“Damn straight I am.” Eva punctuated the statement with a flick of her switchblade.
“Headley recorded his ‘encounter’ with my niece and attempted to use it as leverage. I can only assume fear and distance stopped her from approaching me for help,” Martinez continued, rubbing his eyes like he could rub his fatigue away.
If there was anything I could understand, it was that.
Guilt made for an exhausted bedfellow.
“Leverage on what?”
“Access to some patients’ medical files.”
Brows high, I inquired, “You were living in Ecuador when this went down, right?”
At his nod, I toyed with the wrapper of my cupcake. “How do you know any of this then?”
“A little bird told me,” was all he said, ignoring my unimpressed look at such an insipid answer. “She feared that I’d shame her for losing her virginity to such a rodent.” When his jaw grew tight, I empathized with his pain. “I’ll regret that for the rest of my life.
“Then, it came to my attention that she’d hired someone to ‘deal’ with Damian Headley. However, his last known sighting was atRussuand I investigated further. I suspected you were behind his disappearance, but thank you for confirming it. As I said, one good turn deserves another.”
“What does that have to do with the Frasier sisters? Or is this because Kitty knew Beatriz?”
“That was the hand of fate. It spared her tonight. What was supposed to be an assassination turned into an explosion that took out half the street.” His lips twisted at my look of disbelief. “Don’t believe me? Destiny has more control over us than we know.”
“Does it?”
“You’re Sicilian, Custanzu. Much as I’m Mexican.”
“Thought you were born in America?” I derided.
“I’m Mexican,” he stated, tone like steel. “And we know, deep in our bones, that there’s more to this world than they’d have us believe. Your people are as superstitious as ours?—”
“I’m a man of science.”
“Science?” He scoffed. “What is science when love comes into play? Love steers us. It’s why you created Red. It’s why you work on Vangelin?—”
I snapped to attention. “How do you know that fucking name?”
“Sound travels. I heard most of your… interactions with our houseguest.”
Eva tsked.
But my eyes flared. “You hold anything you heard against us and the Sicilians know how to put pitbulls down. Even if they’re rabid.”
Martinez held up a hand when Eva snarled. “Further proof you were right,querida. The Capo has found his angel.”
I froze.
Those six words dug into me, tunneled out flesh and bone, replacing them with ice.
But he was staring at me in consternation as I choked on air. “Stan?”
“Why would you call her that?”
Martinez, still perplexed, frowned. I saw him glance at his wife, who surprised me by dumping a water bottle on my lap.
“We mean her no harm, fuckface. Just like you mean me no harm. You fucking men are idiots. Threaten me again and you won’t have to worry about him. I’ll slice your throat from ear to ear myself.”
Maybe it made sense that only she could reassure me.
