“Mi amor, he won’t sleep another night.”
“It’s not just him. His family and Maks’s need to understand.”
Enrique steps forward again with Elle beside him this time.
“Hermanita, we’ll go up there and sort it out. Luis, call the pilot.”
“I’m going, Enrique.”
“Catalina—”
“Hermano, you won’t convince me. Not if it involvesmi hijo.” My son.
The irate woman stresses the last two words in Spanish. She could jab her finger into her chest and not convey stronger emotions than her tone already does. I know they’re mostly speaking English for the other women’s—except Florencia—sake. But Catalina’s accent’s gotten so strong I’m not sure the non-Spanish speakers can understand her.
I’m unsure why this is the hill she’s willing to die on. I can’t imagine she’s gone on other missions, but she won’t back down. As though she reads my thoughts, she turns toward me.
“We have history with this family. Yuri tried to kidnap Alejandro when he was five. He thought I wouldn’t notice because Luciana, Margherita, and I were chatting while the boys played in the park. Luciana andTres J’scame to visit while Esteban was away with Enrique. He banked on the cousins being just as excited to see each other as I was to see my sister. Thecabrónstill has three bullets inside him. One from each of us. No one touches ourniños. NowSeñor Sin Huevos—that’s where I shot him—thinks he can get revenge.Ni de puta casualidad.” Mr. No Balls. Not a fucking chance.
“Caty—”
“Come with me or not, Mati, but I’m going.”
“You can’t kill them all.”
“Watch me.”
Husband and wife stare at each other. I believe Matáis isn’t exaggerating. I think he genuinely fears his wife will annihilate the Volkovs if she goes to Boston.
“We’re going too.”
I swing my head toward Luciana and Margherita as they join the men. Only Luis hangs back, shaking his head. The man clearly knows when he and the other men are outnumbered.
“Kiko.” Elle rests her hand on her husband’s arm much like Enrique did to Catalina.
“Not you too, Ellie.”
“The ladies and I are your best bet. I know Boston better than any of you, and I know Yuri as well as you, Luis, and Matáis. I know where he hides. They won’t expect us. They don’t know who I am because my family still guards that secret. I can get us in and out faster and with no one noticing far better than you can.”
“Ellie, no.”
If this weren’t so dire, it would be astonishing to watch thejefe de jefesface off with one of the world’s most infamous and elusive mercenaries.
“I’m going too.”
Catalina turns her head toward me. “I never thought you wouldn’t.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Alejandro
“Piero, thank you for meeting with us.”
“Alejandro, it’s good to see you in one piece.”
Not good to see me, just good to see I’m alive.
Better than him being disappointed I’m alive.
