Page 41 of Till Death Do Us Part

As I neared the front staircase, I heard the raised voices from down below.

There seemed to be more than two voices. Quietly, I made my way down the staircase. In the foyer, I turned to the left, and with each step the voices grew louder. Stopping a few feet from the door to the room Aléjandro claimed as his office, I pressed myself against the wall and listened.

They said immersion was a good way to learn another language. If I wanted to learn what was happening, I’d need to pick up on the Spanish language sooner rather than later. My eavesdropping wasn’t doing me any good.

Steeling my shoulders, I made my way to the doorway. Aléjandro, Rei, Emiliano, and another man were all standing and speaking fast to one another. Of course, they were standing, their only other choice would be to sit on the floor. I made a mental note to furnish Aléjandro’s office soon.

I waited, but their conversation was obviously intense enough that no one paid any attention to my intrusion. “Hi,” I said, knocking on the doorjamb.

All four men turned my direction.

If this wasn’t my house and my husband wasn’t one of the dark sets of eyes, I might be frightened. It appeared my famiglia didn’t dominate the market on intimidating-looking men.

“Mia,” Aléjandro said, stepping away from the others as his expression softened. “Losiento—I’m sorry if we were loud.”

“Loud is fine. I’m sure whatever you’re discussing is important.” I feigned a smile and spoke to the one man I didn’t know. He seemed familiar. I assumed he was at the wedding. “I’m sorry” —I offered my hand— “I don’t recall your name.”

The man took a step forward. He was a bit shorter than my husband and Rei, but taller than Emiliano. And while I got the feeling, he was trying to be polite, I also sensed that he wasn’t happy about the interruption. “Mi nombre esNick,SeñoraRoríguez.”

“Nick, nice to formally meet you. Mia, please.” I turned to Aléjandro. “I came down to get the suitcase from the car.” I tilted my head. “Do you have the keys?”

Aléjandro sent a look to Rei that meant more than I could glean. “I’m going to help her. You three work this out by the time I’m back.”

Rei answered affirmatively aloud while Emiliano and Nick merely nodded.

My husband laid his hand in the small of my back and walked me away from the office. “I moved the car into the garage. I should have remembered our bags.”

“It seems you’re busy.”

Aléjandro scoffed. “It’s bullshit you don’t need to worry about.”

We were now in the kitchen near the door that led to the garages. Coming to a stop, I looked up at him and lowered my voice in case anyone else could hear us. “I’ve spent my entire life around angry men. I’m used to being in the dark. I’ve had the ‘you don’t need to worry about it’ lecture more times than I can count. I won’t ask you for details. I only ask that if it involves my safety, my family’s, or yours, you’ll warn me.”

Aléjandro took my hand in his. “It’s not really about the famiglia.”

“Not really?” I pulled my hand back.

“Nick’s father is one ofmi padre’stop lieutenants. He runs one of our clubs, Wanderland. It’s supposed to be higher end.”

“A strip club?”

“A private club,” Aléjandro corrected with a grin.

“So, there are also prostitutes.” When he didn’t reply, I added, “I’m familiar. Rocco oversaw the workers at a famiglia club called Emerald Club.”

“Your brother?—”

“Dario?” I asked.

“Dante. He made a comment or two to Nicolas, Nick’s father, about Wanderland. Let’s just say he wasn’t complimentary and now Nicolas is pissed off.” Aléjandro shook his head. “The thing is, I agree with your brother.”

“You do?”

Aléjandro inhaled, his nostrils flaring. “Nicolas has been in charge of Wanderland and a few other casinos for years. I come in here and see shit that needs to change. Asmi padre’sson, it’s within my right. To Nicolas I’m a hot-headed kid who hasn’t done his time.”

A smile came to my lips as I took in the over six feet, four inches of solid man before me. “I’d say you’re more than a kid.”

He nodded. “Dante should have spoken to me. There’s more than a little ill will within the cartel about the famiglia—about the alliance in general. Stirring up shit was stupid.”

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