“Without your parents, Althea? Really? What have we done to offend you so that you would deny us this moment to share with you?”
“It’s not like that, Mama. I’m calling you now. I want you here.” Vella’s brows shoot up and her eyes grow wide. I raise my hand to keep her silenced.
“Trust me,” I mouth silently.
“The enforcer left town with his woman, and the cartel is on a warpath.” Mama sounds confused and displeased. I have no idea what she’s talking about. I’d love to ask, but one battle at a time.
She probably sees Enzo’s act as being careless and disrespectful. To my surprise, she laughs. “Well, he must be in love to abandon his post to protect his bride-to-be.”
He what?
Oh, wait. I guess it’s good that she feels that way. Vella hears Mama and smiles, giving me an approving nod.
“I know it’s sudden, but we don’t want to wait,” I’m rambling now.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Mama replies. “Listen, Althea. I need to reach your father before he does somethingdrastic. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you. Bye.”
I’m staring at the buzzing phone in my hand, dumbfounded. “She hung up.”
Vella smiles. “Well, now that we have that out of the way. Let’s go find you a dress, and I’ll need to add a few extra seats forthe dinner.” I look at Vella, puzzled. “You told your mother you wanted them here. And I’m almost certain she’s going to make that happen.”
Oh shit. I have to warn Enzo.
30
ENZO
When Hex follows everyone into the office, I slam my palm into his chest to halt his progress. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Hex smiles at me. “I hear you’re getting married in a couple of days.” When I don’t respond, he leans in just a little and adds, “You know, I helped you two find each other. You think you could put that in your thank-you speech after the ceremony?”
“I think you’ve been smoking too many of those herbs you use in your fortune teller parlor tricks. You might want to ease up a bit.” Hex lets out a loud, boisterous laugh. “Why is he here again?” My question is directed at Naz.
“He pissed off Soul.”
“What did you do?” I ask, hoping I can find a way to make amends and ship his ass back home.
Hex shrugs. “I was flirting with his woman.” My eyes narrow, and the palm on his chest grips his shirt firmly. Both of Hex’s hands go up in a placating manner while his smile continues to widen playfully. “Someone needed to show him he was being an idiot and help him get his head out of his ass.” Another shouldershrug. “He’s mad, but once he gets his woman back, he’ll be fine, and all will be forgiven. It’s not like I fucked her or anything.”
A low, vibrating growl rumbles up my chest. Hex’s eyes meet mine, the crystalline color flickering with silver, like storm clouds rolling in the center. I drop his shirt and step back.
The fuck was that?
Hex straightens his shirt. “I actually came to tell you I have something for you in my bag, but it looks like we have other business to discuss first.” He tips his chin to Naz, who’s watching our interaction.
“He can stay,” Naz allows. “We may need his help anyway. Daemon’s too. Although,” Nazario addresses Daemon directly. “I don’t know how much of this you’re going to understand or be willing to accept. You didn’t seem to remember Althea or the family you lost as a boy back there.”
Daemon leans his back against the wall, crossing his arms and ankles, and shrugs. “I don’t remember much about my childhood except that it was shit, and I was happy when Edward finally told me Eliseo was coming to take me away. It gave me something to look forward to, away from here.”
“Edward?” I ask, the name not sounding familiar or ringing any bells.
“Yeah.” Daemon’s brow furrows. “He was the guy who raised me, I guess you could say.” He stands up. “I mean, I didn’t have parents in the traditional sense, but Edward would come visit me every day. Made sure on the days I wasn’t in the hole, that I ate all my food and helped me with my studies when I struggled. He was like a groundskeeper or something, I think. He didn’t stay on campus, but he was always there.”
“The hole?” Nazario asks.
“It’s like a closet. There are no windows and only one door that locks from the outside.” He shrugs. “Whenever I pissed off the principal, that’s where I spent the night. They isolate youand leave you with no food or place to piss.” Another shrug. “It sucked. But I survived.”
Naz makes eye contact with Eliseo, who pulls out his phone and shoots off a text. Probably to find out if that shit is still happening and put a stop to it if it is.
