Page 50 of Till Death Do Us Part

It was one more straw piled on the straws weighing me down.

Sniffling, I wrapped my arms around my midsection and unsuccessfully held back tears. “Honestly, there was only one thing I wanted. My grandmother’s ruby ring—my mother’s mother. She gave it to me when I was a child.”

Aléjandro’s jaw clenched, a sign of his returning rage. The violent emotion swirled in his brown orbs, darkening the color to match that of his growing pupil. “I’m sorry.”

The sense of loss knotted in my chest combined with everything that had happened in the last few hours. “Me too.” The chance of recovering the stolen ring was slim to none. “Why would they take my jewelry box?”

“My guess is to make it look like a robbery.”

“That’s what it was.”

Aléjandro shook his head. “No, it was an expedition. Someone wanted to confirm that we live here. Your jewelry box will provide the evidence.”

“To whom?”

“Whoever sent them. The frightening monsters in my world rarely do their own crimes.”

My thoughts went to my grandmother’s ring. I rarely wore it because the band size was too small. It fit on my pinky finger and that felt odd. I remembered the high prongs and the yellow-gold band and the large vibrant ruby. It was simple and elegant. I should have had it made larger, but I never did.

As we were leaving, Aléjandro and I went out to the backyard. The vast darkness beyond our lighting made the small hairs on my arms stand to attention. Again, Aléjandro removed his gun from his holster and went to the far side of the pool. He crouched down, investigating the sand and broken grass before peering over the cliff into the darkness.

My heart pounded in my ears. I was certain every crash of waves below or rustling of grass was a threat hidden by the shadows. “How did they get up here?” I asked.

“Climbed, I suppose.”

Because I hadn’t explored earlier in the day, I had no idea how high up the cliff we were or if there was even a pathway down to the beach. As my thoughts raced on, I wrapped my arms around my midsection, fearful that someone could still be there, watching us from the pitch-black darkness, guns aimed at one or both of us. “May we leave?”

Aléjandro nodded.

“Will Silas be able to stop people from coming up the cliff?”

Without sheathing his weapon, Aléjandro put his hand in the small of my back. His touch and words were strong and confident. “When I bring you back here, our home and grounds will be completely safe. You have my word.”

I wanted to believe him.

Is cartel life more dangerous than the famiglia?

It wasn’t a question I wanted to ponder.

Felipe, the taller soldier, drove Aléjandro and me to the pickup point Rei had mentioned. I expected to be driven to an airport or public heliport. Instead, we arrived at another gated home. Felipe must not have known the code. He spoke into a speaker. The only part I recognized was our last name.

The gate opened.

“This is Nicolas Ruiz’s house,” Aléjandro offered.

“The man you spoke to at Wanderland earlier today.”

Pressing his lips together, Aléjandro nodded. “He has a helipad. Even if he’s not thrilled with me, he wouldn’t denymi padre’srequest.”

Rei’s car was parked on their driveway under overhead lights. As our car came closer, the front door to the house opened, and Rei came out with a woman.

“I know her,” I said softly. “From the wedding.”

“She is Em’s cousin, Mireya.”

“Are she and Rei dating?”

“No.” Aléjandro laughed. “She lives here.”

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