Page 85 of Cartel King

“What makes you say that?”

“It’s the way you stand together. It was that kiss. You two look like you’ve been together for years, not weeks. There’s intimacy between you new couples don’t have even during the early days when everything seems perfect. Your intimacy is the kind that usually takes time to develop unless you’re with your soulmate.”

I know what I see when I look into Luciana’s eyes. She’s lost her soulmate because the pain is clearly soul deep. I remember from what Enrique told me that she’s been in America several years, but she probably wouldn’t have come if she weren’t a widow. All I do is nod and offer her a tight smile, hoping she realizes I understand, and I won’t press for a more personal explanation. She gives my upper arms a quick squeeze.

“One day I will tell you that story, but not tonight.”

That’s about as much of an official welcome to the family as I’m likely to get. She’s agreeing to tell me such a personal story, and she’s telling me it’ll be at a later date that she plans. She believes I’ll be sticking around.

It’s only a few minutes later when there’s a knock on the front door. A guard materializes who I didn’t realize was around. He checks the spyhole before opening the door. There’s security at the gate at the end of Enrique’s driveway and men patrolling the grounds in black utilities with bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and rifles. Even with all of those protections in place the guy still double checks before letting anyone into thejefe’shouse.

Three men file in, and one of them goes to Catalina. I don’t hear what they say, even though they look at me while they speak. Their kiss is quick and affectionate.

“Elodie, this is my husband, Matías. He is your head guard tonight. If you need anything at all, tell him whatever it might be. Nothing’s too big or too small for our sister.”

Oh, holy shit.

I did not expect to be called that so soon. Maybe I’ll not only survive to tell the tale, but I might actually be welcome in this family after all. If the women accept me, then so will the men. When Catalina winks, I know she understands my thoughts.

Matías introduces me to the two other men, Pedro and Diego. It’s not long before I’m climbing into a town car with Diego driving and Matías in the front passenger seat. Pedro is in a car that will follow us first to Hunt, then to my place. I’ve just sat back and buckled my seatbelt when my son calls.

“Hey, honey bear. I’m just on my way over to come get Constantine.”

“Hi, Mom. I was calling you because I’m on my way to your place to drop him off. I have to go home. Cindy slipped and dislocated her shoulder in the shower. I’ve got to get back to her.”

He’s been dating this girl for three years. They need to shit or get off the pot. Not necessarily marriage, but at least admit they want to spend their lives together. When I think about them and how frustrated I’ve been with them and how ridiculous I’ve thought their relationship status has been, I realize the apple didn’t fall far from the tree since that’s all I was initially willing to agree to with Enrique.

“All right, I’ll meet you at the house if you’re still there. How close are you?”

“I’m about ten minutes out.”

“I should get there just before you. I’ll make sure the guards know. Let me let you go, so I can tell them before we head in the wrong direction. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

I hang up and lower the privacy glass.

“That was my youngest son. He’s headed to my place to drop my dog off. His girlfriend hurt herself, so he’s headed back up to Boston. We don’t need to go into the city after all. Sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize,señoraMcCann. We go where you tell us to go.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

I don’t raise the privacy glass before I sit back. I have second thoughts about it and feel like an idiot leaning forward again, but I realize they may want to discuss things I can’t hear, so I put the glass back up.

When I close my eyes, it feels like it’s only been a few seconds before the car shifts into park. I open them to find us in my driveway. Matías opens the door for me, and I head toward the garage, ready to enter the code. I look over my shoulder, and Matías steps next to me.

“Do you prefer me to go in through the garage or the front door?”

“The garage. You can wait in there while we sweep the house and be sure it’s clear in there without leaving you exposed.”

“Thank you.”

That’s what I expected to hear, but I question why I had to wait for him to walk over to me. He should have led the way. If I didn’t want to come in this way, I would’ve corrected him. But as my guard, I shouldn’t approach any doorway without someone ahead of me.

I cannot imagine no one trained them to do that. I’m immediately suspicious, though I tell myself to trust Enrique knows who to assign to me. However, it also makes me wonder if what Catalina said was a lie and that she put her husband up to this when they whispered together. I punch in the code, then I stand by my driver’s side door. My keys are already in my pocket in case I need to lock myself in or leave. Matías doesn’t enter my house until the garage door closes. Pedro went ahead of him, and Diego is by the garage door.

When Matías comes out and nods, I head into the house. I wait in the mud room, watching from there as the three men leave through my front door. I lock the garage door behind me out of habit and as a precaution now that I’m on edge. I hurry to lock the front door. I head into the living room and peer around a curtain as Hunt pulls into the driveway.

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