Page 71 of The Saint

Except, it was all a show. Hector was watching from across the room, and the animosity between Gloria and me was something he’d come to expect. What he wouldn’t expect was the two of us being nice to each other. If he saw that, he might wonder why. And the last thing I needed was for him to know how much of his past I was aware of.

“Are your brothers overbearing assholes every time you bring a guy around?” She peeked up at me under her lashes, though she looked like she was still inspecting her nails.

Alvarez turned his back to us, hands reaching under the hood to pull some new component out. I shook my head at Gloria, sitting upright in my chair. “My brothers have always liked my boyfriend. But I don’t think they even know we’re dating.”

“Why not?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Bullshit.” A smile pulled at one side of her lips, for just a moment, before she wiped it away. When she didn’t get a response, she pressed on, “What, your boyfriend bad for you? He into some kinky shit, or un santo? Ah! I bet you he’s lame-botas.”

“A what?”

“Lame-botas. A boot licker. Someone who’s always sucking up. That’s why your brothers like him, no?”

My lips pressed into a thin line, and I shook my head.

“No? Hmm.” Gloria narrowed her eyes at me, dragging her eyes down to my clenched hands, which I had to force myself to still. She shrugged. “Fine. Don’t tell me. I’ll just have to assume he’s some hot piece of work like that guy you used to bring around here.”

I glanced at my watch, then shifted, looking across the room. The last thing I needed was for Gloria to have anything on me.

Rolly hadn’t come here as my boyfriend or my protector. He came as backup, as another threat that Alvarez needed to take seriously.

Standing from my seat, I told her, “Get your homework done.”

“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath. I started walking away, but Gloria stopped me. “Hey, asshole?”

“What?”

That smirk was back, curling her lips and simultaneously soothing me, while keeping me on edge. “That hottie got a number?”

Any good feelings she’d gained in our talk just flew out the window. I scowled, dragging my gaze down her body the way she’d done so often to me. “He’s not interested in someone like you.”

With that, I walked away, the woman laughing behind me as I went. My spine was stiff, but I forced myself to ignore her.

Rolly had told me he only wanted me. And as hard as it was to believe that he wouldn’t want someone as beautiful as Gloria Alvarez—with her big breasts and all her curves—I held on tightly to his assurances, hoping upon hope that it was the truth.

Across the room, there was a knock at the loading dock. Alvarez and his crew looked up at me as I made my way toward the man-sized door beside the large roll-up one. Alvarez grabbed a rag from a nearby table and wiped his hands as he followed after me.

I pushed aside the piece of cardboard taped over the window in the door and peeked out. Standing on the other side was Vince Fusco, one of the men that D’Angelo’s lieutenant, Adelberto Vinci, had sent over.

Alvarez’s hand came down on my wrist as I reached to open the door. “You sure we can trust them?”

One of my brows raised as I looked up at him, and he removed his hand. “You sure you can trust me?”

His lips thinned and he nodded his head. I twisted the lock, then pressed my shoulder against the door to push it open.

Vince stood with his hands shoved in his pocket and an ever-present sneer on his face. “Got everything ready?” He directed this over my head, at Alvarez.

Taking a step forward, I got into his personal space, making him uncomfortable enough that he looked down at me.

“You got your truck ready?”

Vince’s brother, Tito, sat on the loading dock, smoking a cigarette, and he laughed as his brother took a step back. Tito took a drag from his cigarette, then took his time blowing it out, leaning his back against the side of the truck.

“We’ll get it set up, baby David.”

I shot him a scowl, but he just winked and brought his cigarette back to his mouth. The smile curling his lips, as he dragged his gaze across my body, had heat rushing through me in an angry wave. I stepped forward and lifted my foot. Slapped the cigarette right out of his mouth. Then my boot found a nice, comfortable spot, tucked up under his chin as I pressed him into their truck.