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To my utter shock, he doesn’t try to stop me as I head for the door. He steps aside, but his voice chases me into the hall.
“When you return, we will discuss where he will be safest. Since you don’t trust him to me. There are schools I’ve looked into. You can have the final say.”
My steps falter, and I feel along the wall for balance. I don’t know how to process that. It could be a threat to separate me from Franco or a sign that he’s listened to my concerns. In any case, he’s right. Franco isn’t safe with me, not until I look into whether Diego or someone else wants me dead.
For now, I push those fears from my mind as I find Franco in his bedroom and help him get ready. He’s so tired he submits to a long hug and lets me tuck him beneath his blankets.
“Honey,” I ask, as he settles in. “How would you feel about going to school a few weeks early? A nice one with plenty of other boys to play with, and I could visit you there whenever you wanted. How is that?”
Around a yawn, he asks, “What about my papa? And mama? Will they come too?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” I say. “You know I won’t lie to you, and things are… Complicated right now. I’m so sorry.”
He says nothing, choosing to close his eyes instead.
After shutting off his light, I don’t leave his room like I’m supposed to. I linger and curl up on the floor at the foot of his bed and listen to his breathing. I never knew it was possible to care for another being so damn much. I’d do anything for him.
Even risk provoking Jaguar’s ire by basking in his presence for as long as I can. When morning rolls around, I finally stand and attempt to tiptoe into the hall.
“Auntie? What are you doing in here?” Franco groggily asks, rubbing his eyes.
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart,” I tell him, pressing my lips to his cheek. I coax him into lying down and smooth the covers in place.
Orangish dawn light paints the hallway as I make my escape from Franco’s room. Upon returning to the master bedroom, I am alarmed to find Jaguar missing. The bed doesn’t look slept in either. Did he perhaps fly in one of his harem girls and spend the night with her?
A part of me hopes so. Another part of me squirms at the thought, and I hate the feeling that washes over me next. Guilt? Fear? I can’t decipher it.
I don’t want to.
Instead, I enter the closet and grab a clean gray dress in a similar style to the one I’m still wearing. As I shower, Jaguar doesn’t pop from the shadows to watch me. I wash and towel off alone. Then I get dressed with an audience of none—minus the hidden camera, of course. I didn’t confront him about that revelation last night, but I’m sure he’s dying for me to bring it up.
I wouldn’t put it past him to be watching right now.
Still, I don’t give him much of a show to enjoy. I dry my hair and leave it loose. When I exit the room, Franco is already bounding down the stairs ahead of me, fully dressed.
“Jaguar said he’d teach me to play ball,” he excitedly chirps. “Will you watch me?”
“That I did,” a guttural voice calls from below. When I peek over the wrought-iron banister, I find Jaguar standing in the foyer, his hair perfectly coifed, his outfit composed of black shorts and a loose-fitting tank. “Unfortunately, your mama has other business to attend to. While we play, she can go over the documents I left for her in my office. It’s the room I showed her last night. I’ve also arranged for her and dear Pedro to have some fun tonight. Now, let’s go get you some breakfast. Then we’ll head outside and see how well you can dribble.”
The two skip off toward the kitchen while I shudder with apprehension. His anger is spicy, much like his nickname for me. It tinges the air and makes my nose wrinkle, even as I rush to follow his vague command.
Down on the basement level, I wander into the empty space beside the game room—only it isn’t empty anymore.
I wonder if this is what he busied himself with last night. The boxes have been unpacked, revealing sleek shelves lined with books, a large black desk topped by a computer monitor, and a set of leather chairs, perfect for reading in. Wall-mounted lamps provide ample lighting and create a homey, cozy atmosphere.
Only one personal touch designates this room as Jaguar’s alone. A portrait much like the one in his other home hangs on the wall directly across from the desk. His brother Juan.
I gape at it before remembering Jaguar’s demand.Go through documents.
I find them in a file lying on the computer’s keyboard. I steel myself for another grisly bounty listing. Instead, I find information for several boarding schools across the country.
The bastard may be sadistic at times, but his attention to detail is unmatched. He pulled their curriculums. Their amenities. Their schedules and class trip destinations. It seems he gave me everything a mother would need to make a final decision other than the price.
I’m adept in his gruff language to know the unspoken statement behind that move—Price doesn’t matter. It will be covered.
Adding yet one more debt I owe Julian Domingas.
For Franco’s sake, however, I’m willing to make one more exception. I have no other choice. Desperate to ignore my fears, I go through the files before I recall that Franco is with Jaguar alone.
