Page 71 of Forbidden Hearts

Santiago studies my face. I taught him everything he knows about reading people, and now he’s using it on me.

“What?” I say.

“You really care about her, huh,hermano?”

“Were you eavesdropping,hermanito?” I make sure he knows I’m not in the fucking mood. “Are you gonna gossip with grandma and our nosytiaslater?”

Santiago chuckles and shakes his head. “Whatever, man. I came to San Marquez because you asked me to come and checkon Alex. And now you’re scolding me because she stormed off on you?”

I shoot him an annoyed glance.

“I’m not an idiot, Santiago,” I say. “You’re still in town because you have a college booty call. You were already in town when I called you yesterday night.”

The muscles around his eyes tense. “Are you going to tell the big guy?”

I shake my head. “Of course not. I don’t work forNuestra Casaanymore, and it’s none of my business if you decide to slack on the job. But just remember that if shit goes down in San Antonio and you’re not there to stop it, well, there will be consequences. It’s gonna be a bad day for you.”

“I know that. It’s my choice to make,” he says, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. “And I know it’s none of my business, but you should go after Alex.”

“You’re right.”

“I know I am,” he says with a triumphant smile.

“Yeah, you’re right that it’s none of your business.”

Santiago’s smile vanishes. “I’m going back home. Next time you need me for something, don’t bother. Call someone else. Maybe Gustavo will pick up the phone this time if he’s nottoobusy.”

Santiago strides back to the cabin. I don’t bother to stop him, but he is right that I should stop Alex. Although what difference would that make? Even if I want to go after her, she’s already made up her mind. To her, this was all just a fucking fling. She made it clear she has had enough.

Clearly, I’m a fool for thinking what we had was much deeper, that I could trust myself to love again after what happened to Esmeralda.

And yet, she looked visibly upset when she ended things. There was doubt and pain in her eyes. Why?

I reload my gun and unload another magazine into the log.

Fuck.

???

I pull into Jacob’s club.

I’m not in the mood to see him again. He’s probably going to ask me about his rat problem, and what the fuck am I supposed to tell him?

Even though Alex tossed me out like an old rag, I will not turn her in. And maybe that’s foolish of me. Obviously, she meant more to me than I did to her, but I can’t find it in me to hand her over for Jacob to kill or worse.

I can’t.

Jacob meets me at the entrance of the club. Loud music spills out of the building when men open and close the door behind him. When Jacob sees me, he opens his arms to hug me, which is odd because he’s never done that before. He must be in a great mood.

“Alonzo! My guest of honor!” he says, approaching me with open arms.

I recoil and stare at the reapers beside him, guarding the door.

“Not a hugger? That’s fair,” Jacob says. His breath reeks of cheap beer. “Come on in. We have a lot to discuss, and I have that whiskey you really like.”

Jacob’s men step aside, and he walks me in. The club is dim, but I immediately realize he has a full house tonight.

“Are you celebrating something?” I ask him, walking past smelly old men.

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