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“I got food too. Bucatini with fennel and olive sauce. It sounded good.”
“Divine.”
Her smile is worth a thousand words.
* * *
It’s early the next morning when I kiss her awake. “Lock everything, keep the gun near, take it if you go somewhere. Promise.”
“I—”
“So fuckin’ help me God, Nadie . . .”
“I promise.”
I shower, don the suit, and armor up. Checking I have my permits for concealed and open carry. It's overkill, but we all have them. It makes life easier.
Then I’m off. I have the Gary places to check out and haunt, but first, I’m going to make a real Cabeza link.
Nicolo got back to me.
I don’t care if it’s Satan himself, no one sends someone to threaten my woman.
No one.
ChapterEighteen
NADIA
Diego drives me crazy, bringing flowers and ordering me about. My head’s spinning, and at five, I’m dashing to the church hall for the second class with Josie.
It’s like he’s romancing me, pushing me away, pulling me to him, and I’d be furious if I didn’t understand.
But I also try not to let the latent thought that I’m not enough to come here for and give the town another go room to breathe.
It’s a selfish thought. It’s just confusion and trying to work out how to keep it at a level to minimize the pain when he finally leaves.
I do manage to text and say I’ll be at the church hall, but then it’s so full on, with so many kids coming and going, that I can’t think of anything but them.
When the last one leaves, Josie helps me pack up.
“What do you think of them using it as more of a safe place to come and go from?” I ask.
“The less it has to do with school, the better, I think. School isn’t designed to help kids struggling with the outside pressures of life, at least ours. So, we offer a safe place where they can hang out, paint, read, or play. Or work on their homework.” She looks at me. “I’m excited about this. And . . .”
Her eyes go big, and she practically drools.
“Oh ducking shizz, that man is beautiful and he’s heading here.”
Heat slides through me.
It’s Diego, I know it.
“Ducking hell, he’s eating you up with those eyes.”
I turn, and my heart flutters. “Diego.”
“Longstocking.” He comes to a stop in front of me. “What? Too shy to lay some sugar on me?”
