“Of course, little one. Sleep as long as you want. I’m going to call my uncles with the guys. I’ll come and check on you when we’re done.”
“All right, I’ll see you in a little bit.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jorge
I’m glad Liesel heads upstairs, so I can talk to my family. I know what I just whispered to Liesel, but I need Alejandro and Joaquin to be a little less obvious.
“I know she appreciates you saying she’s part of the family, and that means a ton to me, but we haven’t discussed anything that far into the future.”
“You’re calling her ‘chiquita.’ You’ve never called any woman that.”
“I know, Joaquin.”
In my family, that’s become a sure sign you’ve found the woman you’re meant to be with. None of us have called a romantic or sexual partner that before, but it seems to be a common theme. I’ve heard mytíoEnrique call mytíaElle that. My next older brother, Javier, calls his wife, Madeline,chiquitaandchica. So does my oldest cousin, Pablo, with his wife, Florencia.
“It just slipped out the first time, but it felt so right, I haven’t stopped myself. But seriously, you need to lay off with it. She just broke up with her boyfriend yesterday.”
Considering what she and I have done in the last twenty-four hours, it would look like rebound sex to most people. It could have been a casual hookup, but she and I know it’s far more than that.
“Do you want to use one of your phones or mine to call the others? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“We can use mine.”
Joaquin’s interrupted again by a knock on the door. All three of us draw our guns as I walk toward it. I turn back and look at them with a nod as I holster my weapon. I open the door to Hisham.
“I didn’t want to discuss what I’ve learned over the phone or via text or email. I’ve used all the channels I have access to, to learn more about your situation, Jorge.”
He certainly doesn’t mince words. The four of us move into the living room.
“Hisham, thank you for everything you’re doing. Not just reaching out to your contacts, but providing two homes for us to stay in. You and Noor have always been dear to my brothers, my cousins, and me. I know you’re doing this forMamájust as much as you are for me. We all appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. You and your brothers are like our nephews. And your cousins are nearly as close to us as that.”
He smiles at Joaquin and Alejandro as he speaks. We sit in the living room, and I mentally prepare myself for whatever’s about to come. Hisham doesn’t prevaricate but launches straight into the intel.
“Clyde’s doing some fucked-up deals that’re probably the reason his brother got kidnapped.”
“How fucked-up?”
Joaquin scowls as he speaks. My mannerisms are so similar that my expression mirrors his. Alejandro’s eyebrows shoot straight up. I don’t know if it’s nature or nurture that mybrothers and I have so many similar mannerisms, but it’s genetically fascinating to watch Alejandro. He looks the most likeTíoEnrique, but his mannerisms and speech pattern are just like his father. The Diaz genes run strong through all of us. We all favor that side of the family more than we do any of our others.
Alejandro expresses the same doubts that I have. “I can’t believe Clyde would have anything to do with his brother’s disappearance. Do you think he’s responsible?”
Hisham’s eyebrow twitches as he leans back in his seat. “He’s negotiating some shifty-ass backdoor deals that’ll get him killed and may have already signed his brother’s death warrant. I haven’t figured out who but there’s money moving between Latin America and Asia. I suspect he’s getting help from someone powerful enough to hide this from you until now. I’ll keep looking into this. I have a few more strings I think I can pull. I’ll give you an update as soon as I can, probably by mid-morning.”
He means a rival in NYC. We can try to hide shit from one another, but nothing stays secret forever.
As we all rise, he reassures us he can let himself out. Joaquin, Alejandro, and I take our seats again. We’re all mulling over the news in our heads. I glance at the mantle clock. It’s only been thirty minutes, but I hear Liesel coming down the stairs. I go to meet her.
“Is there something wrong, little one?”
“No. To be honest, I don’t think I can fall asleep because I’m starving.”
We haven’t had breakfast, and it’s approaching lunchtime.
“I know I’m hungry as well.”
