I feigned a smile. “I think you’re outnumbered.”
“Rei and I are Roríguez.” He grinned. “You are too. We receive respect. If not, we take care of the problem.”
His words were laced with a permeating scent of testosterone, a predatory odor that filled the air, daring others to give him a reason to demonstrate his dominance. The scent was almost as frightening as the conviction in my husband’s expression.
“Once Rei told them who I was, they seemed” —I lifted my brows— “better.”
“Then they’ll all live to see tomorrow.”
“You went after the shooters? You purposely put yourself in danger.”
He nodded. “Danger is what we do.” His expression soured. “The bratva is a fucking cancer in our city. It’s up to us to remove them any way necessary, one by one.”
It was then I recalled something Rei said. “Is Nick all right?” I widened my eyes. “Rei said he was shot.”
Aléjandro tilted his head toward a curtain I hadn’t noticed before. “They have him medicated. The bullet is out. He’ll be good soon.”
“Is anyone with him?”
He shook his head. “Hispadrehas been here, but he’s left. Nicolas needs to be at Wanderland in case the Russians return.”
“You could have been shot.” I lifted my hand to his scruffy cheek. “Please don’t make me a widow again.”
Aléjandro took my hand in his. “It’s nice to hear concern even if it’s not one hundred percent sincere.”
“It is.”
He tilted his head. “You’re not going to make me believe that you haven’t thought about my death. Death saved you once. It would make sense you would consider it the second time.”
I had thought of Aléjandro’s death. I wasn’t proud of that, especially now.
“We’re just getting started,” I said, forcing a smile. “I don’t know what I want. But I know that on the way here, I feared losing you.”
“That’s a start.” He grimaced. “Doc said the cut is deep. Said it missed the tendon, mostly muscular damage. I won’t be lifting weights for a while, but it will heal.”
“I guess that’s good news.” I scooted closer. “Can we go home, or do we need to stay here?”
Aléjandro’s jaw clenched. “We’ve received an invitation…one we can’t refuse.”
This was probably what Rei meant. “From your father?”
“Sí.”
“Does he want us to go to Mexico?”
ChapterTwelve
Mia
Iwasn’t sure how I felt about going to Mexico.
“No,” Aléjandro said. “He wants us to stay with him andmi madreuntil Silas can be certain our home is safe.”
“Stay with him where? Are they staying in a hotel?”
Aléjandro shook his head. “When he’s in the States, if possible, he prefers to stay on his yacht.”
I tilted my head. “Your parents are on a boat?”