Page 9 of Queen of Vice

He returned to the driver's seat and leaned over, causing me to jump. He didn't mention my startled response, but he laughed softly as he pulled the seatbelt across my lap.

“You need to stop sneaking out late at night. Consider yourself lucky that we're in my city. Anywhere else, and this conversation would be very different.”

His words sparked a mix of anger and surprise within me as he seemed to know about my nightly habits. “Are you having me followed?”

He gave me a look I couldn't decipher. “Of course. I always have someone keeping an eye on you.”

My stomach twisted into knots at his admission, and the ground beneath my feet felt like it was falling away. He said it so casually, and I knew he was telling the truth. All those times last week when I felt like I was being watched, there must have been someone around me because of him. It wasn't just my imagination running wild. Even tonight, when I thought the streets were empty, there must have been someone hiding somewhere.

But why? Why was he watching me? The only reason I could think of was because of my sister.

“Why do you have eyes on me?”

He made a sharp U-turn in the middle of the street, not answering me. As he drove, I settled back. The scent of his cologne wrapped around me, audacious warm cinnamon and blood mandarin. It was the type of fragrance that lingered in your memory. Something about it was loosely familiar, but I wasn’t in a position to ask him about it.

“Just relax,” he said in a gentle tone.

Impossible. But I did let go of the door handle, which was practically embedded into my palm. Attempting to calm myself with a quiet breath, I glanced over at him. “Where are you taking me?”

“For breakfast. Where else?”

“You...you kidnapped me for breakfast?” I couldn't help but ask, incredulously.

He chuckled lightly. “You got into my car on your own accord. That's hardly kidnapping.”

His amusement only made me more annoyed. “Where are we going?” I repeated.

“I already told you.”

“I'm not really a breakfast person.”

“You should be. It's the most important meal of the day.”

His seriousness almost made me laugh out loud, so I had to bite my cheek to keep from doing so.

“I told you we’d talk soon, yes?”

“Yes,” I replied briskly. Hehadsaid that, and I didn’t forget. Forgetting him was a feat I wasn’t sure I could accomplish. I knew the moment he approached me at the venue there was a reason why. I could only hope to have the answer after this was done.

CHAPTER SEVEN

MATEO

I didn’t ask any questions.

I gave her space for a few minutes, mentally organizing the tasks I had to complete in just a few hours. Deliveries of cocaine were on their way to an unknown destination, cash needed to be laundered and divided evenly, and plans for a new neighborhood development were in progress. These tasks could wait - a benefit of being my own boss, but I preferred to handle everything efficiently and promptly.

If things ever got too tight, Elias would act on my behalf with full authority. He was one of the few men I trusted to make decisions for me, aside from my cousin Angel. However, he was currently out of reach and tended to take drastic measures without hesitation. While this quality served him well on the illegal side of our business, it wasn't ideal for handling legal matters.

Sergio, on the other hand, struggled with interpersonal skills and often didn't work well with others. Collectively, we all kept things running smoothly, just in different areas. At the moment, my main focus was on Elena and getting us to our destination. I didn’t like her late-night walks, but tonight they worked in my favor. There was a lingering irritation with her hesitating to get into my car, soothed only by the knowledge the alternative would’ve been her fighting me. It was too early in our relationship for that.

“What year is this?” Her soft voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I glanced over and saw she was trailing her fingers along the ridges of the white bucket seat; her nails freshly painted a deep shade of maroon. “Seventy-four. Do you like it?”

“Yeah…”

She didn’t reveal her father had one just like it, but her speaking at all was a step in the right direction.

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