I turn to look back at Javier when he concurs with his brother.
“None of our wives are shrinking violets. My Maddy has her own history with a syndicate that started well before she and I got together. That doesn’t mean I don’t go berserk the moment I perceive any threat to her. It’s not that I believe she’s incapable. I simply refuse to consider any danger to her as acceptable. Granted, she’s just as protective of me.”
The pride in Javier’s gaze matches what I saw in Alejandro’s when he realized just how I’d defended us. There’s seriously something not quite right about any of us when our capacity for violence and interventions is a turn-on. But that’s just how syndicate life works.
I’d rather they be with me than against me. That’s for damn sure.
We’re silent as we travel through the outskirts of NYC to Queens. It doesn’t take long for me to recognize we’re in Jackson Heights. I watch as we pull toward a gate that slides open immediately. I see none of the men press any buttons, nor did they speak to anyone. There must be guards on the lookout. We pull into another underground garage, and my heart rate spikes.
“Don’t panic,chiquita.”
I glance down at Alejandro, who is now looking up at me.
“This entire block is ours. We’re safe here.”
I nod, not entirely convinced, since the vehicles followed us all the way from Yonkers to here. There’s no way I’m going to lower my guard until we’re safely inside a building with Alejandro surrounded by guards. However, I breathe a little easier when the gate closes behind us, and we descend the ramp inside the garage. When no one joins us, I’m on slightly less alertas we exit the SUV. Joaquin and Javier help Alejandro toward an elevator.
“Chiquita, you know this is our neighborhood. We do business in the bodega on the other side of this building. When we need more privacy, we have offices upstairs. We’ll go there now. We can rest until we decide our next moves.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
My head’s suddenly pounding, and I don’t have the energy to disagree. So, I merely nod. We arrive at the office, and it only takes one glance inside to understand this isn’t where they conduct normal work. The sofa in here looks like it belongs in a jail cell. The desk chair is far more appealing. It’s clear anyone sitting on that sofa is there because they majorly fucked up and they’re there to face the consequences of their poor decisions.
“Jandro, you need to lie down. You can’t do that in the desk chair, but that bench is going to be far too hard for you.”
“Chica, I’ve slept in far worse places than this. I’ll survive just fine, but I have some boo-boos you can kiss if you’re really that worried about me.”
“All right, lover boy.”
Javier teases him as he guides his cousin to sit. When he lurches sideways, Jorge rushes forward to catch him. I cock a brow as I sweep my gaze over the men as if to say, I told you so. But none of them appear any more concerned than they did when we arrived here.
“Chiquita, come sit with me.”
I oblige. He watches me approach, and I know the moment he spots the dark patch on my shirt.
“Vittoria, what is that?”
He punctuates each word as he lifts his good arm to point at my ribs.
“It’s nothing, Alejandro. I’m fine.”
“The fuck you are. That’s blood. And since you went near none of our attackers and none of us bled on you, it must be yours. Let me see.”
His cousins take what appears like a choreographed step back from us as Alejandro struggles to his feet. His right arm shoots out far faster than I expected. His hand fists my shirt over my chest. He might be injured and still somewhat sedated, but he’s a man with unbelievable strength. I know he’s reining that in, but the force leaves me unable to stand my ground. He lets go of the front of my shirt long enough to yank at the hem, lifting it high enough to see the graze over my ribs.
“Motherfucker. Why didn’t you say you were injured, Vittoria?”
“Stop calling me that.”
I practically want to stomp my foot in frustration, but I’m not a five-year-old having a tantrum. I’m an adult who doesn’t want to be treated like a child.
“This is serious.”
“I know that. You don’t need to use my full name to convey the gravity of this situation,Alejandro.”
I use a mocking tone when I state his name. We glare at each other, and it’s as though we’re back in the hotel room. It’s incredible to believe that was two days ago. It feels like a million years. His fingers are gentle as they brush the skin beside the wound.
“If you ever get hurt again and don’t tell me the moment it happens, Vita, I will bend you over my knee and spank you until my hand hurts.”
