Page 119 of Cartel King

“Or a distraction.”

Margherita runs from the room and across the hall into the true guest room. It’s unassigned. It also has a view over the backyard.

“There are men coming over the walls.”

“Are there enough guards?” I follow Luciana out, so all three of us stand in the hallway, away from the windows.

“There should be.”

“I won’t convince either of you to go in the panic room, will I?”

“Are you going?” Luciana lifts her chin.

“If that’s what it takes to get you in there, then yes.”

“There are family heirlooms in this home I won’t walk away from. I’m not letting strangers in here to trash my brother’s house.”

I nod. I understand that. My mind flashes to my house. Could these people have already gone there? Could it already be trashed? Could it be rubble? My security system hasn’t gone off, but that doesn’t mean someone hasn’t figured out a workaround.

“Come with me.”

Margherita heads back into the spare room as she speaks. We each take a window, opening it but keeping the blinds mostly shut. I pray no one notices our movements. Enrique’s sisters and I watch as men pour out of the summer house at the foot of the garden. It’s more like barracks than a guest cottage or staycation escape from the main house.

A couple men scaling the wall fall as they try to get over it. Men who’d already jumped down, stumble forward from bullets fired behind them. I aim my rifle for the drone that just appeared. It’s probably the same fucking one that took photos of me. I’m assuming these are the same people who violated my privacy. One shot takes it down. It also gains attention from the men on the ground. An invader pivots toward me, and I see his finger move to the trigger. I don’t hesitate. I put a bullet through his eye since his helmet covered his forehead.

Luciana, Margherita, and I open fire. We pick off men who don’t belong here, evening the numbers for Enrique’s men to finish.

“Enrique!”

I recognize a muffled voice. I leave the window and run back to his bedroom. I open a window as he, Luis, and his nephews shelter Catalina and Matías as they all try to make their way to the front door. I spot another drone, and this one isn’t made for aerial photography. I shoot it down, the machine landing close to Javier. He looks up at the same time as Enrique. I ignore the younger man as surprise morphs into rage as Enrique’s gaze meets mine. I refuse to cringe. I stare at him defiantly.

I brace myself for when he storms into the room. I look past him to see Luis pulling Margherita into his arms while he chews out Luciana. Enrique kicks the door shut so hard the frame shakes. I lay the rifle on the bed as Enrique points toward his closet while he pets Constantine with the other. Satisfied with a scratch between the ears, my dog senses it’s still not time to be in the way.

“Why aren’t you in there?”

He stalks toward me, but I stand my ground.

“We decided not to.”

“We? You let my sisters convince you?”

“They didn’t need to. It was obvious they know what they’re doing with their guns, and I saw the proof. We aren’t helpless.”

“No. You’re foolish, which is just as bad.”

“No one entered the house. If they had, then the panic room would be the right place to go.”

“You conveniently didn’t say it’s where youwouldgo.”

He fists my hair with one hand, and his other rests heavily on my throat. I can’t move, and I don’t want to when he kisses me. I welcome his forcefulness, opening to him as his tongue presses into mine. But when I cross my wrists behind my back, he jerks away.

“Touch me,chiquita. Hold me.”

I wrap my arms around him, grateful he wants a reunion of equals, not a BDSM scene. He wants me to see his dominant side, but he isn’t a Dom. I appreciate the nuance. As our kiss continues, our hands skim over each other. I can’t get enough. He lifts me, and I wrap my legs around him as he walks to the bed.

“What about outside?”

“My men have it under control.”

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