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Once the other two are out of earshot, the yelling begins. Of course I can’t understand a word of it, since it’s all in Spanish, but I can tell Emiliano is tearing me a new one. Vincente’s arm tightens around my shoulder and his entire body is so tense he might as well be carved out of marble.
Manuel is quiet, standing back with his arms crossed, observing from behind his shades without uttering a word.
My guys seem accustomed to this kind of tirade because none of them make a sound for several minutes as it continues. It’s not until Emiliano takes a step toward us it changes.
Sandro immediately leaps to his feet and places himself between his cousin and me. Having several inches of girth, not to mention a half foot of height, over Emiliano, definitely makes the smaller man pause.
Vincente replies in a disturbingly calm voice, and at one point Emiliano’s head snaps sharply to the side, as if he can’t believe what he’s just heard. Both Elian and Sandro react, albeit much more subtly, to whatever Vincente said.
But when he finishes, Emiliano mutters, “puta madre,” and runs a hand over his face, before he turns on his heel and marches back to the master suite. Manuel stares in our direction for a long moment before he leaves as well.
I may not speak Spanish, but even a white chick like me will pick up a few common slang words on the street, and I’m pretty sure that one translates to something like ‘motherfucker.’
Once the other men are out of earshot, my three turn to face each other and heave nearly identical sighs.
“Sorry to point it out again, but the white chick on board did not understand a word of what just happened.”
“It’s probably better that way, mama,” Elian replies gently. “It wasn’t very pleasant.”
“Well, I was obviously the subject, so what did he say?”
“It’s not worth repeating, “Sandro backs his brother up.
“Clearly, there’s something I need to know. Vincente, you said we would have a talk?”
“It’s kind of a lot, Sloane. I’m not sure dropping it all on you at once is the best way to handle it.”
“Well, let’s see: I know I just witnessed an international drug deal, and I’m pretty sure some part of this was justifying why the guys who left with the money can trust me to keep my mouth shut. Is that a pretty good start?”
“Pretty much,” Vincente agreed, his hand wandering upwards to squeeze at the tension sitting on the back of my neck. I have to admit, it feels fantastic.
“So, what was the rest?”
“Just tell her,” Sandro sighed. “There’s no point putting it off.”
“She can handle it,” Elian encourages.
“The truth is, Sloane, I just told Emiliano that you’re my fiancé, and therefor, part of the family now.”
My throat seems to seize up immediately and I struggle to clear it so I can ask, “Pardon me? Yourfiancé?”
“I had no choice, Sloane. I’m sorry. With what you saw, it was join the family, or…”
“Join the missing person’s list,” I add in a whisper.
“Pretty much.”
The three men are silent, apparently giving me time to soak my new reality in.
This morning I was a girl with a brilliant future ahead of her, just starting my career, and heading out for a fun day on a boat with three hot guys who might end up my boyfriends.
Now I’m a witness to a crime and a surprise member of an elite criminal family.
Things sure do change like the weather around here.
Chapter13
Idon’t see Emiliano or Manuel again on the ride back.
