Page 24 of Cartel Cobra

“Pa—”

“Do exactly what Esteban says,mija. You’re as safe with him as you are your brothers or me.”

Why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner? Why didn’t I meet Este sooner? When I look up at him, I understand. My family uses him when they trust no one else to infiltrate a group. The fewer people who know his connection to us the better for us and the safer for him. I sit back and close my eyes.

“Sí, papá.”

“Take care of her, Esteban.”

I watch him transfer his phone to the hand that’s holding the wheel. He slides his free one over mine, wrapping his fingers around it and sliding his fingers along my palm. I look over at him as he takes his eyes off the road long enough to meet my gaze.

“Of course,jefe.”

He’s speaking to my dad, but he’s saying so much more to me with his eyes. I curl my fingers around his and squeeze his hand. I let go, and he shifts his phone back to that hand. He ends the call, and I stare out the window again until we pull up to my parents’ house. The moment Este can inch the car forward,he passes through the gate. I watch in the sideview mirror as it changes directions before it can even open all the way. A garage door rises, and he pulls straight in. I see my dad, but I know the protocols.

Este doesn’t turn off the engine until the door’s an inch from the ground. I don’t touch the car door handle, instead waiting forpapáto open it for me. I glance at Este, and he nods. I’ve never, ever looked to someone for permission to go to my dad. Maybe not permission, but an acknowledgement that it’s safe. I watch Este as I unfasten my seatbelt aspapáopens my door. Then somehow I’m in my dad’s arms. It’s always felt like the safest place in the world to be.

He’s in his late fifties and can still run six miles at the same pace he did in his twenties. He lifts weights in the basement daily and boxes four times a week.Papádefinitely doesn’t have a dad bod. He reminded me of the Hulk when I was little, except he would never shred his designer suits. This mountain of a man has made the ugly and scary world disappear for the past twenty-two years.

Now I’m looking past his shoulder for Este.

He calls me Lucy, and I call him Este. I’m certain no one calls him that. He’s not a man who goes by nicknames any more than Enrique or Luis do with the outside world. But he hasn’t stopped me, just like I haven’t stopped him from calling me Lucy.

“Jefe, I need to talk to you.”

I cling to my dad since I can’t run to Este. Whatever they have to discuss can’t be good. I already sense they’re leaving, and we haven’t even gotten inside the house.

Papáguides me inside, and Este follows us.Mamáruns to me and practically snatches me frompapá, who wisely pulls his arm away just in time. My mom kisses my forehead over and over, and I sink against her. The danger we were in slams into me, and I squeeze my eyes shut and cling to my mom.

“Jefe?”

I open my eyes when Este speaks. He’s watching me, but his head tilts to the hallway that leads to my father’s office. How the hell does he know it’s down there unless he’s been here before?

“Matáis, join us.”

I hadn’t noticed my sister or Matáis in the living room. He’s holding Catalina while they watchmamáand me. They walk over together, and my sister hugs me as the men leave us in the foyer. Este may not have been a part of it, butmamá, Catalina, and I have been in this situation countless times. In the past three years, Matáis has been part of it, too. It surprises none of us when, half an hour later,papáand Este are leaving the house dressed in all black. Este’s wearing some of Matáis’s cargo pants and a long-sleeve Henley. Matáis keeps a spare go bag here since this has happened before.

Mamágets a kiss frompapáthat’s embarrassed my siblings and me since we were kids. Normally, I can’t watch Catalina and Matáis since they’re no better. Right now, Matáis is hugging my sister again as she and I wait to say our goodbyes to our dad.

“Te amo, papá.” Catalina and I speak at the same time when he wraps one arm around each of us.

“Os quiero mucho, mijas.” I love you so much, my daughters.

I step away frompapáas he givesmamáone more hug. I want to share with Este the kind of kiss my parents had, but we know it’s not possible with the others around.

“Be careful, Este.” I keep my voice low, but we know the others notice us talking.

“Go nowhere unless your mother tells you to. Wait for me to come back before you decide what to do next.”

I nod, but his gaze hardens. A silent command I want to answer.

“Sí,Este.”

“My goodchiquita.” He mouths the words as he shifts like he’s adjusting the bag on his shoulder. Only I can see his lips move.

Then they’re gone.

I nearly jump out of my skin whenmamá’sphone rings. None of us have paid attention to the movie we’re watching. Matáis has checked on our guards every half hour for the past four hours. When he isn’t doing that, he’s shared the loveseat with Catalina.Mamáand I are curled up together on the sofa. She reaches for the phone on the coffee table, and I seeCacheteson the screen.

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