Page 25 of Hidden While In Sight

“But you’re soft when people are already broken,” Ramiro said. “Look at Naz.”

“That was one time.”

“And you’re keeping tabs on him now, like he’s some kind of goddamn puppy you adopted.”

“He’s an asset, Ram, not a puppy. The first one I brought in. I have a responsibility toward him.”

“Sure, tell yourself that.” Ramiro laughed. “Then again, you were my first, and here we are.”

Diego snorted. “I bet you regret that now.”

“A little more each day. Figure out your shit, Diego, but I feel sorry for any kid that ends up with you as a father.”

He shook his head as he stared through the playroom camera, where Connor was moving that square, yellow book toward Emma’s face. The sound was muted like usual, so he couldn’t hear her giggling even though she looked like she was.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Diego muttered, though he didn’t disagree. He couldn’t imagine himself reading to the little girl like that.

“What can I say? I’m a realist. Your endgame is one thing, but what you’re talking about is something else entirely. Be certain.” Ramiro’s voice softened. “It’d kill you to fuck up some kid’s life.”

Diego grunted in agreement and hung up the phone.

Hannah was using the treadmill again, running from her demons, who likely looked like him.

He reached for his sneakers, deciding he’d try to do the same. Looking away for only a moment wasn’t going to hurt anything, not when Ashford wasn’t in the house, and it might just save Diego’s sanity.

Chapter 13

Diego was able to look at Hannah swimming laps in the pool for longer than he had before. His obsession was good for something after all.

The kids were locked up in the playroom with the nanny like usual, and Ashford was at work. The urge to do more than watch overwhelmed his best intentions, and he unlocked the sliding glass door to push his way through.

He regretted not putting a camera in the backyard despite the way water fucked with him. He could have rewatched how she fell apart over and over again. His cock would have been raw but happy, though, of course, his thoughts would have been even more full of her than they already were.

Approaching the pool, the water slapping against the sides from her repetitive motions, filled him with dread, and he wondered what the hell he thought he was doing. His shadow spread over the edge, shading Hannah enough to startle her into pausing and gripping the edge of the pool instead of turning underwater again like she had gills instead of lungs that craved the air.

He imagined the bubbles that had slipped out from between his lips, and his legs wanted to shake. He crouched to hide the weakness and to get closer to Hannah. Perched there on the edge of the pool, he was closer than he’d ever thought he would get in this situation.

“I get to see you all wet again, mami,” he said, his grin slightly less forced as her eyes grew wide under her goggles.

Her hand moved to the swim cap, hovering as if she knew it did nothing for her looks. She needn’t have bothered. Even the swim cap was starting to seem sexy to Diego.

“Had any dreams you’d like to share?” he murmured.

He’d been hoping for red cheeks and the barest of gasps.

Instead, a paleness spread over her face as it tightened into its normal blankness. The nerve-damaged half of her mouth dragged down farther. “It was all about him,” she said, her tone flat. “What you did.”

Diego’s brows drew together. If she hadn’t been married to Ashford, would he have ever touched her? Likely not, but saying it wouldn’t endear her to him.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said.

“That’s true,” he agreed, “but I didn’t like the idea of you wondering if it was real or your imagination running wild.”

“Why?” she asked.

The sun felt hot as it beamed down on the back of his neck. Diego began to sweat at the coldness he saw in her eyes. Now he was the one starting to believe that the night before had been a wet dream. “Why what? Why wouldn’t I want to take credit for making you cry my name?” He leaned closer. “Say my name, Hannah. Like you did in the dark.”

“Diego.”

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