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His eyes flash with surprise or anger, I can’t tell.
“How old is she?” His demand comes out in a ferocious roar, and there’s no mistaking his emotions. He’s frantic. I open my mouth, and then close it, not sure if I should answer. “How, old, Mr. Hunter?”
“Twenty-two.”
The vein in his neck bulges, and he slams the glass down on the marble bar. I try to remain calm, but I’m nervous that Eduardo did tell him about the money Maria stole all those years ago, and now I’ve been the one to rat her out. My mind races, coming up with a way to defuse his anger, when the man from earlier returns to the room and whispers in Mr. Torrente’s ear. He leaves, and Mr. Torrente glares at me.
“My people claim Eduardo is selling to them at a reasonable price. It was a good bluff, Mr. Hunter, but unsuccessful. What should we do about you coming into my home and making accusations about my people?”
Sweat soaks my shirt under my jacket. My heart hammers behind my ribs. I have to stay composed or he’ll see right through me. “The money is in his accounts. I have his bank statements to prove it. It had to come from somewhere. Perhaps he’s working another cartel.”
“Perhaps.” His expression softens. “Come with me outside, Mr. Hunter. You have a lot of explaining to do.”
It’s after midnight when I walk through the door at Tori’s house. Maria charges into me and pounds her fist into my chest repeatedly. I grab her arms and hold them at her sides.
“Don’t ever do that to me again!” she yells. “I’ve been freaking out. I thought I’d never see you again.”
I grab her face and kiss her lips, her cheeks, her nose, planting dozens of kisses on her face and head. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t risk you talking me out of going to see Mr. Torrente, but it’s over. Eduardo won’t hurt you.”
A look of relief seeps over her face. “Torrente believed you?”
“No, he called my bluff within the first ten minutes of my arrival, but Torrente has another reason to forgive the debt and deal with Eduardo. We have to go see him in a couple of days, but he assures me Eduardo will not bother you. I’ve taken care of the arrangements for your grandfather, too. He’ll be buried with your grandmother. You’ll have to go with me to the funeral home to sign some paperwork before they can transport him up north.”
She stumbles backward, shaking her head. “No. I can’t leave Mexico. Eduardo will find me.”
“Did you not hear me? He won’t touch you.”
Her fist covers her mouth, and she turns away. “He called. He said he was coming for me.”
“When?
She spins back around, her expression defeated. “A little after noon.”
I close the distance she put between us, yanking her into my arms. “Calm down. That was before I met with Torrente.”
A smile begins to form on her beautiful face, but it quickly turns to a frown. “You said we have to go see Torrente, and you trust him?”
“Yes.”
She pushes me away. “Then you’re very foolish,” she says her voice scolding.
I laugh, her feistiness ever amusing to me. “Remember when you agreed to trust me?” She nods faintly. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you. You’re not in any danger.”
I know she’s skeptical, but she thanks me. Her arms wind around my waist, squeezing hard. I hold her in my arms most of the night, reassuring her that I’ve taken care of everything and we’re all safe.
Though I was terrified to return to the Bay Area, I wanted Papa to be reunited with my grandmother, the woman he loved most of his life, so he could truly rest in peace. Javier reluctantly stayed behind with Tori. I’m incredibly grateful to have someone in my life to help me with Javier who is stable and treats him like her own. She’s become an amazing friend to me, a trusted sister that I never expected to have in my life. Knowing Javier will be well taken care of makes the separation from him easier. I couldn’t bring him here, feeling like there was a miniscule chance Eduardo would be lurking somewhere, ready to ignore Torrente’s orders to stay away from me.
Tug and I check into the Monterey Plaza Hotel on Cannery Row. The funeral is in Watsonville tomorrow, and it’s a quick drive to get there. I would have been fine with a cheap motel, but Tug informed me my days of cheap motels are long gone. When we walk into the presidential suite, I stop in my tracks.
“This is too much,” I say, turning to leave.
He catches me by the arm. “What’s too much?”
“This,” I say, glancing at the dining table. “There are twelve chairs at that table. What do we need twelve chairs for?”
“We don’t.” He takes my hand and walks me out to a private sun deck and patio overlooking the ocean, with a large Jacuzzi in the corner. “We need this.” He waggles his eyebrows, his grin the boyish and playful one I adore. I have to admit the view is pretty spectacular. He cups my cheek in his hand, his grin too hard to resist. “Eventually, you’re going to have to get used to this lifestyle. It’s part of the package.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this lifestyle.” My palm strokes his cock through his jeans, feeling it harden under my touch. “But I do like your package.” My teeth saw my bottom lip, waiting for him to respond.
