“Spotless,” Paz replies.
“Who the fuck would take a shot at Louie?” I grunt as I run a hand through my hair.
“No one who will live to tell the story,” Paz says as he taps away at his keyboard. “They got her in surgery.”
“Let me know as soon as she’s out, not a word in front of Evie,” I warn him.
Paz looks up at me. “She’s going to be pissed if you keep this from her, jefe. They seem close.”
“I’m not keeping it from her. I’m waiting until we know the outcome,” I counter. “And get some guys out on the street. I want to know who the fuck is going after our connections.”
Paz nods, and then he’s back on his phone. I leave him to work and go in search of Evie.
“She went upstairs, Emmanuel,” Maria tells me as I pass. So I turn and head up the stairs.
I find Evie sitting on the edge of the bed.Well, that’s an improvement from the floor.
“What happened?” she asks me.
“Why did you come up here?” I say instead of answering.
“You left me in the dining room. I didn’t know what to do.” She lifts a shoulder.
“Evie, you don’t have to stay in this room. You don’t need me to walk around the house. You can go wherever you want,” I tell her.
“There’re a lot of people in this house,” she says. “I can just stay in here.”
“I’ll kick them all out. If they make you uncomfortable, I’ll have them all stay outside, except Maria. We need to eat.” I grin.
“You don’t have to do that. It’s fine. I’m not going to be here long.”
“A week,” I tell her.
“If I agree to thisweek, what happens? What do we do for a whole week?” Evie eyes me suspiciously.
“Talk. We can do whatever you want to do, Evie,” I say, sitting next to her on the bed.
“Talk,” she parrots. “About what? I doubt we have anything in common.”
“How would you know that? Unlesswe talk?”
“You’re a cartel boss from Mexico. I’m a small-town girl with a dress shop. We are not evenremotely close to being compatible for anything but a one-night stand. And since you’re a creep who watches people sleep, that ship has long sailed.” She laughs.
“Good, because I don’t plan on being your one-night stand, mi alma.” I push to my feet and hold out a hand. “Come on, let’s go downstairs.”
Surprisingly, she actually takes it, and I lead her downstairs to one of the living rooms. It’s the one with the most comfortable sofa.
I turn on the television and pass her the remote. “You choose.”
Evie flicks through the channels until she finds some Hallmark movie. I don’t complain. I don’t care what she’s watching. I just need to keep her occupied long enough for Charlotte to come out of surgery. Then I’ll take her to the hospital.
“You’re going to be bored out of your mind and probably fall asleep. But don’t worry, I won’t watch you because I’m not a creep,” Evie tells me.
I settle back onto the sofa. My arm wraps around her shoulder and I pull her body against mine, so her back is resting on my chest. “I don’t care if you creep on me, Evie. Watch me sleep all you want.”
“You’re not a talker, are you? Because that’s going to be a problem. Movies are meant to be enjoyed—quietly,” she says.
“Lips are zipped.” I chuckle.
