Page 54 of Taking His Heart

“You being right here is exactly what I need, Dani. I don’t need you to say anything. I don’t need you to do anything. I just need you to be right next to me.”

“You always were too good for me,” I tell him.

“We’re going to be fine, Dani. I’m going to find out who the fuck is targeting you and I’m going to make sure they can’t go after you again.”

“Okay.”

I want to tell him not to do that, but I’m not an idiot. I know who I married. I know the type of men that my father and my uncles are. I’ve grown up in this world. I know how it works. I also know that if I told him not to leave my side, he wouldn’t. And he’d hate not being able to be out solving the problem. So instead, I keep my thoughts to myself.

Chapter Twenty-Three

She’s doing it again. Keeping her thoughts locked in that pretty little head of hers. I can see every time she holds back a thought, something she wants to say but doesn’t. I fucking hate that she second-guesses herself so much. I never noticed it as much when we were younger. Now, especially after finding out just how far her doubt goes, I notice every single time.

We walk up to the door to my Tío E’s ridiculously-monstrous house. My uncle is showy as fuck and likes everyone to know just how well off he is. Not that anyone would consider the king of a Mexican drug cartel to be living on the poverty line.

“Hear you were in an episode of GTA.” My cousin Elias stands on the other side of the open door.

“I need a minute.” I walk right past him, pulling Dani down a small hall off to the right.

I continue until I reach the last door. The bar. I really need a fucking drink, and I need a minute alone with my wife so I can find out what shit she’s got locked up in her head.

My eyes scan each of the bottles as I approach the bar. Daniella beats me to it when she picks up an ornate bottle of Cinque.

“This is worth a hundred grand,” she says, eyeing the label.

“That means it’s good.” I pick up two glasses and hold them out to her.

“You’re not seriously going to drink this?” she asks with wide eyes.

“Why not?”

“Again, it’s a hundred-grand bottle, CJ. And it’s not yours.”

“Meh, Tío E won’t care.” I shrug. “He’ll just buy another one.” Setting the glasses down, I pluck the bottle out of her hands and pop the cork off. After pouring two healthy servings, I hand one to Dani.

“Fine, but you should know, this is strong,” she says, taking the glass from me.

“You think I can’t handle a bit of whiskey?”

“I’m sure you can.” She smiles and then proceeds to take a huge gulp of the amber liquid.

Following suit, I take a swig of my glass. The liquor burns down my throat, making my entire chest feel like it’s on fire. It takes every ounce of control not to cough and look like a fucking idiot.

Daniella laughs. “Told ya.”

“You weren’t wrong. Now tell me something else, Dani.” I set the glass down again.

“What?”

“I want to know what you didn’t say outside just now. What are you keeping locked up?”

“What makes you think I didn’t say something?”

“Because I know you. And your face is expressive as hell when something is on your mind. So, spit it out. What is it?”

“Nothing.” She shakes her head from side to side.

“It’s not nothing. I want to know. If you can’t tell me your every thought, then who the fuck can you tell?”