Page 9 of Lost Kingdom

“It’s not all.” Cordoza swings his gaze back to me, playful almost. Youthful despite being, at my best guess, somewhere in his seventies. “Tell me something I don’t know, Doctor Emeri. I’m eager to know you as well as I’ve come to know Ms. Cannon and Doctor Mayet.”

“Did you meet Tiia Hale yet?” I point toward Micah’s girlfriend and try for a teasing smile. “I hear she’s lovely.”

Amused, shaking his head. Meanwhile, poor Tim practically grinds the enamel from his teeth. Being in New York triggers PTSD in him, I’m certain. Merely being here elevates his blood pressure.

“I’ve sat down with Ms. Hale and gotten to know her. Now I wish to know you.” He steps to my left, spry despite his age, and wraps his arm around mine. As soon as his skin touches mine, the man’s happiness swirls in the air, replacing the tension Tim left behind. Then he leads me toward a deserted table, leaving Tim in our dust and helping me sit while he pushes my chair in like a gentleman. “I know you completed the medical program at Copeland University.” He comes around to sit beside me. The tables are large and round, typically seating eight or nine people, so instead of sitting opposite and struggling to maintain a conversation, he chooses my left, his knee touching my leg and the gold gown I could never afford if not for the Malones, shimmering against my thighs. “I know you graduated withhonors. I know you are Doctor Mayet’s most trusted colleague. And I know you love Timothy Malone.” He grins when my curious eyes swing up to his. “The first several points are publicly available information. In fact, I’ve seen you on the news with Chief Mayet more than a time or two. The final, though…” He allows his cheeks to warm. With pleasure, perhaps. Or smugness. “I see it in the way you watch him across the room.”

“Mr. Cordoza?—”

“Estefan,” he counters easily. “I see it in the way you intentionally defy him. He asks you to remain inside the ballroom for your own safety, but you take a private phone call in the halls.”

“I didn’t mean to?—”

“You’re an independent, intelligent woman,” he happily exhales. “Content in who you are. And yet, you glow brighter when he walks your way.”

I narrow my eyes and watch the man who makes my stomach jump with nerves. “I think you romanticize something that isn’t there.”

“I think you attempt to convince me of a lie. Not typically an infraction I allow. But this is a lie youalsoattempt to convince yourself.” Humored, his eyes twinkle. “How’s that working out for you?”

“Not so well.” I slump in my chair and hold Tim in my peripherals, comforted by the knowledge that hecannotsit with us without a formal invitation from Cordoza. It simply would not be proper. “We’re complicated,” I admit quietly. “Obviously. His life and mine are not nearly the same, and because of that, his attempts to keep me away from this, away fromyou,and away from everything this city represents, have led him to hurting me. To love a man is out of my control. But tobewith him is something I get to decide.”

“To lovethatman is to be brave.” His eyes bore into mine, flickering left and right until his stare is almost an embrace. “To forgive him for his fumbling attempts at protection and cycle breaking is certainly a leap of faith. Will you take it someday?”

“The leap?” I risk a glance across to a gritting, angry Tim, and ignore for a moment the fact I’m gossiping about my non-existent love life with the fricken Godfather of New York City. His position is terrifying, but his integrity helps me relax when most others couldn’t. Shouldn’t. “I’m not sure. I’ll love him forever.” I drag my focus back to the man in front of me. “Because love, in my world, isn’t something I hand out to every man who catches my eye. It’s a gift to be given once.”

“And you’ve chosen your recipient.” He places his hand on mine and gives it a gentle squeeze. “It’s a bit like family, don’t you think? We don’talways get to choose our family. But we love them, even against our better judgement. You know all about that, don’t you, Doctor Emeri?”

My heart pounds painfully in my chest.

Does he know? Could he?

“I-I’m sorry? I’m not sure I follow you.”

“It’s okay to give your heart to a man who would give up his destiny to keep you safe.”

Across the room, Felix separates himself and Christabelle from the pack and starts toward a podium and microphone.

“I think,” Cordoza continues, “if we take Archer’s love for Minka, Felix’s for Christabelle, and Micah’s for Tiia despite the differences that could have ended both of their lives, and factoring in that these are the sons of a man who never knew love at all, then I think it would be reasonable to assume Timothy is capable most of all. Perhaps the fiercest of the five. It may not appear typical,” he adds, “and it may come across as overbearing. But it’s love, nonetheless. If he were to do something you consider unforgivable in his quest to keep you safe, I encourage you to consider his motivations, and not necessarily his actions.”

“Are you his cheer squad?” I straighten my posture and carefully drag my hand free of his. “I have to say, Mr. Cordoza, I was prepped as this evening approached, assured I would meet you, and reminded that I should leave you with a positive impression of myself. But I certainly didn’t expect to receive relationship advice while I was here.”

Smiling, he looks to Felix, who grabs a microphone and prepares to speak. “I suppose one would consider me a romantic. I got it from my mother. ThattheseMalones marry for love, and not for business, softens my heart.”

“Excuse me. Hi.” Felix clears his throat and taps the crown of his microphone. “I want to say a few words.” He pulls his bride closer, beaming when she rests her cheek on his heart and wraps her arms around his torso, her fingers meeting on the other side of his hips. “First, I want to give my thanks that, for the first time in sixteenverylong years, my entire family is in the same room, uninjured. I wasn’t sure that would ever happen. It means a lot to me that it has.”

“I’ll leave you be.” Estefan pushes up from his chair, huffing in exertion and setting his hand on my shoulder for balance. He squeezes, just as surely as my heart does the same. “It was my pleasure speaking with you tonight, Doctor Emeri. You’re as lovely as I expected.” Releasing me, he fixes the button on his suit jacket and turns to wander.

“What the fuck was that?” A mere second after Cordoza vacates his seat, Tim’s gritty voice is in my ear on the opposite side. “What did he say?” He grabs my chin, zero interest in anything his brother announces, and forces my face around until his fingers dig into my cheeks and my lips pop forward. “What didyousay? Are you okay? Do you want to leave?”

“Do you want to calm down?” My words come out with a lisp, so I reach up and peel his hand from my face and lower it to my lap instead. “He was nice. And your skin is red. That’s a concerning indication of high blood pressure. When was the last time you spoke to your doctor?”

“You’remy doctor! And I’m talking to you now.”

“Uh… hello?” Felix speaks directly to us, staring until a hundred—perhaps two hundred—sets of eyes swing our way, too. “This ismyparty, and it’s not the first time today you’ve interrupted my attempts to profess my undying love for Christabelle Cannon. Can you shush?”

3

TIM

---