I stare at him. That’s a lot to take in. It’s not a declaration of love, but it could be a life sentence.
“Look, Jandro, I’m not ready for this yet. It would be better if I went to a hotel rather than stay with your family. That’s assuming my waiting for you to return is the best option. I know you’re not just going to your family’s for dinner. Wherever you’re going afterward, I should be there too. If somebody else took on this job, then I’m the best person you can have with you to protect you.”
“Absolutely not. I’m not making you a secondary target.”
“But would you recognize all the mercenaries out there? You didn’t even recognize Patrick, and he’s worked for you before. If somebody’s around that’s there to kill you, I’m far more likely to recognize them than you are.”
“You don’t even have a change of clothes, let alone any of your disguises.”
“I don’t need my disguises to be able to point out who’s there to kill you. I have better tracking skills than anyone else in your family purely because of my job. If my tracking skills were such shit, I wouldn’t have found you.”
He has the audacity to laugh.
“Chiquita, it’s not like it was hard to figure out who I am. It’s no secret I’d be in Jackson Heights. I was the richest man there each day you visited. It’s not like I tried to blend in. It was obvious who I am. You’ve metTres J’s. They practically look like triplets. And everybody knows I’m a younger version ofTíoEnrique, and Pablo’s a younger version ofTíoLuis. There’s no way anybody could’ve confused me for any of my cousins. Plus, I’m sure you had photos of me in your dossier, and we met in Chicago and the club. It’s not exactly like you had to be Sherlock Holmes to find me.”
He word vomits, and it does nothing to endear him to me. He may not be wrong, but his tone certainly has the opposite effect on me from making me want to comply.
“Jandro, that’s not the point.”
“Of course, it’s the point. Hell, I caught you. That’s why we’re together right now.”
“Don’t you think if I wanted to hide, I would’ve tried a little harder? Maybe I didn’t mind getting caught.”
Now it’s my turn to vomit my thoughts. His hands cup my jaw as he swoops in for one of those kisses that leaves me drunk. I fist his shirt and tug him closer. I knowTres J’scan hear our argument, and they probably think we’re fucking or killing each other right now. But this is what we both need. When we pull apart, we rest our foreheads together.
“Fine. Come to the house with me, and you can be part of the conversation.”
While that’s what I wanted, I know that means Elodie will be part of it too.
Chapter Seventeen
Alejandro
TíaElle stands in the doorway like she’s guarding a castle. Her expression is unflinching, and she could be carved out of stone. She stares at Vita, and it makes me regret bringing the woman I’ve fallen for straight into the lion’s—lioness’s—den.
“I’ll let you enter my home, Vittoria, but it doesn’t mean I’ll let you leave.”
Well, that’s not at all ominous.
I definitely regret my decision now. Has mytíajust put a bullseye on my maybe-girlfriend?
TíaElle backs away and makes room for us to pass. She stares at me and my arm wrapped around Vita’s waist. She’s laser focused, and it feels like her gaze could burn straight through. She closes the door behind us and follows us into the living room. As though she’s not enough to take on,Mamá,TíaMargarita, andTíaLuciana are there withTíoEnrique andPapá.
TíoLuis is traveling right now. He’s dealing with some forgetful men in Bogotá. Their memories need refreshing. Theyowe us money if they want to avoid a rival gang going after them in prison.
I guide Vita over to one of the love seats. The living room in this house is massive with two sofas, three love seats, and four armchairs.
MamáandPapásit in the love seat next to ours. Everyone’s gaze is riveted on how I hold Vita’s hand between us. I want to draw them onto my leg to reassure her, but that would do the exact opposite for her.
TíaElle andTíoEnrique sit on a sofa, his arm draped around her shoulders. My parents sit the same way.Tres J’seach take an armchair, and my other twotíasshare the last love seat.
“Thank you for having me here.”
Vita sounds unsure of herself, and her tone is so contrary to what I know that I give her hand a squeeze.
TíaElle’s hand rests on mytío’sthigh. When he opens his mouth, I suspect she applies a little pressure because she’s the one to speak next.
“It’s been a long time, Vittoria. You’re looking better than you did the last time we saw each other.”
