[[Until We Become Lions]]

Chapter 91

The next day - midday - Hotel Paraiso.

Today had begun as a far cry from the mornings Evee and Diego had experienced over the past two months. It felt...normal. Well, normal if you ignored the two guards standing watch out in the hall. Even now his father explained little as to why they were present, at least to Evee. One would still need an access key to reach the penthouse through the elevator. The guard's presence meant his father's evening did not go as planned, which was exactly why Diego felt so on edge.

Evee and Diego were hanging out in his room, which had been moved to the upper floor without his prior knowledge. Another security measure probably. After they had sealed the other tunnels, it meant his father's escape tunnel, which was hidden in his personal surveillance room, remained the only viable option in the case of an emergency.

"How about this one, have you seen this one?"

Evee held up one of her many movies to him. Diego, standing by the window, absently shook his head. His father had reinstated Evee's privileges which meant she had been given back her music and movie collection. While Evee did not show the level of enthusiasm one could have expected from her two years prior, Diego knew by the way she cradled each tape with care, she was glad to have her belongings back. A reminder of simpler times.

As Evee rummaged through the selection on Diego's floor, Diego looked out the window. Yesterday had been the one clear day they had since the beginning of the week, and already the storm clouds had begun to sweep back in. It felt suffocating. Unnerving. Much like how he felt standing in his father's office the day he had called upon the children to speak with them individually.

"Is something wrong papa?"

Something must be wrong for him to call off the wedding. Something had happened. An unforeseen circumstance. This wedding was the only insurance Diego had for Evee's safety - and now it had been taken from him.

"No, no, in fact, things could not be better."

His Papa looked at peace, like all the pieces of a puzzle had suddenly fallen into place. As far as Diego knew, that could never amount to anything good. So what his father told him, went beyond any logical reason.

"Danijela is alive. And she is home."

Diego's jaw went slack, "W-what?" He exhaled with disbelief, "That's-how? When?" His mind was doing laps. He was over the moon with this news. That could mean...

"Is Amaia...?"

The name drop completely changed the structure of his father's face. Anton's jowls deepened as he looked disappointedly at his son. Diego took that look as an answer to his question. What didn't answer his question was why Evee had not mentioned anything when she came out of the office.

"...She doesn't know." Diego said somberly, "You didn't tell her."

"No, I did not." His father confirmed, "Do you know why?"

Diego shook his head. Anton smirked and walked over to his desk. He opened a drawer, looking for something.

"Evee is now a Castillo. Even without the title of marriage. But, unfortunately, because of recent findings, Danijela is not. At least not yet."

Diego shifted from one foot to the other, growing increasingly uncomfortable where this was headed.

"I don't understand." Diego said, "Where has she been this whole time?"

Anton smiled at his son, "That's the question isn't it? Where has our Danijela been this entire time?"

His father stepped away from the desk, holding what he had been searching for. Diego's blood ran cold. His father began to approach him with the object in hand.