[[Until We Become Lions]]

Chapter 67

Little Dani. Little Dani had grown into a fine young woman. He could scarcely believe she had given herself up to him. But he wasn't going to object to the sight of a beautiful woman. Juan Cortez had always exhumed a very charismatic persona when need be, and it was particularly useful when trying to topple governments in foreign nations. All you had to do was find a lonely housewife whose husband was second hand to the army general and she'd sing like a canary if you moved your tongue in the right direction. If you had known Juan Cortez during that time, you'd think that that was what he was doing now.

Danijela's history with Anton would have been a shoo-in to taking out the snake once and for all. But Clara had made it clear from the beginning that they would not use Danijela in such a way. It would undermine the trust, and they would lose a fine guerilla who could then turn all of Anton's FND forces in their direction.

Juan would admit the idea has passed by like driving down the street and seeing a billboard for male-enhancement pills. A little mental note of I should look more into that later until you get home and completely lose the thought altogether.

But he could never bring himself to do that to Evimer's daughter. Evimer had already felt manipulated enough by Espinosa. By Castillo. Danijela was on the same pathway already, meeting her first turn at betrayal when the hard truths of Anton had begun to come out. He felt obligated to steer her away from the other dangers that could seek to manipulate her, but she had her own volitions and had to make her own mistakes as well. Try as he might, he could not protect all of the Casado women to the extent he wanted. Not Evimer. Not Danijela. Not-

He ducked as a book came flying at his head on the approach back to his little paradise. Guapo stirred to the side avoiding the impact and took cover in the underbrush around them. Juan paused to see Danijela storming towards him.

Shit . The journal.

Now she decides to read it , he thought.

" You're Evee's papa ?" Danijela hollered, pushing him back with both hands, "You're Evee's father and you still let me fuck you?"

Juan ducked as she threw a punch at him.

"Little Dani, listen to me-"

"Is this a fucking sick joke to you?" She screamed.

Another punch. Juan pushed her hand away before it could connect with his face, but her hits came in like a flurry. He called her name out multiple times but she wouldn't stop until she landed a few good hits on him. Juan pushed her off him just long enough to sock her in the stomach. It was a cheap move, and he regretted it the moment he sent his hand in motion. Danijela belted over, grasping at her abdomen. Her hand moved quickly as he went to grab her to restrain her, but her hand made it to his belt and back. She rose up, one hand nursing her abdomen and the other with his own gun pointed at him.

Juan raised his hands to the air as he looked at her. He could disarm her easily, but she already saw him as a threat. A traitor. A manipulator.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Danijela pleaded.

Her voice was conjoined with a younger version of herself. The part of her she couldn't get rid of no matter how many throats she slit or bad men she beat to a pulp. She was hurt and scared. At this moment, he felt no better than Castillo. Slowly he lowered his hands and watched as she lowered the gun. Danijela looked at the weapon, looking horrified at the possibility of what she could have done.

"Juan I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay Little Dani. Just put the gun down." He coaxed.

She did, placing it between them like a white flag of truce. Juan picked up the gun and Danijela began to walk away.

"Dani, where are you going?"

She was already over by the equipment he had brought from Libertad HQ. She rifled through it, shoving grenades and throwing knives into her backpack, anything small and portable.

"I'm going as far from you as possible. Go back to Clara and tell her I don't need you watching me."

Juan huffed, "Dani you're not listening. I didn't have a choice."

Danijela shot up and glared at him.

"You didn't have a choice if you wanted to tell me that you and my mama had a child together?" Her voice broke into sarcastic laughter, "Juan Cortez, father of the year. You and Castillo are more alike than I thought."

"Evimer and I made an agreement." He replied, "She wanted the child to pass onto you. And she made me promise I would never go anywhere near Evee. Made me swear that I would never tell her the truth about her papa ."

Danijela scoffed, "Why would she make you promise that?"

"Your mother was two steps ahead of everything whether you realize it or not." Juan said, "She knew you would end up dead before you ever saw your twenty-first birthday. Either by your own hand, someone you pissed off, or just the eventuality that Castillo would get you."

Danijela's defenses began to drop as her face softened. Juan continued.

"She knew you needed something to anchor yourself to. Something to give you the drive to fight for your life each and every day so that maybe one day you could succeed where she and Libertad have failed to do so far, or at least get off this island with Evee and yourself alive."

"No, I read that part." Danijela said, "She thought she was doing me a favor, right? You all orchestrated this so...what? I'd live long enough to do what you all can't do? Kill Castillo?"

Juan's lip twitched slightly, "Your words. Not mine."

"Of course. Well here's a favor you can do for me. Don't fucking talk to me. Don't look at me, and tell Clara I'm killing Jose Castillo. But I'm not killing Anton."

Juan ran his tongue over his teeth from under his lips. He then began to shake his head.

"You may not have a choice, Little Dani."

Danijela glared and shrugged her shoulders and with words as sharp as knives she cut straight to the bone and nestled her way into his heart forever.

"There is always a choice Juan. Maybe once you find your cojones , you can begin making your own."

Juan smiled, "I'll let you know when I do."