Page 66 of Hidden By His Side

“You’re not walking anywhere on your own, baby girl. Just tell me what you need.”

Summer’s heart thumped happily. Ramiro was taking care of her. He’d even called her ‘baby girl’ again. “Can we stop by the liquor store a couple of blocks past the garage? They have a flavored rum that my neighbors really like.”

He frowned. “But you’re pregnant.” His hand tightened on the gearshift just saying the word. “You can’t drink that.”

“They like it, though.”

Ramiro’s jaw clenched. “What am I going to do with you?” Ramiro muttered under his breath as he pulled out of the parking lot.

Her eyes fell to her lap. He really was getting tired of her.

“My car.” She cleared her throat, hating the gravelly feel of it. “We left it at the apartment. I can drive back to the house when I’m done. That way, you don’t have to pick me up.”

“I’m going to come and get you. Just text me when you’re ready.”

She wanted him to come get her, so his words made her feel like she could float. She allowed herself to stare at his profile for the whole drive. Ramiro was paying attention to the road. He’d never know she stared the whole time.

When his eyes flicked to her, a happy pulse ran through her body. She never wanted the drive to end.

Ramiro parked the car in the location they’d scouted at the dock. He was the first one there, even after lingering with Summer. She’d had that hopeful look in her eyes. The one that made him want to hug her and never let go.

She’d worn it all week, and yet she still slept in that damn guest bedroom.

Unable to resist, he pulled up the camera feed on his phone. That was why he’d mentioned her girls’ night. He could watchher as often as he liked while she was there and reassure himself that she was fine.

Feminine laughter filtered through the feed, but none of it was Summer’s.

“Wait, your apartment is empty?” one of the women asked.

He didn’t get to hear Summer’s voice. She nodded instead.

“That’s wild!” the other girl said. “We didn’t even notice!”

Ramiro frowned at the phone.

More laughter scraped over his nerves as both of her neighbors took a deep drink from their glasses. They were enjoying the alcohol Summer had purchased for them. He’d tried to get her to pick out something else, something she might like, but she’d resisted, insisting she always brought that fruity-looking bottle.

Summer didn’t even like rum before she was pregnant. If she drank anything, it was a glass of wine, but even that was rare.

Had he ever noticed her drinking on Friday nights in all the time he’d been watching? Or had she always sat there with that fake smile on her face, pretending to be glad to be there? He hadn’t been paying close enough attention after all.

Seb approached his car, and Ramiro put away his phone and got out. This wouldn’t take long. He’d pick her up as soon as it was finished.

“Why the hell did you want me here?” Seb griped, his voice low. Sound carried among the rows of metal containers at the docks.

“Are you always this lazy?” Ramiro asked, taking out some of his anger on his newest asset.

Seb snorted. “It’s not laziness. I don’t risk my skin if I don’t have to.”

“There shouldn’t be much of a risk if you did what I asked.” Ramiro lifted his eyebrow.

Seb sighed and slapped the remote into his hand. “Want to do the honors?”

“Let’s get a better view.” Ramiro moved past him, heading to the area Ash had suggested on the phone call earlier.

Ash had no issue finding a spot in the cartel, since he’d already had a foot inside. The hit on Ovidio Guzman stirred things up, just like Ramiro hoped, and everyone was left scrambling. Dock deliveries were scheduled weeks in advance, though. The crew working the delivery were nervous, since they had fewer people and they were suspicious as hell, but they wouldn’t willingly ditch the huge shipment of drugs. Losing the shipment would hurt what was left of the cartel.

Ramiro was counting on it.

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