A familiar longing squeezed at his chest asVictor stared at her. From the moment he had first seen her walking down thestation hallway, his world seemed to stop. Although she was not overly tall,Maritzia had a way of holding herself very straight, with her shoulders backwhen she walked, that made her seem taller than she was. There was a strengththat exuded from her that he loved and sometimes found himself envious of. Atfirst glance, Maritzia's permanent no-nonsense expression, which reminded him alot of their stern police chief, had a way of putting people on edge andstriking a bit of fear in others. There was no role to play, no act oftoughness to put on, Maritzia was just naturally strong. Only when she smileddid people get to see past her natural barrier to the quiet, if not a littlebit shy, woman underneath. He loved that about her, Victor thought as hestepped forward to join her.
"Victor," Valerie called from acrossthe room where she sat at the edge of the sofa surrounded by other members ofthe family sitting in various fold-out chairs.
She eagerly waved him over.
Victor stiffened for a second, looking back toMaritzia who was still fully engaged in the play session with the children, andback to Valerie where she sat with the other members of the family. Leaning onthe side of the couch with a plate of food resting precariously against hisforearm as he sipped his beer, Carlos met his gaze with an unreadable smirk.
Victor felt his anger towards the man resurface.Memories of his and Cade's faces laughing at him played on loop in his head.Maritzia's anger the next day when Carlos, of course, called and told her whathappened still rippled out even now. The argument had been intense—veryintense. Not once had they ever fought like that before. She had told him in nouncertain terms that he had no right to uninvite any of her family or friendsfromherapartment.Herapartment. Not theirs, but hers. Cade hadbeen right and somehow that hurt more than the implications of her words.
Meeting Carlos's eyes directly, Victor walkedover to the group. He would not back down. He loved Maritzia. When he looked ather, Victor saw everything his future could be. It would be them hostingparties at their place, it would be their kids running around with theircousins, and there would be no repeat incidents like the one from the otherweek. Grabbing an empty chair, Victor sat down with a smile towards Valerie andignored the tension around him as he tried to focus on the ongoingconversation. Briefly, he wondered just how many people Carlos told about thatnight. Looking to where Maritzia's mother sat next to her husband, FranciscoDeLeon, he thought of them knowing and suddenly felt a burning sense ofembarrassment and anger. But their eyes never flickered over to him, Victorrealized. Even Luis and the cousins that grew up in this four-unit apartmentbuilding, Angel, Pedro, and Robert, didn't look at him with the same snide lookCarlos was no doubt still giving him.
Calming a little, Victor laughed at one ofPedro's jokes about the people at his office. No one was judging him, Victorassured himself. Soon this would be his family, and this feeling of being anoutsider would fade into memory.
"Cade,mijo, come here," Mrs.DeLeon’s excited voice stole Victor’s and everyone else’s attention. Getting upfrom the sofa and turning to the opening front door with her arms wide, Mrs. DeLeon’seyes sparkled at the newcomer.
Stopping in the doorway with his arms out wide inreturn, Cade gave the older woman a pouty face. "Mama!" he exclaimedbefore walking over to her and wrapping her in a strong hug.
Everyone laughed at the scene. Flushed, Mrs.DeLeon stepped away from Cade and smiled lovingly up at him.
"I went to mom's apartment and she wasn'thome," Cade told her with a sad voice and a pouting face. "Sheabandoned me, Mama. She didn’t even tell me she was going out of town. I wasstanding out in the hall crying at her door all alone."
For the briefest moment, Mrs. DeLeon's eyeswidened in shocked sadness before she burst out in laughter and slapped Cadeplayfully on his arm.
"Oh, you," she chastised and peoplearound her laughed while Cade flashed her a wicked grin. "I know you knew;I was standing in the hallway when she called and told you."
"But it was the reality knowing my mom wasreally gone that made me so sad," he said, trying to give her anotherpouty face, but unable to hold back the grin.
Poking him in the ribs, Mrs. DeLeon told him shewould go get him a plate of food just as Francisco DeLeon embraced him in abrief fatherly hug.
Victor felt the back of his neck grow hot at thesight of the asshole. Everyone in the room turned to greet Cade like plantsleaning towards the sun. Built like a goddamn linebacker, Cade was admittedly agood-looking man. With his dimpled face and square jaw, the man had a prettyboy look on top of a jacked body wrapped inside a ridiculous shirt that wasthree sizes too small. The guy looked like a fucking bad joke.
Giving out brief hugs, waving and smiling Cadeslowly made his way through the crowded room. Briefly, the man's dark eyessettled onto his, and Victor had to stop himself from visibly stiffening. Thewarmth that had been there for everyone else immediately dissipated from theman's eyes, replaced by a flash of hostility before disappearing completely ashe acknowledged Valerie and her brother beside him.
Helpless to stop him, Victor watched as Cadeworked his way to the back of the apartment to the destination they all knew hewas going. Looking over his shoulder, Victor glanced at Maritzia, sitting onthe floor with her legs spread out and surrounded by toys as she looked up toher partner. The smile she gave him made Victor want to run over there andsnatch her away from him.
Turning away from the scene, Victor stood,ignoring the looks of the people sitting around him. With a forced smile, hemade an excuse to grab another drink and asked if anybody else wanted one.Thankfully no one took him up on his offer, and Victor turned to go into thekitchen. Standing at the kitchen counter and next to the refrigerator,partially hidden from the view of others, Victor looked out through the openbar counter and watched as Cade knelt down beside Maritzia on the floor.
Cade wanted her. He always had; Victor was sureof it. From the moment he arrived back in New York, Cade had wanted Maritzia.Unlike everyone else, Victor wasn't blind. He could see the regret in the man'seyes whenever he looked at her. He could feel Cade's hatred for him each andevery time she walked into his arms and not Cade’s. At first, Victor found thebastard's secret crush slightly amusing if not a little pathetic. Victor wouldalways feel sorry for Bethany as Cade stared off at Maritzia with longing andregret, while she sat there looking the fool. Cade was a man permanently stuckin the friend zone by his own actions and Victor relished in it. Once he hadeven loved Cade's jealousy, relished in it. But now it was all crumbling downaround him. Bethany was gone. Victor could feel Cade encroaching on histerritory and it sent a wave of panic down his spine like he had never felt before.
He was no match for Cade. The grim cold truthmade Victor feel sick to acknowledge it, but there it was. Cade with hisfucking looks, his more than established connection with the family—and worstof all, Maritzia's love.
Sometimes Victor wished she had never confessedthat secret to him. It had been the first year when he moved in with her. Theyhad been drinking wine coolers and hanging out on the rooftop terrace allnight, laughing and sharing childhood memories. A little tipsy, she had confessedthat Cade, her best friend, and almost brother, had been her first real crushand how she had been devastated when he left for the army.
She had said she didn’t love him like thatanymore.
But as he stared at them now as they played withthe group of excited kids, he noted the way her face shined under his goddamnlight and knew she was lying. That smile was all the proof he needed. Victorhadn't seen a smile like that directed at him in what felt like months. All hehad gotten from her were wary looks and ignored calls.
Slowly, day by day, Cade was coming to terms withwhat he wanted. Victor could see it. The man was like a silent stalking lionedging in closer and closer, its hunger for its prey growing stronger. Fearmade Victor's insides grow cold while his pride inflamed his skin, images ofeverything he worked so hard to obtain disappearing flitting through his headuncontrollably.
Bracing his hands on the counter, Victor pulledhis gaze away from the two and stared down at the granite countertop, losinghimself in the shining pattern.
He would not let Cade have her. He would not lethim win.
Chapter6
Sitting in the unmarked patrol car, Maritziawaited for Cade outside the deli. It was well after lunch, and this was thefirst time all day, they had a moment to spare for lunch. Sitting back in theworn, leather seat she stared past the steering wheel and watched the passingcars go through the light as her mind turned back to Victor.
For the past few weeks, Victor had been acting sostrange. It made her feel odd. On the outside, it looked as if he was trying todo better to be more relaxed and chill like he was when they first met. Thatwas what initially attracted her to Victor. No matter when she saw him, healways seemed to have a positive demeanor seeing the best in everything. Whereshe was serious and reserved, he was forever optimistic, letting nothing trulybother him. But, for what seemed like a year now, that had all changed.
