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My heart raced as I watched her slowly reach for the phone on her desk. “Make a plan to remove our shares from the casino and halt all contracts for the girls we have out in New Jersey," she said into the phone in a wavering tone. After a beat, Caterina clenched her jaw and said, "I'm sure. Do it. I want the details on my desk today.”
She slammed the phone back onto its cradle, making me jump at the sudden noise. Her eyes locked onto Evan's. "You better stick to your word, Guerrero, or I'll bring hell down on you."
Evan nodded. "Once I get confirmation that you've done your part, I'll make sure to keep my end of the bargain."
Caterina turned her attention toward me for the final time. "Are you sure you don't want to come work for me, dear?"
Before I could respond, Evan's protective growl filled the air, making Caterina flinch. “I’ll see your death before that ever happens," he said.
Caterina swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Understood.”
We stood to leave, but as we turned to the door, she spoke again, stopping us in our tracks.
“You should know, there are rumors Tomas is dabbling in something sinister. He's been vague about the details, only mentioning a scheme that’d make us all even richer."
Evan's eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me this?”
She shrugged. “If you’re going up against a man as powerful as him, you might want to know what you’re getting into.”
She didn’t say anything else, and Evan and I exchanged a glance before turning and leaving without another word.
The moment we stepped out of Caterina's office, a heavy weight lifted from my chest. We made our way toward the elevators and the exit as quickly as possible, but I could see Evan was mulling over what she’d said, his jaw clenched tightly, eyes locked forward.
Once we were safely inside the car, Evan turned to me, his dark eyes filled with concern. “What do you think she meant?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea, but it’s all the more reason to keep Sofia out of his hands. The man is sick, Evan.”
He put a hand over his jaw, studying me. “Are you okay? I know that couldn’t have been easy for you.”
I gave him a small smile. "I'm fine. It was worth it in the end.” We got what we came for.
He leaned in to kiss me. “I can't wait for this to be over," he said, his breath a warm caress on my skin. “Are you ready to get back home? I know you were enjoying your time with Analise.”
Home. That word was on my mind a lot lately, especially since we’d been in Texas. I was coming to realize that home wasn't just a place, it was the people you cared about, and the memories you made together. Evan meant Texas when he said home just now, but I wondered if he even recognized the full weight of his words.
"Of course. I can’t wait to see Sofia.” Some part of me sensed a lot of changes were coming. But I smiled in spite of it, feeling the warmth of his body next to mine, knowing that no matter where we went, I would always find home with him.
Chapter 13
Evan
The morning sun burned brightly when we landed on Sebastian's private airstrip, and the scent of freshly cut grass and distant wildflowers filled my nose as I walked down the stairs. It was good to be back.
A car was waiting to drive us back to the house, and we’d barely settled inside when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at Mariah, who looked at me expectantly.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I saw a text from an unknown number. I hoped it was Jax’s new burner and he had good news. Once I saw the message, I just smiled.
Caterina is out and the records are wiped.
That meant two of Tomas’s biggest backers were gone, leaving his casino empire vulnerable. If everything went according to plan, his company’s worth would plummet, giving me the leverage I needed for Porter's resignation.
"Good news?" Mariah said, searching my face.
“Better than good.” I pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Our plan is working."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, yet I could see the gears turning. “What happens next? When Tomas finds out?”
“That’s what I’m counting on.” My protective instincts flared while I considered all the ways he might react when he realized what we were doing. “I won’t let him near you, Mariah, I swear.”
