Page 42 of The Guardian

“So can I ask something else?” I stared at him.

Henry propped his chin up with his hand and looked back at me. “I am an open book. Except maybe for the years between sixteen and twenty.” He gave me a wink and added, “I admit that I was a bad boy.”

I laughed. “I believe you and someday, I will ask how you learned to do all the things you just did to me.”

He jiggled his eyebrows playfully. “I have more moves coming.”

I kept chuckling. “I’m not sure I could take more of your moves today. I am toast.”

Pursing his yummy lips, he pretended to pout. “I planned to call room service or whatever and keep you naked in bed all day.”

I shivered at his tone as it left playful and went straight to sexy. “We are not in a hotel, Henry.”

He smirked. “They must have servants in a place this huge, Maya. But we digress. What was your question?”

“I did listen to the discussions you all had in the car when we drove to Mexico City then here from the airport too. This man who was so scary came out with Miss Gabriela to greet us… He is Mafioso?”

Henry nodded. “He was. I’m not sure how he and Gabby met but Carlos and his father were at war with Alberto Mancini when Carlos plowed into that tree and went into a coma.”

“Yes, I heard just a mention of this. How odd. I wondered why everyone got so tense and worried when we stepped out of the car. So he got hurt while battling his sister’s husband?”

“I’m unsure if it was while they were together? But Carlos had been troubled and I told you why. I think he was getting ruthless and careless. Two things that might get you dead in a criminal world. Rain and I only knew what we heard through others. And when I heard that Carlos was in a coma I wanted to go and see him, but he had many family members there at the hospital. I couldn’t get in. Then when I heard that he disappeared from his hospital bed, I believed he was dead. I was saddened at such a bad ending for him.”

“How did he disappear while in a coma?” I asked curiously.

Henry laughed. “Selena somehow got in and took him. Seems his father had a stroke and most of the Castillo monsters were with him in a hideout. So she simply waltzed in and grabbed him. Bold as you please, she just wheeled him out. Flew him across the country to hide him. Had him for a month maybe? Then when he woke up, she asked just one question.”

“Where the kids were,” I interjected.

Nodding, he laughed. “See what I mean? Selena is ballsy. Plans and executes the kidnapping of one the most notorious cartel leaders in the western hemisphere. Then waits for him to wake up to confront him? With no fear. That is absolutely mad.”

A knock sounded on the door.

He and I glanced at each other as we both wore the bed sheet and no clothing.

Henry got up, grabbed his pants then shoved his legs in and tugged them up. He zipped up and headed to the door as a second knock came.

I looked over at the clock….9 a.m.

Henry opened the door.

“Well, hello there, mate,” a man’s voice greeted him.

Still stuck on the bed, I laid down, covered up with the blanket and hid my head.

“Michael?” Henry asked as his voice sounded confused.

“Yes, Sir Henry. You do remember that I am your brother and haven’t seen you in years, right?”

“Yes, so can I meet you downstairs at breakfast?” Henry told him.

“Oh, that happened at eight. But yeah, there’s always something in the kitchen to eat and you probably need your tea.” Michael chuckled. “Meet me there as soon as you and your girl over there get dressed, ok?”

Silence.

“I used to be a cop, bro,” Michael broke Henry’s silence. “I take things in and know the happenings instantly. Come on.”

“Damned cheeky motherfucker,” Henry grumbled in response.