“They are a Mexican Cartel who settled in Texas but aren’t happy remaining there. They’re more inclined to the festive atmosphere of New Orleans. You know me well enough to realize I can’t allow that to happen. Neither will any of my family members.” Thoughts continued to swim in my mind about a possible connection with Santos and Marcus Jeffries. But there were other players I’d need to consider such as my old buddy Greg and even Mark Zuckerman, who could have been a plant inside the restaurant, a lookout.
The possibilities were endless.
“So you’re going to hunt them down.” At least the defiance in her voice had returned.
The way she was searching my eyes was direct, her question uncomplicated. She deserved an honest answer. “Yes, I am. Until it’s done.”
“When will it ever end for you?”
“That’s the issue. It never will unless we make it happen.”
“No wonder you’re so lonely and can’t live any kind of normal life.” With her fingers caressing my chest through my shirt, the same sense of strong desire replaced the earlier tension.
But this wasn’t the time or place.
Her fingers trailed to the tattoo on my arm of my German Shepherd. “Who was she?”
“How do you know she was a girl?”
She laughed. “Because I’m starting to get to know you whether you deem it acceptable or not.”
“Her name was Sadie. I had her for only a couple years. She was always with me. Never left my side.”
“She’s beautiful. What happened to her?”
I took her hand into mine, bringing her fingertips to my mouth. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had asked me about her. “She was killed.”
Josette sighed. “During something like what just happened?”
When I didn’t answer right away, she changed the hold I had on her hand to hers grasping mine, mimicking my actions by rolling my knuckles across her lips.
“Yes, Josette. She was with me during another attack and when Sadie tried to protect me, one of the bastards shot her.”
“I’m so sorry. That’s just so… horrible.”
I could read her mind. And so much like the life I couldn’t walk away from.
“You thought I didn’t understand pain. I understand it better than you think. Am I lonely? At times, but now you can see why it’s necessary for me to remain that way. I want this over as strongly as you do and when it is, I’ll uphold my promise to release you. Until then, maybe now you can understand my concern and the reason you must follow my rules.”
She nodded and released my hand. “Just remember Sadie when you hunt these men down. Revenge won’t bring her back. But your dedication to her shows you have a genuine capacity for love.”
The ability to love had been ripped from me years before.
“Don’t worry, baby. That’s one of several things I will be thinking about. Just remember not to try and defy me. You’re safe as long as you remain under my roof.”
“Where would I go at this point? My business is closed. My only real friend has no way of getting ahold of me. Crazy bikers want me as a snack.”
I bristled as soon as she mentioned the last words. Had the bastard said something to her? Right now, I doubt she’d feel comfortable enough sharing a damn thing with me. Why the hell should she after our interactions? To her, I was nothing but a monster in a fancy suit. Although I’d seen the look in her eyes, the shift and the growing connection we shared. It was all about her being able to trust me.
As always, there was both electricity and awkwardness between us. The lack of trust was obvious and understandable. No matter how many rules I imposed, forcing her to act in a certain way or keeping her locked in my house wasn’t sustainable.
That meant I’d need to show some sense of honor, or she’d never feel comfortable in confiding in me. “How long have you owned Indiana?”
She seemed surprised at my question, the fire in her eyes I thought gone forever making a brief appearance. “Almost four years. He’s my special boy. He had an owner who died and the woman’s children refused to take him, dumping him at a kill shelter. I found him on the day he was going to be euthanized. You know, I just don’t understand people. Indy was so lost, refusing to eat, cowering in his cage. The people at the sheltersaid I was the first person that Indy had reacted to. We spent two hours together on the floor and the bond was… amazing.”
“Did you change his name or was he always a movie star?”
“Yep. His original name was Rufus, but I knew he was going to be my hero, so he needed an appropriate name. It was my favorite movie as a kid, so the name just fit. Didn’t it, baby?” A little of her melodrama had returned, the brief visit something I wanted to see more of.
