“Ajefein Boston.”
I watch for Jorge’s response. A muscle in his jaw ticks. He must know exactly who this man refers to.
“So, it was Felipe Iglesias.”
There’s a gagging sound for a moment then Manuel’s voice drifts to me.
“I don’t know whyel jefewantsSeñoritaAguilar. I’m not high enough in the organization to ask those types of questions. I say ‘Sí,jefe’ and do what I’m told.”
“Get your phone out. Unlock it. Call Felipe on speakerphone. Tell him the job is done.”
There was a lull for a moment while I assume Manuel dialed. Now I hear the phone ringing.
“¡¿Qué tal, pendejo?!” What’s up, asshole?
I know, given the context,pendejocan be an insult or a casual term between friends. Seems it’s the latter. Manuel being on such friendly terms with Felipe won’t be good for his health.
“Jefe, the job is done. We haveSeñoritaAguilar, and she’s spoken toel hombre. He told her he’s keeping her safe, that Pablo knows no harm will come to her.”
The man. I guess Manuel doesn’t even know the name of the guy I spoke to.
“Did theputabelieve you?” Bitch.
I cringe. This man in Boston won’t be alive much longer. Adding profanity to his list of crimes against me won’t endear him to Pablo.
“Yeah, she hasn’t put up any arguments. She asked to speak toEl Tigre, but no one’s allowed her near a phone except for that one call.”
“Bueno, you’re to meetel hombreat the warehouse. You remember the address, right?”
“Sí, lo sé.” Yes, I know.
“Then hand her off to him and collect the money. Come straight back to Boston.”
“Sí, jefe. I’ll call you again when we’re on our way.”
“Bueno.”
It gets quiet again until I hear Pablo’s voice, so the call must have ended.
“End them. I’m takingSeñoritaAguilar home.”
The muted gunshots still ring in my ears. They sound so loud within the house, but there’ve been no sirens approaching, so the silencers clearly work. The neighbors haven’t called the cops.
Jorge ushers me out of the bedroom and toward the front door.Tres J’sencircle me, keeping me from seeing what happened. As we head outside, I hear Pablo giving orders to pull SUVs into the garage and to take the bodies, that his men know where to dispose of them.
It’s not until I’m in his arms again in the SUV that my heart stops pounding. We finally have a proper kiss, and it’s like he breathes life back into me. The other men are in the vehicle with us, so we keep it pretty tame. Pablo’s gaze runs over me, and I place my hand on his heart.
“I’m okay, I swear. Other than the one slap and pulling my hair, really nothing else happened to me.”
“How can you say that when I know you got tased?”
“I did, but other than my body still aching, I don’t think anything adverse happened from that.”
I feel like utter shit and have the entire time, but allowing myself to consider that wouldn’t make my situation any better. While I was alone with those men, I needed to be as attentive as I could be. Now that Pablo’s here, I feel like the weight of the world has lifted from my shoulders, that his are broad enough to handle everything. I rest my head against his chest, and he wraps his arms around me.
I know if we were in a town car alone with the privacy glass up, I’d be sitting on his lap. Hell, I’d be sitting on his dick right now. His hands run up and down my back and over my arm as he continues to hold me. He keeps his voice down, but I’m certain Javier and Joaquin can probably hear him since they’re sitting behind us.
“Chiquita, I’m taking you to my parents’ house. Then I have to leave.”
