Page 2 of Captive Vows
Life hadn’t been dull or boring when I had a woman to love.
Allen and I reached the garage, and I immediately saw my son and nephew. Emil and Ivan stood waiting near a kitted-out black SUV. Just the sight of them helped to rein in this lurkingnegative energy that could prime me for killing. They were living proof that the Vipers and Riveras hadn’t obliterated all of my family. I still had them and many others.
Emil and Ivan were more familiar with the depth of my fury for those within the other families, though. For that matter, I could rely on them to keep me in check during this meeting.
“You all right?” Emil asked. He tipped his chin at Ivan, leaving him to go into the SUV while he came to join me inmycar.
“Yes.” I furrowed my brow, watching him as he got on the other side of the car. “Why do you ask?” His implication that something was wrong with me didn’t bode well. Turning to face him while the driver started the car and exited the garage, I waited for an answer.
“You seem moodier than usual,” he answered.
I faced forward and rolled my eyes. “No, I do not.” I wasn’t in a good mood. But that was generally true for most of the time. I didn’t see a reason to expend too much energy on the lighter joys of life.
“You’re not acting like yourself.”
I turned to look out the window as we sped through the city.
“Not tonight, at least.”
Perhaps he had a point there. I wasn’t excited or happy to be near some of the players associated with when Maria had been killed.
“Ivan thinks it’s old age creeping up on you.”
I faced my son, deadpan. “Shut the fuck up.” I’d dare him to try to call meoldin a serious tone. I dared him to repeat that and mean it. His cocky grin hinted that he was joking, but it was a stupid line of humor to go with. One more year was left before I hit fifty, but I was as fit, as toned, and as sharp as men half my age.
“I’m annoyed.” Maybe if I tossed him a bone and gave him an answer—not that I owed him one—he’d shut up.
“About what?”
“The same old. There’s nothing to look forward to anymore. It’s the same fucking old.”
Emil studied me silently.
Even the whores were getting to be the same old. Too used up and too eager, like carbon copy blow-up dolls for the amount of genuine interest they were capable of.
“Why—”
I held my hand up, cutting him off. “Leave it.” Discussing my mood or any emotional crap wasn’t happening.
He replied with a sigh, and for the rest of the ride to this meeting, he didn’t poke or prod at me to say anything else.
We arrived with Ivan and the rest of the backup. Pulling up to the warehouse in a line of cars, we showed that we weren’t solo, that we weren’t weak. All of us were packing, and with practiced confidence, we entered the building as one. Strong, with numbers, and no room for error.
“Boss,” one of the men said, bowing slightly as I stepped into the room where others waited for me. “It is good to see you.”
“I can’t say the same,” I told the middle-level dealer. Maybe he was a supervisor for whoever the fuck he worked for, like an independent broker. As far as I was concerned, though, he was an insignificant piece of shit.
I was expected to attend this meeting, not necessarily to talk much or contribute any new intel. Like a spectator in the background, I brought the weight of my position to this gathering. It was for show. I was here to remind them all who was in charge. Such reminders weren’t needed, though, because as the men spoke about deals and the transgressions we had against the Cartel were brought up, I merely watched and listened. I let my men do the jobs they were given. Usually, Ididn’t play my hand and hover as an overlord. The point was to work smarter, not harder, and I did that by delegating this bullshit to the leaders within my Family.
Every single person in the room eyed me with equal parts respect and fear. As they should.
Only one individual stood out.
Miguel Lopez.
I’d spotted his unwillingness to make direct eye contact with me. Regardless of whether he was talking or someone else was, he couldn’t look me in the eye.
What the fuck are you up to?
