Page 113 of Cartel King

“We’ll leave theniñoshome the next time we go out drinking.” Luciana gestures at her sons, nephews, Luis, and me.

“Mama.” Three exasperated voices grumble from the landing above us, and Ellie giggles.

“Ana don’t?—”

“Your sisters won’t corrupt me. It’s far too late for that.” Ellie winks at me.

“I’m glad you won’t be alone, little one.”

“Me, too. Be careful, Enrique. I didn’t give in just to lose you the moment I did.”

I pull her back into my arms as Luis kisses Margherita. I always feel badly for Luciana when Luis and Matías say goodbye to their wives. I used to stand with her, my arm around her shoulders as we watched what she’d lost. Now she’s alone, and it makes me wonder if she’ll ever remarry.

But it’s only a moment later thatTres J’sbarrel down the stairs from getting changed in the bedrooms they have upstairs and elbow each other to get to their mama while Pablo engulfs Margherita. When the boys are done with their mama, Luis and I hug Luciana, too. Then I do the same with Margherita. I get one last kiss with Ellie, then we head out the door.

“You never lingered over your goodbyes with Daniela.”

I shift my gaze to Luis as we step off the stoop together. “I didn’t love her.”

Luis’s expression hardens, and his eyes narrow. He blames Ellie for Catalina’s kidnapping. I don’t blame Ellie, but I know she’s the reason. Blame implies Ellie played an intentional role in this.

“Luis, you didn’t see Ellie tonight. You didn’t see what she risked to save my life, to get me here to all of you. You didn’t see how she handled the interrogation that got us the information we need. She could have saved herself and forsaken me. She could have let me work those men over and possibly gotten nothing. I didn’t recognize either of them, and I haven’t even heard of them. I could have guessed they had children and tried that approach, but she knew details. She insisted—in front of the men—and I’mgladshe did. She knows this world. She knew what she risked disagreeing with me, but she risked my rejection to help us. Don’t blame her for something she didn’t do.”

“She caused all of this.”

“No, I did. I caused it by wanting her beside me. Place the blame where it belongs. With me.”

“Believe me, I do. She’s just not free of it.”

We arrive at the first SUV, and I look at Javier and Jorge. They’re studiously looking anywhere but at their uncles. They’re used to Luis and me disagreeing in front of them, but they’ve never heard us argue about a woman—my woman.

“Take it up with me. Don’t hold it against her.”

Joaquin, Pablo, Alejandro, and Matías climb into the second SUV. We have two more with men already waiting inside them. I walk around to the far side and climb in as Luis joins me in the second row. We remain quiet as a vehicle pulls in front of us, sandwiching the two SUVs with my immediate family in the middle. When we get on the highway, we’ll drive four abreast. This protects us from the sides, allowing Javier and Joaquin to speed or slow as needed if we’re chased. It’s more dangerous for a car to pull alongside us and try to push us off the road.

Our SUVs are tanks the government should copy. The entire frame and all the windows are bulletproof. The undercarriage is caged with metal plates to protect against Improvised Explosive Devices—IEDs. The tires will roll enough when punctured so we can keep going even after driving over spikes.

All Four Families have vehicles like these for missions. We use the same customizer, and the shop is like the DMZ between North and South Korea—not big enough to stop anyone but an agreed upon neutral area. The only way to tell the families’ vehicles—SUVs, town cars, and limos—apart is by the hubcaps. They’re personalized, so in a rush, we don’t confuse them and wind up with the wrong family if we’re running.

“Enrique, you’re blinded by charm and a nice pair of?—”

“Say it, and I’ll beat you for the first time in our lives.”

“Eyes. Don’t be disgusting. I’m not looking at any woman but my wife.”

My brother’s getting me riled up enough I’m the one being an ass.

“I’m sorry. I understand your concerns and your distrust of Ellie, but I don’t appreciate your distrust in me. I have served our family since I could walk and talk. I’ve never put myself first, and I’m not doing it now. But my duty doesn’t mean I have to grow old alone. I married a woman for the sake of this family, and I bore the humiliation of an unfaithful wife for the sake of an alliance. You will not begrudge me loving a woman who’s been more loyal to me in the couple months I’ve known her than my wife was in the years we were married.”

“Loyal? She didn’t tell you who she was when you confessed who you were.”

“That’s not disloyalty. That’s self-preservation. I’m not alone, and I’m not a woman. If Margherita were in her position, would you expect her to confess to you her family ties when you have an entire army at your disposal? When you have more wealth than many countries? When you control one of the most powerful empires in the world? I don’t blame Ellie for keeping her secrets to protect her family, herself, and even me. I don’t blame her for being wary when she purposely left this life behind, and I marched in and dragged her back into it.”

“She could have said no.”

“And you could say yes.”

We stare at each other at an impasse. It’s rare we’re at odds, but I won’t back down on this. If I could forsake my duty to be with Ellie, I would. But I can’t, and she would never let me.

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