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He sighs and scrubs a hand over his face. “I’m going to go to him.”
He stands and I watch him work though what he’s thinking. “I’ll show up alone; no mic, no bugs, no guards. I’ll convince him that I can’t stand the thought of you with my sister, that I’ve learned you’re trying to use her in your grab for power in Puerto Vallarta.”
I’m already shaking my head before he can finish speaking. “And how will we get you out? How will we know if you’ve been successful or you’re about to be delivered in a box?”
He laughs. “The only person being delivered in a box is Marío.” He gestures to Alvaro. “Besides, as far as Marío knows, I’ve been with Alvaro, so he’ll be there with me.”
‘Varo shakes his head. “But Marío knows my feelings forBruja.”
Vicente clicks his tongue. “Güey, that’s what makes you perfect for convincing him. Tell him I went to convince my sister to come back but I found out about Romero’s plans and came straight to you with the information. If he asks whether I know you want my sister or not, tell him I’m too worried about what will happen to my sister to worry about that. Fluff his fragile ego a bit and tell him you don’t want to see Vi in your eternal rival’s hands. It won’t take much to convince him that you’d rather see her with the Banderas cartel than with the Herreras.”
I stand now, my mind flying a hundred miles a minute as the plan forms. Yes, this could work out perfectly, except for one thing.
“He will knowIknow about the Vargas connection.”
“Asi pero,what can he do about it other than act faster than you?” Alvaro says. “He’ll move his timetable forward so he doesn't miss his opportunity, and you know as well as I do that rushing shit gives way to mistakes. We’ll convince him that the only way to get Vicenta out of here is through her brother. When Vicente comes back for hissupposedextraction, he and I will have a solid plan formed inside the Banderas territory, ready for a takedown without much of a battle.”
I pour us all a healthy shot of tequila, holding the glass up for a cheer. When our empty glasses land on the coffee table, Vicente blows out a breath and looks between us.
“So, who’s gonna tell my sister I’m going into Banderas territory?”
THIRTY-TWO
ALVARO
“Wallows” by Tommy Docherty
Once we tell Vicente that since it’s his plan, it’s his job to speak with his sister about it, I find myself alone with Romero. It hasn’t been easy trying to get through the new information of my mother’s death—murder—nor the five years of hating Romero, but I’m trying.
I can’t honestly say I still hate him, but the shame is more than I can handle most days. Especially right now while we sit alone in the home my mother and I used to visit almost every weekend. The place where Romero and I had a bond I was convinced was unbreakable.
“¿Qué pasa,Alvaro?”
I look up at Romero, not realizing I’ve been sitting quietly with my head hanging and my elbows resting on my knees. I sit up straight and take a deep breath, shaking my head as I pour another shot just to give myself something to do.
“Just thinking about everything.”
He nods, pouring himself a glass of the clear tequila his distillery makes, before sitting back and spreading his knees wide as he gets comfortable. I look away, taking my entire shot in one go before standing and moving to the wall of windows facing the pool.
“It’s difficult for you,” he states from behind me.
“Is it not the same for you?” I volley over my shoulder, returning my gaze to his reflection in the window.
He drinks his shot, staring at the empty glass as he speaks. “More than I care to express, but I’ve always been better at compartmentalizing than you.”
I scoff as I turn, leaning my back against the windows to really look at him. He’s wearing his typical outfit, black dress shirt tucked into black slacks; the only color aside from his tanned skin are his eyes and the white rosary beads showing on his exposed chest when the shirt pulls open with his movements. It’s the rosary I got him to match my own. I still wear it to this day.
“No, Romero, you don’t compartmentalize—you play pretend and fuck it out of your system.”
A grin knowing takes over his face as he stands and walks right up to me, invading my space with his scent and heat.
“Thatismy definition of compartmentalizing, ‘Varo.” He tilts his head, his eyes taking in my entire form. “Besides, I don't remember you ever complaining about it before.”
“I am now,” I tell him, pushing off the wall and standing toe to toe with him, our faces inches apart when he doesn’t step back. “Because playing pretend is for children too afraid to take what they want.”
He stares, his eyes hard and unwavering. “Then it’s a good thing I gave up the game when I fell in love withDiabla.”
His mouth smashes to mine, his stubble rubbing against my chin as our mouths move in starved synchronicity. I grab his waist the same time he grabs mine, pulling one another together and grinding our cocks.
