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My question is met with silence. Mandy has a blank look on her face like she’s lost somewhere in her thoughts. I’ve never seen her this way.
I wonder if she’s so opposed to me being with Abby that it might affect her work for me. I hope not because I would hate to let Mandy go over this. I quickly make a mental note to talk things through with her later, when everything is settled. I’m sure she’s only acting this way because she’s protective of me, Mandy has always been.
“Mandy?” I say, but she doesn’t seem to hear me. “Mandy!” My voice is louder this time. She jerks her head toward the sound of my voice, looking unusually disoriented.
“Are you alright?” I ask with a worried frown.
“Of course, I’m good,” Mandy says, flashing me a quick smile. “I was just a little surprised with you being in love with your nurse and all. Thinking about it, it’s a good thing. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mandy,” I reply with an appreciative smile. “Abby’s a great woman. You’ll see when you get to know her.”
“Now, back to business,” Mandy says, ignoring my previous comment. “News about you being alive is spreading. You’ve exposed yourself to too many people. I placed some of our men on Don like you ordered, and he’s been reported to have been seen making moves. He’s been seen with Cross twice after you met with him.”
“What’s that man up to?” I mutter quietly. “I need to figure out his motives. He denies being behind both attacks.”
“Everyone knows about Don Pablo’s sly nature,” Mandy says with a slight shrug. “He’s infamous for playing dirty.”
“Still...something about what he said bothers,” I say with a sigh. I wonder what Don Pablo meant when he told me to watch my back. Was that a threat or a warning?
I hope I figure this shit out soon enough.
“Keep watch on the Don,” I say to Mandy, who nods promptly. “I want you to station our men on every corner you can. I want to hear every secret whispered and who says what.”
“What exactly are we looking for?” Mandy asks.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” I reply simply. “But, for now, I need to come back to life. Not as the mobster Drago but as the CEO of Diamond Investments, Carlos Rodriguez.”
“About time,” Mandy says, a wicked smile slowly spreading on her face.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Abby
“Yesterday, we received shocking intel that the famous gangster boss, Carlos Rodriguez, who was thought to be dead in the last gang altercation in downtown Chicago has come back to life. Not as we all know him but as the anonymous CEO of a thriving investment company, Diamond Investments. For years, the public has been curious to know the identity of this philanthropist. He has contributed to many great causes in the country.
It turns out Diamond Investments is owned by Carlos Rodriguez, who is popularly known as Drago. It was reported that Carlos Rodriguez, contrary to popular assumption, wasn’t dead but was seriously wounded and had been battling for his life at an undisclosed private hospital.
In his statement with the press earlier this morning, Carlos Rodriguez revealed that his near brush with death was an eye-opener that has caused him to change his views on life. He’s now ready to turn away from gang life and be reborn as a law-abiding citizen who is ready to contribute diligently to the country's economic growth.
Also, earlier today, Carlos was arrested by the drug enforcement force but was released due to lack of concrete evidence with his involvement in....”
I lower the TV volume, cutting off the high-pitched voice of the reporter. I crane my neck to smile up at Carlos, enjoying the way his arms seem to tighten protectively around me unconsciously.
“This feels like a dream,” I say with a happy smile. “Does this mean you’re done with gang business?”
“No, baby,” Carlos replies with a sad sigh. “I have to wrap things up for good. I have to stop Cross from producing and selling his drugs. Besides, there are still people after my life. Taking care of Cross is easy enough. If I can find the person who planned both attacks on me, I can settle our scores.”
“Does that mean there’ll be another altercation?” I ask, unable to neglect the trickle of fear climbing up my spine. “What if you’re shot again? I can’t...I can’t bear the thought of that.”
“No, honey,” Carlos says, placing a reassuring kiss on my neck. “There won’t be bloodshed this time. Instead, I plan to propose a peace treaty.”
“Will that work?”
“This person probably wants something from me,” he says in a thoughtful tone. “It might be enough if I just hand it over to them.”
“What if it’s your life they’re after?” I ask, unconvinced.
“I’ll fight for it,” Carlos says, squeezing his arms reassuringly around me. “Because I now have something to live for. You, Abby. I’ll live for you.”
