“All right, when do you want me to make the call?”
“Not right now, Pablo. You sound like shit. Whenever you’re feeling better will be soon enough.”
“Fine. Give me until tomorrow, then I’ll do it. Do you want to be on the call too?”
“Possibly. We’ll see what’s going on.”
TíoEnrique asks what I don’t want to answer quite yet because I’m not ready to share how things stand.
“And what if he names Vittoria?”
Chapter Sixteen
Vita
I wish Alejandro were still in his private meeting with his relatives because we weren’t arguing then.
“Jandro.”
I hiss his name to interrupt him, but I don’t want his cousins to hear me use the nickname.
“I amnotgoing to Enrique and Elodie’s home. How on earth can you believe that’s a good idea? Are you trying to get me chained up by my fingernails?”
“We don’t do that type of stuff at home.”
I practically snarl at him. “That’s not reassuring.”
We’re in the dining room now while his cousins remain in the living room. We abandoned the food since none of us could stomach it. Alejandro introduced the idea of us going over to Enrique and Elodie’s home by suggesting we could have a proper meal there.
I was tempted to listen at the door while Alejandro met with his cousins since I’m certain they included Enrique and Pablo in the conversation, if not Alejandro’s father and other uncle. But I knew they were likely using the Amerindian indigenouslanguage his family speaks. There’s no way I would’ve understood, so there was no point in attempting to eavesdrop.
“Going to mytíoandtía’shouse is the best option for you. It’ll keep you safe.”
I shake my head hard enough to make my hair swish across my back. “No. Stick me in a hotel somewhere. Out of sight, out of mind.”
“That didn’t exactly work the last time.”
“Yeah, because I wasn’t alone.”
“Chiquita, you have to faceTíaElle at some point. It’s better she be on your side than not. Let me introduce you to her as someone other than a rival mercenary.”
I clench my jaw.
“Jandro, this is not a good idea. In fact, it’s probably one of the worst ideas you could ever have.”
“Chiquita, you’re going to be around them at some point. May as well get the introductions over with now.”
He makes it sound as though we have a future. If we hadn’t met under the circumstances we did, I might believe that. Reality’s setting in. I can’t picture any of his family welcoming me. And I certainly can’t picture Enrique sanctioning our relationship. He may have found out about his wife’s past, but she never worked against the Diazes.
“Chiquita—”
“Will anybody else be there?” I cut him off before he can try placating me again.
“Probably.”
I cock an eyebrow, and he has the decency to look down before meeting my gaze again.
“Yes, there’s a good chance my parents will be there too.”
