a way for them to keep me safe and a way for them tokeep an eye on me.

“Of course not. You know I don’t hide stuff from you, I told my dad. I pulled him by his arm and led himout of my room while I looked back to stare at Tori. “Good safe.” She mouthed.

“Anyway, you’re back early-how was work?”

“A disaster.” My dad sighed as we made our way to the kitchen. I turned on the kettle to make himsome tea and patiently waited to hear his story. “The case of Stevie’s murderer might get dismissed.”He shared. “The Castillo’s planted false evidence, and now they’re going after the wrong murderer,while they’ll let

that scum walk free.”

“How do you know the evidence is fake?”

My dad took a deep breath and looked into my eyes. “I just know it!”

“Oh really?” I tried my hardest to sound interested. My dad and brother had this unhealthy obsessionwith fighting crime, and even though I was not allowed to receive all that information, my dad shared itbecause he wanted me to prepare myself for the real world.

It was not that crazy, considering my mom ran off and abandoned the family to live with some criminallover when I was just five years old. We hadn’t heard from her ever since.

I understood why my dad and Alex wanted to protect me, but it was all too much.

Just when it couldn’t get any worse, my dad’s partner was murdered on a mission several years ago.Stevie Maddens was my dad’s best friend and the man who used to sit on the couch every single day,but now he was gone. My dad couldn’t handle the loss of his best friend and was obsessed withbringing these people down.

“I’m leaving. Tori kissed my check. My dad looked at Tori with eyes full of worry. “It’s not because of me,right?” He asked.

Tori shook her head and gave him a side-hug. “Of course not, sir.” She spoke. “I have to get to work,but I’ll

visit tomorrow!”

Tori greeted us one last time and walked out the door. At times I couldn’t believe myself and did nothave a good reason why I was even jealous of my best friend, but I couldn’t help it. Tori was intelligent,beautiful, popular, and had a successful career. She worked at her dad’s law firm and was way toogood to be hanging out with me. She was perfect.

We had met each other in university, and both shared the same dream, the dream to become a lawyer.Tori succeeded, while I had to deal with rejection after rejection and took the hard decision to leave mydream behind.

“Do you have work today?” My dad asked. I opened the cabinet to grab a tea bag and some sugar andreached for a cup. “I do. I’ll be home late-so don’t wait up for me.”

“You know,” My dad began. I already rolled with my eyes as I prepared his tea and knew what wasabout to come. “You can always stop working and let me take care of you.”

There it was.

“I’m almost twenty-two, dad.” I reminded him. “You really don’t want to do that.”

He took a deep breath. “I know, I know-I just have this fear that-”

“That I’ll run off with some criminal and leave the house?” I chuckled. “Just like my mom?”

I walked

the kichen island and placed the co

in front of

“Don’t worry Dad I

kim. “Tim not going anywhere, a

Where did he even expe

a making

king mill

a bartender

about what I actually wanted to do wit

my life

די

I feel

say

like you don’t like

anymore,” my dad sadely spoke. I shot him a surprised look “Why Don’t

“You closed your laptop when I wal

concluded. “Tell me what it is. Are you w

11

hiding something from

My da