Page 29 of One Rule

“Do you? Because I’ve already sacrificed, or did you forget the year I took off after high school to help with your last campaign?” Those hazel eyes narrow, lips thinned in a line showing her displeasure. Her tone is accusing, and while I want nothing more than to kick his ass for those remarks, I remain seated and let her deal with her father.Rebel would be pissed if I touched him.“Is getting me to agree why you brought us here? Why you took the time to cook all our favorite dishes…to soften us?”

“I wanted you all here…” Joaquin’s expression is honest and a little sad, there’s no hint of a lie. “…for us to share a meal as a family, no ulterior motive. I swear.”

“So you’ll respect my wishes then.”

“Si.”

“Good, but the answer is a no. I can’t.” Nothing Joaquin can say to that, and a quick look around the table has everyone staring back at her with pride. Even Beatrice who’s been quiet shoots her a quick nod. “I’m not a little kid anymore, Dad. School is my life, my dreams are to graduate top of my class and open up my own company, something you should understand. You taught us to work hard and smart and not to let anything get in our way, don’t ask me to choose again.”

Motherfuck,her reply makes me throb beneath the table. That’s my girl.

“Okay, Lili. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” He’s resigned, but his smile is genuine even if his eyes show longing. There’s no hint of anger, and I’m pleased by it.He misses them but is going about it the wrong way.“Is it okay to consult with you on some ideas? I promise it won’t interfere with your schedule.”

“Of course! We can sit down next week if you’d like…maybe over another dinner?”

“It’s a date, kiddo.”

After that, the conversation around us eases back into talks about the weather, Celia’s plans to leave before Saturday and I lean over while they’re all occupied. Her scent is always a distraction, but this close and with my lips barely brushing the shell of her ear, I can’t hold back my low growl.

“You did good, rebel. So fucking proud.”

Chapter10

Micah

My phone vibrates from its place atop my home desk early Friday morning, pulling me away from the current market analysis I’ve been reading. It’s an early morning report sent to me by my broker showing the trajectory for the year and the trending predictions for the second half of 2023. The company’s stock is rising at a fast pace, as was to be expected, the current travel trends have outdone the last few years by a large margin, and the deeper into the summer months we get, the higher share profits become.

Yet it all means shit as soon as I press the speaker button after answering. “Speak.”

“She’s heading toward the office, boss. We’ll be there in ten.” Ligo, her new guard, answers, and from his end, there’s the sound of heavy rush hour traffic. Honking, modified mufflers, and then there’s the music—a mixture of Spanish and English that merges into a sound that’s uniquely Miami at any time of the day. “Ms. Armas made one stop this morning and it was to pick up coffee creamer and an assortment of pastries.”

Christ, her obsession with coffee and sweets makes me a little jealous.

Does that make me crazy? Absolutely.

Is it rational? Fuck and no.

Truth is I want her to crave me more than anything in this world. To need me more than the air she breathes.

“Anything else?” Pushing the printed report aside, I move my mouse and bring up the camera feed inside her car. It’s one of the few I’ve added recently to appease me, because the near future holds a drastic change for us. I’m no longer going to trust that she’s in an office a few feet from me most of the day, nor will I be complacent with just a few guards to keep her safe.

Rationality loses all meaning when it comes to her. It’s my job to worry not hers.

And I’ve made moves that will change everything for us.

“She seemed a bit perplexed after receiving a phone call this morning while shopping. Almost annoyed."

On my computer monitor, she’s singing and shimmying to music while taking sips from her water cup. That’s another of her idiosyncrasies. There’s a mug or glass or travel something for every drink and I find the trait utterly adorable, as much as her love for whateveraesthetically pleasingmeans.

“Then I’m taking it that Jeremy canceled?” I’d sent the TA an email after leaving the Armas’s home, asking him to meet with me this morning at ten. It’s one of the pros of hiring someone from her school and closely connected with her class as part of my IT department.

I give him the false belief that he’s of importance in the company.

I move every piece to my benefit, the man’s beneath my rebel’s intelligence and ethics.

Did she really think I wouldn’t find out she was meeting him? That I’d let it slide she went against my wishes?

Not because I’m an asshole or chauvinist—I don’t her want mindless acceptance—but because things aren’t safe. So far nothing’s turned up on the Diaz men, they’re outside of the US it seems, but the look her brother gave me at dinner bothers me.

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