“You call Mom and Dad?”
“Not yet. I’ll wait until I get home. If I call now she’ll be on the first flight out here.”
He nods. “She’ll be pissed when she finds out later.”
“I’ll deal with it. I got other shit to worry about. I’m taking her back to Pop’s with me.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” he asks, eyeing me.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, for starters, she’s the drug lord’s stolen daughter.”
“Dead drug lord.”
“You really want to get technical right now? Not to mention, she’s only nineteen.”
“What does her age have to do with it?”
“Nothing. Listen, I just think you need to take a step back and look at this. You really have no idea the trauma she has been through and how much help she will need. Hell, you need all the help you can get right now, too. I just think you should tread carefully.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I snap, my patience wearing thin.
I see his point but I don’t care either. She needs help, and I want to be the one to give it to her.
Reid stands up. “I’m just looking out for you, brother. Let me know when they release you.”
I nod then he turns to leave.
Once the door shuts, the bathroom door opens. “Is everything okay?” she asks. Her dark hair hangs loosely around her shoulders, damp from the shower.
“Yeah, why?”
“I thought I heard someone in here and you sounded upset.”
“Reid stopped by, brother shit.”
She nods.
“I always wanted a brother or a sister,” she says sadly, sitting down in the chair next to me. “Is he your only sibling?”
I shake my head. “Hardly, I have five brothers and a pain in the ass sister.”
Selena beams, her smile making the room brighter. “I would love to hear about them.” She tucks her feet into the chair next to me, leaning in closer.
Goddamn, that voice, soft and sweet, her sexy Spanish accent curling around every word. Her eyes are locked firmly on mine, and I suck back a shot of air, clenching the sheet covering me. I know I should listen to my brother. I should be careful with her, not only because of what she’s been through but because she’s so young and vulnerable, and far too pure for the likes of me, but I can’t let her go.
And something in my chest tells me I never will.
Justin’s grandfather is exactly how he described. Head and beard full of salt and pepper hair, stubborn, smart, and cusses like a sailor. I can tell right away how much he loves his grandson. As soon as he sees him at the airport, he wraps his arms around him so tight it causes Justin to grunt.
“Easy, Pop. I was shot, remember?”
“Yeah, but you ain’t dead and that pain is worth the reminder to not get shot again.”
Justin grunts for a second time and it makes me smile.
“And who’s this lovely young lady you’ve brought home with you?”
