Javier cupped Bowie’s face. “You never have to say please.”
“Tonight. Okay?”
Christ.“Yeah. Okay. But if you start to panic…even a little…we stop. You’re not going to ‘power through it.’”
Bowie seemed relieved. “I promise.”
Javier laughed. “Now I’m the one with the awkward hard-on,” he said, kissing Bowie’s forehead.
He was almost out the door when Bowie said again, “Javi?”
Javier gave an exasperated laugh, looking back at him. “Yes, angel?”
“Tonight, will you talk to me in Spanish?”
Javier grinned, turning to back Bowie up against the wall. “You like that, huh?”
Bowie bit his lower lip, nodding. “A lot.”
Javier kissed him deep, no longer interested in seeing histíoor letting Bowie go shopping. But he forced himself to step away. “Yeah, anything you want,mi ángel.”
* * *
Javier found histíoin his office, sitting behind his large mahogany desk, feet up, chair reclined. He put a finger to his lips and pointed to the phone on his desk. “It’s a dangerous business, my friend,” he told the man on the phone in Spanish. “People get hurt.”
“People tend to get hurt specifically when they cross you,” the person snarled. “Are you telling me that’s a coincidence?”
Histíowaved a hand. “Yes. What can I say? I have luck on my side. Always have. But maybe you tell your men to watch where they stick their guns if they’d like to keep purchasing them from me.”
Histíodisconnected before the man could respond. He stood and walked around the desk, embracing Javier. “It’s good to see you again, my boy. And so soon. You brought your friend with you this time?”
“Yes. ButTíaSylvia stole him to go shopping.”
“That woman is going to be the death of me…or, at least, my bank account. Her shoe addiction is the reason I can’t retire.”
“The reason you can’t retire is because you can’t bear to turn over the business to somebody else.”
“Eh,” he waved a hand. “When Miguel is old enough, then I’ll retire.”
“When will he be old enough?” Javier countered.
“When he’s forty.”
Javier laughed. “That’s what I thought. You’re going to die in that chair, old man.”
“And what about you? How is the…situation with your friend?”
Javier shook his head. “Not great. Turns out the problem I thought I solved has multiplied.”
“Is that why you came home? I’ve never known you to run from a problem.”
“The man who hurt Bowie is dead, but his father wants revenge. His father has diplomatic immunity. Where’s the one place diplomatic immunity means nothing?” Javier explained.
“Ah, I see. So, you’re hoping this problem follows you to Mexico so you can solve it once and for all.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s my boy. Nobody crosses our family without penalty. My resources are available to you. You know that.”
