Page 85 of The Red Queen

Giovanni shook his head. “They came back. They’re attempting to revive the Garza influence in this region. They’re shit at it, but they’re trying. You, my love, are high on their hit list. They’ve been waiting for you to show your face in this area.”

“Oh my god.” She covered her mouth with her hand as she realized the implication of coming to her family home while there was cartel instability in the area. She’d been high on the food chain, second-in-command to the most powerful cartel in Sinaloa province. By coming to see her mother, she was bringing down the wrath of the Garza boys and god knows who else -- anyone with a gun and an itch to take her head off. “I didn’t mean to do this. I should’ve thought…”

He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her close to his heart. She laid her head against him, listening to the steady, reassuring beat. “You couldn’t have known.”

She tilted her face up to him. “But you did?”

“Si, I have been tracking your old cartel, watching their movements. Eventually, I would have sent a team to finish them, but I can’t do that without the approval of other powerful leaders. Sotza and Reyes in particular. They are both South American, but their influence extends through central America, up into the north.”

“I know,” she said. “When I worked for Nico, I had to avoid them at all costs. Stay off their radar. They did not like the Garza cartel.”

“An understatement considering you were sent to take out Sotza and his wife.”

Desi shrugged. “It was just business.”

“And I’m sure they would consider it just business to put a bullet through your skull.”

She smiled at him. “Now you stand between me and that bullet.”

“Si, indeed, I do,” he admitted. “You have no choice but to stay with me.”

She shrugged negligently, though she felt anything but casual. “If I must.”

He gripped her chin and tilted her face up to his. “Not good enough,mi esposa. Say the words.”

She licked her lips, then whispered, “I love you, Gio.Te amo.”

His eyes softened and, ignoring the men in the room who were pretending not to be privy to such an intimate conversation, he pulled her hard against him, taking her lips in a ravishing kiss that she felt down to the tips of her toes and right back up again. Finally, he broke the kiss and, staring down at her, said clearly, “Ti amo, Desiree Savino.”

He pressed his lips against hers for one more lingering kiss.

“Desiree?” A soft voice came from behind her.

Tears started in Desi’s eyes before she even turned around. “Mama,” she whispered, swiping at her eyes with a sleeve and finally turning around.

“My daughter.”

Theresa Amada looked completely different from what Desi remembered, but also exactly the same. She was twenty-five years older, but more beautiful than Desi could have imagined. She was shorter than Desi by several inches, round in the middle, and had the most stunning smile Desi had ever seen.

Theresa held her arms out and Desi rushed to her, stooping to wrap her arms around the smaller woman. Her hug was tight, but Theresa’s was tighter. The floodgates opened and both women cried.

“You are so beautiful, my daughter,” Theresa sobbed, stepping back to hold Desi’s tear-soaked cheeks in her hands. “I could never have imagined my scrawny little duckling would grow up into such a lovely swan. My heart has so much pride.”

Desi shook her head. “No, mama, I’m no good. I’ve done terrible things. There’s nothing to be proud of.” Desi was spouting gibberish, but she couldn’t stop. Feelings were smashing around inside her, colliding and creating chaos. She was happy, sad, ashamed, all at the same time.

“Hush, Desiree, it wasn’t your fault.” Theresa wiped away Desi’s tears as they came.

“Why did you let them take me?” Desi asked without accusation. She knew what happened, Giovanni had told her. Nico Garza had seen her as a child and had wanted her. Her mother would’ve died if she’d denied him. Desi might have died.

It was Giovanni who answered. “She had no choice. He would have killed you both.”

“I’m sorry, baby,” Theresa said. “It is my biggest regret that I didn’t fight harder for you. Or figure out a way to get you back.”

Desi shook her head. “You wouldn’t have been able to. He watched me close and would have killed anyone who tried to take me away.”

Theresa’s shining gaze turned to Giovanni. “You’re safe now, though. Happy even?”

Desi nodded. “Si, I’m happy, mama.”

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