Disclaimer: I do not own anyone, all events are fictional.

Truth in Columbia….

Carly arrived at Antonio's home six days ago, the place was basically a fortress. It had 10 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, the grounds were highly guarded, it was beyond anything Carly had ever seen. Her mind was all a buzz with thoughts of Hunter and her Mother. Hunter has tried numerous times to contact Carly, but she wasn't ready to talk to him, in all honesty, she didn't know what to say to him. Antonio has kept the conversation light, he wanted to hear about her first. Today was the day of truth for Carly, she was going to hear his story. She went downstairs and knocked on the study door, which Antonio began his day. "May I come in?" She poked her face in.

"Of course. Did you sleep well?" Antonio stood and attempted to hug her. Carly embraced it a little, but she was still guarded.

"I slept okay, but I thought we could really talk today. I want to hear what you have to say, that is why I came."

Antonio guided her to the couch. "Your right. I have been playing this all in my head, but now…." He trailed off.

"Please, just be honest, that is all I want. No more lies." Carly was open for anything, she had no illusions, she could tell by his home and body guards.

"Well, your mother and I met at the Foxy Lady. She was a cocktail waitress and I had dealings with Ric. Things were so different back then. You see Ric was dating your Aunt Selena, she was a dancer there." Antonio could see the shock in Carly's face. "Are you sure you want to know everything?"

"Yes. I never knew my Mother was a cocktail waitress there, and she never speaks of Aunt Selena. All Mom will say is she died in a tragic accident, and she was only 19 when she died."

"Your Mother did more than work at the Foxy Lady, she ran shipments from the states to here for me, it was a nice setup, but your Mother became angry with me after your Aunt's accident. You see your Aunt and Ric were out driving around under the influence, and your Aunt lost control of the car. Your Mother blames Ric for introducing her to his life. Your mother wanted me to get rid of Ric to avenge Selena's death, I refused. They were both high, and Selena was old enough to make her own choices. Ric and I were in business together, I couldn't put a hit on him. Your Mother felt I was weak and turning my back on her, so she left me."

Carly was furious, she couldn't believe all the times her Mother had talk down to Hunter, and she was a part of this kind of life. "Why didn't you come for me, or tell me?"

"I didn't know Sofia was pregnant. I had huge problems here, I spent a few years in prison. Sofia would never answer my calls or letters. I gave up on her, which was the biggest mistake of my life because I missed out on your life. Had I known she was pregnant with my child, I would have done anything to be in your life. Anything." Antonio had tears in his eyes.

Carly wiped the tears falling down his cheek. "I don't know what to say. My life would be so different."

"I want to be in your life now, as your Father. I know it will take time, but I promise I will do everything in my power to work at it."

"Your life is different than mine. How do you cope with all of this? Aren't you afraid of being killed or going back to prison?"

"When I was a boy, there were not many options. I knew I wanted a better life than what my parents had." He cupped her face. "I will never let anything happen to you. Believe me, my power and reach is global, no one will hurt you."

Carly looked into his eyes. "I want to try, but it will take time. I need to figure out who I am now. Everything I knew was a lie. I just can't understand how Mom could not tell me the truth."

"Like I said, your Mother was angry with me."

Carly wiped her tears. "Did Hunter know about me?"

Antonio stood up and walked across the room, he really didn't know how long Hunter has known. "Yes. I approached him at the club a few days before I showed up at your home. He didn't want to hurt you. I feel he truly loves you. I offered him a deal and he refused it, his only concern was for you. That says a lot, because if he had taken my offer, I would have ended his life right there."

Carly was surprised at Antonio's bluntness, but felt relieved he was being truthful. "What kind of offer?"

"Sweetheart, look around. I offered him a partnership. You are my only heir, he could have solidified a very powerful move." Antonio studied her face, he knew he would have to be more detailed. "You see most Gringos would give their left arm to be part of my Cartel. Hunter could surpass Ric, he could be the sole person in control in the Northeast on what the Americans call The Organization, hell it would open doors for him globally. But he refused because he didn't want you to be hurt. That speaks volumes about his character."

Carly did not expect that. "So he flat out refused, but he still should have told me."

Antonio smiled, he knew his daughter loves this man. "Yes. You shouldn't be mad at him. The person who should have spoken up was Sofia. You still love him, I can see it. Don't let this stop you from marrying him. I don't want to be the cause of your heartache."

"I do love him, but Hunter has a tendency to keep things away from me. I don't mean cheating, but things that affect me."

"He is protecting you, I would expect nothing less. This is a tough business, he wants to keep you safe. Sweetheart I speak truth."

"I guess, but I need to let everything sink in. I want to know more about you and my family." Carly smiled.

"That is all I can ask for. Maybe tomorrow I can show you the village where I grew up? Today I have business in town, I will have some guards here for you, but stay close to house." He kissed her on the head as he left.


Several hours later…

Carly decided to take a walk on the grounds, she was pulled away from her thoughts by the guards yelling. She turned and saw Hunter and a guard arguing. She ran up to the two. "El Suelta a entregar ahora" (unhand hand him now). The guard let Hunter go, but he studied his face and said "estaré por aquí" (i will be right over here). Carly pulled Hunter by the arm. "What the hell is wrong with you, he could have been shot you?"

"You wouldn't return my calls, so I had to come here." Hunter looked terrible, he hasn't slept or eaten in days.

"I didn't return your calls because there is nothing to say."

"You don't mean that. I know things are screwed up, but we still love each other." Hunter tried to reach for her arm, but Carly backed away from him.

"I can't talk about this now. You need to go home." Carly turned her back to him, she didn't want to look him in the eyes.

Hunter turned her around. "You can't even look at me. Everything that has gone down is because I love you. I didn't ask for Antonio to be your dad, and I know you didn't either, but Sofia should have told you."

"You should have told me the minute Antonio stepped foot in your club and told you the truth."

Hunter was relieved Antonio covered for him. "I know, you're right. Everything happened so fast, and I panicked. You know I would do anything for you. Please come home."

Just as Hunter was about to kiss her gun shots went off around them and the guard standing behind them fell dead. Hunter immediately threw himself on top of Carly. "Stay down!" Hunter pulled his gun out. Carly's heart was beating a mile a minute. "What is happening?" Hunter pulled her up and they ran a short distance to a protective area. Bullets were flying everywhere. "Carly run to the house." Carly hid behind Hunter. "I'm not leaving you." Hunter frowned. "Dammit Carly do what I tell you to." Hunter talking as he is firing, he managed to hit one of the gunmen. He pushed Carly out of the way, and he stumbled, a bullet nicked his shoulder. "Fuck." Carly ran back to him. "I can't leave you, I won't leave you." Carly started to look at the wound. Blood was now running down his arm. "Baby please just go, I'll be okay." Hunter knew he was losing blood. Carly looked to the fallen body guard and pointed. "Hunter look, his rifle, I can make it, we need another weapon." Hunter took notice, he knew they needed it. "I can't let you do that, take my gun, I'll get it." He handed her his gun and kissed her on the forehead. He ran to the rifle, and a gunmen came from behind a bush. "HUNTER BEHIND YOU!" Hunter reacted quickly and football tackled him, but his strength in his arm was weak. The two scuffled for dominance. "HUNTER!" Carly could see he was struggling, she watched the two in horror and once the gunmen was on top of Hunter, you heard a bang from her direction. She fired off three shots. "HUNTER!" She ran to him. "Are you okay?" She felt his face. Hunter was in shock she fired the gun. "Come on, we need to get the fuck out of here now." Hunter grabbed the dead gunmen's gun, Carly led the two of them back to the main house. She was shaking badly, but hugged Hunter once they were inside. "Are you okay?" She slowly helped in out of his jacket. "Oh God, you are bleeding badly." Hunter leaned on her. "I'll be okay, it didn't go all the way through, give me that gun." Hunter was pissed off she had to take the shot. "Princess you can't say a word about this, if anyone ask, I did it. YOU HEAR ME ON THIS." Carly shook her head yes, she led him upstairs to her bedroom. The guards inside locked the mansion down and went for medical assistant. "Just sit down." Carly unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. She went for a clean towel and applied pressure to the wound. "Shit Carly that hurts." Carly arched her eyebrow. "It will slow down the bleeding." Hunter took her hand in his. "Thank you." Carly looked in his eyes, she was so grateful he wasn't killed. "You're welcome." Hunter leaned into her and kissed her slowly, Carly parted her lips to allow his tongue entrance into her mouth. Soon they were interlocked into a passionate kiss. Carly began to whimper and pulled back. "You could have been killed." Hunter stroked her face with his good hand. "I didn't because of you. I love you and you love me." He leaned back into her and kissed her again. The door flew open with the doctor on foot. "I need you step out Senorita Mariachi." Carly kissed Hunter one more time. "I'll be right outside." Hunter squeezed her hand and watched her leave the room.

TBC….The next chapter will be steamy...Please give feedback…Thank you