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She placed one floury finger on her chin to think. “We cook,Papitells me stories, we meet with Gabe and Hugo. We play with Teddy, too, but he doesn’t do much yet. Uncle Ben says he’ll play more when he’s older. But it’s taking so long,” she whined.
I giggled at her frustration. “He’s just a baby yet. He’s not even one year old. Give him time, and he’ll play with you, Gabe, and Hugo. I promise.”
“I used to play with Auntie Mia, she was always so fun and crazy. We did tons of stuff myPapidon’tknow.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “She gives me extra candy before lunch, and once she made a tattoo on my arm,but it’s gone now.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her her father most likely knew about that stuff and decided to let her live her wild side. “But we’re not playing that much anymore.”
“Why not?” April asked, but I knew the answer to that.
“Because she’s always working and sad now. We still play sometimes, but not like before.”
I pulled a flock of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry to hear that, sweetie.”
“I think it’s because Zach is working away and she misses him. Gabe tries to tell her he’s coming back, but she’s still sad.” My heart broke for their innocence. I dreaded the day they’d finally understand the reality. “Papiwas really sad, too. But he’s happy when Lissie’s home.”
“You don’t say?” April’s voice reached a higher note as she stared at me with a knowing gleam in her eyes.
“He likes it when she’s here. I think it’s because they kiss. He’s always happy when they kiss.”
I wanted the ground to open underneath me and swallow me whole. I gawked at Sofia, doing my best to avoid April’s pointed stare after she gasped. But Fee was oblivious to everything. Without a clue about the bomb she’d just dropped, she kept pouring more chocolate chips we’d ever need on the cookie dough.
I was torn between being horrified at being seen by Fee fooling around with herPapilike a teenager who got caught sneaking to a party and giddy at realizing she saw us together and didn’t seem upset.
During the whole day playing spa, having fun with my best friend, and with the best kid I knew, there wasn’t a moment I didn’t think about Danny. Either to worry about him and his assignment or wish he was spending the day with us, out in the open.
That Fee caught us kissing proved we were being reckless and not as subtle as we thought. I also had a long talk with April ahead of me, if her pointed looks were any indication.
Yet there was a part of me that just wanted to throw caution to the wind and claim the man who was already unknowingly claiming me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
We were supposed to be exhausted. The days that followed a secret assignment like the one we were about to fulfill were always demanding. Between dealing with our private cases, taking care of things at home for when we were away, and learning everything there was to know about our mission, it was enough to make a man quit.
Yet we were energized.
We spent every waking hour we had away from our families over that venture. We learned about the space we were about to invade, checking every corner of the blueprint Mia managed to snatch.
If her assumptions were correct—and more often than not, they were—we were looking at nine women who’d been recently taken from their homes, whom theAlacránsmeant to sell.
We expected the task to be more dangerous than the previous one. Not only were there supposed to be more members around at that particular base, but we also weren’t headed there just to gather intel and scram. We were about to take their victims away, bringing financial loss to their doorstep, and it’d be near impossible to do that without being spotted.
We were bound to find resistance, and our identities could be easily discovered.
Even though we decided not to call Ethan or Aaron for help, to cover our asses and make theAlacránsaccountable for their crimes, we decided to text only to inform them about our plans. Right before we barged in, so no stuck-up, suited, high-ranked jerk could ruin what we were about to do.
“I have visual.” It was the first words Mia had said since we left the company to go to the cartel base. She was breathing fire about the whole situation. Even if it wasn’t a healthy feeling, it was better than her constant pain and guilt, so I was counting it as a win.
“I’m also set.” Ben was also focused, but there was something weird about him. I couldn’t pinpoint if he was worried about Mia being in a position of danger again, or the fear every parent started to live with after having a baby—the fear of not coming back to them. Or if it was guilt for what happened with Zach. It was probably a little bit of all that.
“Mia? Have you found the storage?”
“Yes. I can get there in no time.” She could pick a lock like she could change clothes.
Since we were dealing with traumatized women, we decided it wouldn’t be a good idea if two big men invaded the room where the victims were probably held. We’d be spotted eventually, but it’d be better if that happenedafterwe managed to get the women out without screaming in fear. Based on that, Mia was the one to approach the victims and help them out, as Ben and I gave them support to escape and run to the truck we drove in.
“I’m starting the clock, and we go in.” Before I announced our go time, I waited for Mia to start praying so I could follow her, as we normally did. When nothing came, I started it by myself, and not once did I hear her voice. After I finished, I positioned myself. “Tomorrow, we rest.”
“Tomorrow, we rest,” Ben and Mia said after me.
I started the clock. “All set. Let’s go.”
