Undercover Ultimatum

HANSEL

"Hans! I'm so happy to see you!" Abigail is the first to greet me, arriving back home in Los Angeles.

"What's good, sis? When did you and Isabella get back? Where is she, by the way? Usually, the two of you are connected at the hip."

"She went to do some shopping with Ma. The girl can't resist an impromptu shopping excursion."

Ain't that the truth.

"It's good to see you alive and well." I pull her in for a hug and kiss her forehead. "I want to hear all about your adventures, and you better not leave a dang thing out."

Isabella and Abigail are my twenty-two-year-old twin sisters. They've been studying abroad in Rome for the last year or so. Twins sort of run in my family. Both my father and mother are sets of fraternal twins.

But that fairytale was told seventeen years ago...

"Hey, bro." Hendrix pulls me in for a one armed hug. Rix is my nineteen-year-old brother. He's one smart ass kid. I used to joke around that he was the mailman's child. He's not at all like my old man or me. Hendrix just started going to school at the University of California, Berkeley. He wants to be the world's next greatest brain surgeon or some shit. My brain tends to lose interest when he starts using big words like cerebellum and meninges.

I admire my siblings, in all honesty. They've all known what they wanted to do with their lives from early on. The girls don't feel as much pressure as us boys do because the next ruler of our clan depends on Hendrix or me. I always thought I wanted to take my father's place as the oldest Vasquez and reign over Los Angeles. You know, make my papá and abuelo proud. But that was before she destroyed me...

"I thought I heard you come in. How was your trip to Miami?" Papa makes his presence known and walks into view from the kitchen.

"It was good. Took care of business as usual."

"Business as usual, huh? Does that business entail getting your neck sucked by a vacuum? What is this shit, Hans?" He flicks my neck with his pointer causing my hand to react and smack his away.

"What are you talking about?" I shove past him and look at myself in the entryway mirror.

"Oh, fuck!"

That fresh prince of pussy line got me some damn good ass. Thank you, Dominic Ghirardelli.

"What did I tell you about them trashy girls you like to roll with? You're better than that. You can't be fucking every little thing with legs and a pussy, Hans."

"Jesus Christ, Papá. I came home as you asked. What the hell is so important?"

I'm not in the mood for his shit. Not all of us can save our virginity for twenty-nine years and end up falling in love with the first woman that got our dick wet. Fairytales don't exist no matter what my parents say.

"Your mom and sister will be back soon. We'll have dinner as a family for once, and then we can talk."

"Fine. I'll be in my prison cell until then." I take hold of my bag and trudge up to my room.

You'd think being twenty-five years old; my parents would allow me some freedom and let me live independently. Evidently, that's not the Mafia way. Papá says we're stronger when we're together, and it's always been this way.

Unpacking my things, I toss my suitcase into my closet, creating a domino effect, and the top shelf comes crashing down.

"Just fucking perfect!"

Picking up the mess, I stumble across letters and photos from a box I've meant to burn for the last ten years. The hidden memories scattered across the floor give rise to the misery I felt when she left all over again.

Although my parents highly disagree, I've never much cared for the romance crap that they do. Growing up with all their sappy notions, I guess I became immune to it. But then she walked into my life...

Her name was Shea García. We met when I was a junior in high school. Her family transferred from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her father is a commanding officer in the Military, so they moved around a lot. She seemed pretty used to it. Never did I expect to feel the things she made me feel at the mere age of sixteen.

We had the best year of my life after that. We spent every spare moment together. Studying for tests together, I even went as far as joining band class and learned how to play the drums to be close to her. She's a wicked percussionist. We planned to run away together after high school. She was the one I gave myself to at sixteen. I remember thinking this is why my father waited for the right woman. For love. He wanted to wait to feel like he was on top of the world while he gave away the most cherished sentiment we have to give. But as fate would have it, our senior year came around, and she told me she was leaving. Her father had a special mission that he needed to transfer to Washington, D.C. for right away.

Leaving me 2,668.6 miles apart from the only girl who's ever made me believe in love...

The most unbearable part of it all was realizing that I was afraid to fall in love. Once I caved and broke down my barrier, she came along and gave me all the right reasons to worship her. Then inescapably, after some time, she gave me all the right reasons to end it.

Shea promised me that we would still keep in contact. It worked for a few months. She was a huge fan of romantic gestures and I wanted to give her every single sappy form of it. So we sent each other love letters and pictures. Late-night phone calls and video chats. But, it all became crystal clear to me that it would never work out between us. Given her other passion in life. Law enforcement. So I ended it before she had the chance to crush my heart any further.

I never told Shea who I was. The first rule of fight club is you never talk about fight club. The famous movie quote very much applies to mafia life.

"Hansel! I'm home! Can you come down here for a minute?" I hear my mother call out for me.

Throwing the heart-wrenching remembrances in the box, I shut the closet door. I'll deal with it later.

"Uno momento, Ma. I need to hop in the shower quickly." I holler back.

Cleaning off the last broad who had me as a snack, I get dressed and find my mother cooking away in the kitchen. She graciously kisses my forehead, "Hey, handsome. How was your trip?"

"Business as usual." I tug on my hoodie so my father's earlier comment doesn't get repeated.

Mental note: Borrow some coverup from one of my sisters later...

"I think I got a new club in the works in Miami. Ralph knows his shit. You were right, Ma."

"Oh, good. He and Myles go way back. When we first opened La Rumba, he helped us out tremendously with small details, not even I'd thought of."

"Speaking of our nightclub. I'm going to swing over there after dinner. Felipe said he was coming into town tonight and needed me to meet him there."

"Yes. They're joining us for dinner, as well as Julian and Lexi and their families. The whole clan will be here."

"What's the occasion? Usually, when they're in town, Pops has some serious business to discuss."

"Hey, Hans! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Isabella greets me with a side hug.

"Hey, Bella. Wait, what the hell is that on your hand?" My orifices are glued to a shiny rock sitting on a particular finger. She immediately retracts her hand.

"Something smells delicious, Mrs. Vasquez." Turning around, a strange man with a thick accent comes up behind Isabella, wrapping his arms around her waist, and kisses her cheek.

"Please, call me Aurora, Marcellus. We're practically family."

"What the hell is going on? Are you... Holy shit!" The three of them avoid eye contact, telling me all I need to know.

"Mama, you didn't tell him?" Isabella seems surprised.

"Are you fucking engaged, Bella?" I shout.

"Isabella, why don't you give Marcellus a tour of the house. I'll fill Hansel in on the rest."

Bella and her apparent fiance scurry off...

"What's the deal, Ma? Bella goes off to Rome for a year and comes back engaged? I just talked to her a few weeks ago and she didn't mention anything. She's not pregnant is she?"

"Hans! No, it's nothing like that. Marcellus and Isabella have been together for about a year, and he proposed to her a few months ago. The reason our family is coming over tonight is that their wedding is happening here... This weekend."

Holy fucking shit!

"Do you even know anything about this guy? I'm not okay with my baby sis marrying some Greek God wannabe."

"Exactly why she didn't tell you. Bella knew you'd ask a million questions and snoop into his background and criminal record, which he has a clean one, by the way. Most importantly, he makes her happy, Hans. She's in love. That's all a mother could ever ask for."

The family dinner kicks off with wedding talk. Of course, it's right up my Mom's alley. She lives for this kind of stuff. I'm trying my best to smile and be happy for Isabella, but something seems off about this guy. His perfectly structured face and flawless complexion. It's as if the Gods sculpted him to be the complete mirror image of Apollo.

So fucking annoyingly perfect.

"So what's new with you, Hansel? Any wedding bells in your future?" Uncle Julian inquires.

Laughter engulfs the air around the table.

"Why is that so funny? You all are supposed to be my family. My lack of steady relationships isn't for your laughing pleasure." I take a sip of my flavorful glass of wine.

Ma always has the best wine in the house. Growing up on a vineyard she picked up a thing or two and now distills her own brand. It's called Chateau Mi Amor. She's made quite the name for herself by selling it at our clubs.

"Wow, Mama! This wine is exquisite!"

"Thank you! I'd love to hear your thoughts, Hans. It's a new recipe. You've always had my taste for the finer things in life." She rolls her eyes at Pops.

Thank God I avoided that dreaded matrimonial conversation.

"Come on, Babygirl. I said it tasted like fruit. Wasn't that good enough?"

"Point proven. Your father has no taste for details." Mama patiently awaits my review while I swirl the glass and take another sample.

"My senses are instantly met with the rich, pure aromas of boysenberries, strawberries, and acacia honey drizzled hazelnuts. However, it leaves my taste buds with tangy oranges and peach marmalade."

"That's my boy! See, at least he gets something from me since he's essentially your spitting image, Myles."

"If only he'd put that much effort into his actual life..."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Pops?" There seems to be an awkward silence in the room. Papá nods, and the family clears the table leaving my father and me alone.

"Let's take a walk, Mijo. I got a brand new bottle of scotch out in the pool house we can tap into."

After a few glasses of scotch and delayed words, Papá finally gets to the meaning of his summons...

"Do you feel like I've pushed you into becoming the next mafia king?"

"What? Why would you ask me that? Of course, not."

"It's become clear to me since you graduated high school that you've never had a particular plan for your life like the rest of your siblings. Something changed in you after that friend of yours moved away. Why?"

"Really? I don't want to talk about her, Papá. I have plenty of motivation in life."

"Don't lie to me, Hansel. I'm trying to understand what it is that you want out of life. If it's not your wish to be my heir, then you need to make that loud and clear to me right now. You have cousins who would be more than happy to take your place since Hendrix wants to remain under the radar until he's finished with school."

"You can't be serious? Miguel and Fernando aren't your sons!"

"But they still originate from the Vasquez bloodline. My papa's legacy needs to continue with those who knew him. Felipe and Julian's boys are more than capable of handling things. And frankly, they seem like a much better option because of how you've been choosing to live your life."

Fuck! He sure knows how to lay the guilt on thick.

I gotta fix this.

"I want to honor my family, Pops. I do. I guess my heart hasn't been in it as much as it should be, but I can change. I can do better."

"That's good to hear, son. Because I'm not giving you a choice anymore..."

"What do you mean?"

"You remember the story I told you about your mother's family in Mexico?"

"Of course. I thought we were allies with them?"

"We were, but their king was brutally murdered last week leaving the most ruthless ruler in charge. Salvador Ambriz. It's unclear as to what he's up to but I have my suspicions. Rumor has it there's someone who works in the FBI division in Washington D.C. who can give us classified information about the assassination, but it's not easy to retrieve. It'll go against everything my Papa taught me about tangling with higher powers."

"Okay. I'm not following, Papa. Why do we have to go to those lengths to find out who's behind it?"

"The Ambriz mafia is the deadliest ruthless gang there is. Just when you think you have a one up on them, they advance two steps ahead. Going this route will give us the ace up our sleeve."

"And what is it that they want?"

"What they've always wanted. Blood. Their new king disagrees with the fact that Aurora and I have been coexisting. He's old-fashioned and believes she needs to pay the ultimate price for betraying her family's oaths."

"So the son of a bitch wants to kill Mama?"

"Yes. I can't let that happen. It's been seventeen years since we've heard anything from them, so I'm afraid the evil scheme they've concocted in that long period will be astronomical. I need you to take the reins on this because they've never met you. Every other eligible male in our family they would recognize. It'll be easier to hide your identity given your youth."

"What do you mean to hide my identity? What do you need me to do, Papá?"

"I'm offering you a chance to redeem your loyalty to become my heir. You're going undercover as an FBI agent, or you're out as the next mafia king..."