He motioned to the door and the cutting trap. “Remind me never to make you mad.”
I burst out laughing. “Come on. It isn’t for that. It is in defense. Not many assassins are good enough to check for traps.Normally, they will be looking at us, the targets. You and I need some sleep.”
“Is this more training from The Wasp?” he asked.
I snorted. “Yes. She had many different kinds of traps.”
“Do I want to know about them?” he joked.
I laughed. “Probably not. Because none of them involve cotton candy.”
He laughed with me and stepped over to grab me up. “You need to watch it. That laugh of yours is an aphrodisiac.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled at him. “I never knew a laugh could ignite a flame.”
“You lit it, fueled it and now I burn for you.” Carlos leaned closer and crushed my lips with his.
Chapter Ten:Superstitious
Carlos
My eyes popped open. I remained still as I had to figure out where I was. I still wasn’t used to this. Waking up in the morning. I turned my head just a bit and saw the motel room. Then I smiled as I stretched my body out. This was all real. Damn, it was good to see mornings now. I slept like the dead for months…literally. I also felt glad to be past that first awakening. The tube in my throat was awful and it hurt for several days after they removed it. My body felt sluggish like I could barely make my limbs move. The nurse did help with that as she had me doing exercises to get my strength and equilibrium back.
I did notice Selena in a chair across the room as she watched everything that went on. Mainly, she kept a close eye on the doctor and the nurse. I couldn’t see her very well for the first couple of days. Then she finally came close. I hid my initial reaction to her beauty. Her eyes were cold and she didn’t speak to me right away. No, it had been at least a week after I had awakened before she sat in the chair closer to my bed and handed me that phone with Gabby’s voice coming from it.
My life then changed forever.
But finally, life was here for me to live it too. I got a second chance most would say. Then I found that Selena was the woman I would live it with.
Yes, I noted how evasive she got when I let her know I wanted her to be with me for always. She nearly bolted. I understood it though. People like us never believed we could be with someone steady. Yes, living the mafia life meant you couldn’t have any other family. You never knew who would comealong and hurt them, because of who you were and what you did for a living. It was dangerous and that was why I had to find a way to get both her and I out of thedark lifeas we called the criminal world.
Reaching for Selena, I found only empty space on the bed. I sat up and looked toward the bathroom. I hoped that was where she would be. I knew she wouldn’t leave me. At least not until this was all done. After we returned the kids to Gabby, I would make it my life’s work to convince Selena to stay with me. I had meant what I'd said. I knew she was the woman for me. I also knew I could be the man she needs.
Coming out through the bathroom door was Selena. Smiling at me, she came over and stood next to the bed. She still wore her sweats and t-shirt.
“Damn, I was worried there for a minute.” I smiled back at her.
“I wouldn’t leave you unprotected, Carlos.”
I shook my head. “So the Warrior Goddess is my protector?”
She smirked. “Warrior Goddess? Mierda, that’s quite a title. But I did take the traps off the door because I called for food delivery.”
I immediately looked over at the door and saw that it looked normal again. No cutting barbed wire. “Oh hell, I feel naked now. But I am starving.”
A beep sounded.
Selena took her cell out of her pocket and stared at the screen. “Looks like Uber’s here.”
“Great. As you may have guessed, I am starving.” I climbed out of bed and hurried over to the bathroom.
After a couple of minutes, I was washing my hands and face when I heard a scuffle in the room. It sounded like trouble so I rushed out and stopped in my tracks.
Selena had her gun tucked up under a man’s chin. “Who do you work for?” she demanded.
Tall and thin, dressed in a flannel shirt with jeans, he looked white in the face. In addition, his widened eyes were full of terror and he was already sweating. “I-I brought your food, ma’am,” he answered breathlessly.
She hissed at him as she asked, “Why are you armed?”
