Page 125 of Hostile Love
“We aren’t staying for long,mi ángel,” my father tells me, patting my shoulder. “Salvador told us you were flying into Manaus. We had to see you before you leave.”
Months ago, Tomás had helped retire my hard-working parents. He bought them a penthouse apartment and dropped a bag of cash at their front door when he handed them the keys.
I’ve never seen them so happy.
“You look great, Papá…both of you do,” I choke out and then thump Salvador in the bicep. “What’s with the muscles, Sal? Are you seeing someone—oh, wait…” I giggle playfully. “You hide out in the wilderness.”
He chuckles. “I work hard,princesa. Something you clearly know nothing about. Is that flashy private jet an early wedding present from Souza?”
I swat his arm again and he grins. “I’ve missed you, big brother.”
Salvador throws his arms around me, hauls me into the air, and swings me around.
“You smell fancy, Cari. That’ll change soon.”
When he lets go, I can’t hide the smile on my face.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, going in for another cuddle with my mama.
Salvador nods to a glossy black helicopter.
“I’m your guide. We’re going back to the wild. He’s opened his oasis to the Souzas, Cari––for your wedding.”
El Fantasma…
My fingertips automatically drift to the old scar on my upper lip.
“Are you serious…uh, isheserious?”
“Deadly. And you’ll understand why it’s best for them if they don’t come with us.” Sal gestures at our parents. “Okay?”
I understand completely and nod. My parents would be at risk of stumbling across something they shouldn’t. They aren’t used to guns and violence.
Privacy and concealment are everything to el Fantasma. Having the Souzas in his domain is a move I never saw coming. He’s obsessive about who enters his space and how many guests are personally invited at one time. This is––a big shock.
“He actually allowed Tomás to plan our wedding in his hideaway?”
Salvador laughs. “He sure did. You know our friend would do anything for you. So, when Souza contacted me weeks ago and explained the whole situation, he agreed. Don’t worry, a lot has changed at the oasis since you left. Plus, your fiancé invested a heap of cash into making everything perfect for your ceremony…and the honeymoon.” He rolls his eyes playfully. “Just wait until you see what we’ve done with the place. You’re going to love it, Cari!”
36
MATHEUS
The vibe inside our private jet remained tense for the whole flight.
My brothers were told they wouldn’t be able to contact their women once they arrived in the jungle ahead of us.
Still, André had paced, knocked back shots, and continuously cracked his knuckles.
Giovanni fiddled with a high-tech device that apparently monitored India’s whereabouts. He’d placed it in her purse before she’d left the plantation. Being him, he had expected to outsmart our host, quickly learning it was impossible when the GPS tracker stopped transmitting.
A few hours ago, their women had virtually vanished off the face of the Earth.
From that moment, a palpable silence had kicked in.
Tomás quietly sat over a double whiskey and stared out the window, lost in his head. Even though he fully trusts the plan and knows Carina is with her brother, he doesn't like the thought of his girl going dark without him next to her.
She’s out of reach and he’s miles away.
