Page 90 of Mob Knight

“Request? You commanded me, but I’m not one of your lackeys. I don’t have to obey.”

“You’re my sister. I shouldn’t have to do anything but let you know I’d like to see you.”

I stare at a guy who’s the spitting image of our dad. Except our dad has never been an arrogant ass to me.

“You’ve been avoiding me, and I know why.”

I refuse to respond. We’re back to where we started—for the third time. He thinks he can wear me down. How easily he forgets I’m the more stubborn of the two of us.

“How can you be fucking that?—”

“Finish that thought, Santi.”

I issue the dare even though I interrupted him. He recognizes my expression, and I can practically hear him gulp. It’s taking him even longer than usual to notice he’s pushing me too far. For someone as intelligent as him, he’s so fucking stupid. I’d throat punch him if I could.

“I don’t need to. You know what I’m thinking. You’re making a colossal fucking mistake. What the hell am I supposed to tellpapí?” Daddy.

That word has a different connotation from when I use it in English with Cormac.

“Nothing. If he has something to say, then he can call me.”

I definitely don’t think ofpapáand Cormac the same way. Santi and I have always called our fatherpapí, but I think of him aspapá.

“He’s too pissed. That’s why I’m talking to you.”

“You’re talking to me because you’re achismoso.”

“I’m not a gossip, Jo-Jo. I’m not spreading rumors.”

“Ifpapíwere as angry as you claim, he wouldn’t hesitate to call me. Hell, he’d fly me home or show up on my doorstep. You’re trying to make something out of nothing to be relevant.”

I fight the urge to cringe. That went way, way,waytoo far.

My brother steps closer. Not exactly in my face and not to intimidate me with his size. But he wants me to know I just pissed him off more than he’s pissed me off. It’s one of those thoughts I should have kept to myself.

“You know I’d be well within my rights to send you home.”

“You’d have to have one of your men bind and gag me to get me on that plane. How do you think that would go over? Santi, I had a shit day today. I don’t want to do this.”

“What did he do to you?”

“Made me feel better because of that shit day.”

“Gross.”

“Not like that. I haven’t seen him since this morning. Just shit at work.”

“Did someone hurt you?”

We might fight like two wet cats in a bag, but the moment there’s even a hint of a problem with someone outside the family, we’re both ready to go apeshit on whoever hurt the other.

“No. Just some issues to work out with my boss. It’s nothing I can’t handle, but it wasn’t a good day.”

When he engulfs me in a hug, I don’t hesitate to rest my head against him and wrap my arms around his waist. He’s still my big brother, and I know there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to protect me.

“Jo-Jo, I’m here for you. But I still don’t approve. You knowpapíwill have something to say about this. Is he really worth the trouble this’ll cause?”

The trouble it might already be causing.

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