Page 48 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“I guess we’ll find out.” Steve had every intention of questioning Dina’s assistant.

Dina grabbed her purse off the floor, pulled her phone from inside and glanced at the screen. “The bank.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” Before she could redial the number, her phone started to vibrate again. She answered the call, and he listened intently beside her, catching as much of the rapid-fire Spanish conversation as possible.

“She took out how much money?” Dina asked, scandalized. “In cash! No. No. You did the right thing. No, I understand and thank you for calling me. No, please. It’s not a matter for the police. Yes, it’s personal, a family matter. No. No. Yes. Of course. Thank you. Good day.”

“Your mother took money from the bank?” Steve asked as Dina ended the call. “How much?”

“Too much,” Dina grumbled. “In cash. American dollars. As much as she could fit into two Hermes bags.”

He didn’t want to reveal how ignorant he was of whatever a Hermes bag was so he simply nodded. “Did she say where she was going?”

“No, but Carlito said she was alone and didn’t seem to be under any distress. He only called because he’s known my mother since he started working there, and she’s never come in and taken out cash like that.”

“Elderly people tend to be victims of scams,” Steve remarked.

“Please do not let my mother ever hear you call her elderly or suggest that she’s susceptible to being scammed,” Dina warned. “She’ll never forgive you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Dina stared at her phone, as if willing it to ring or to give her answers. “Where would she go? Where would she be taking that kind of money?”

“To meet the counselor?”

“Maybe.”

“Or someone else that’s connected to Diego?” Steve reasoned. “Maybe she wants to buy him off? To get him to leave the country and leave you and Camila alone?”

“Ugh.” Dina exhaled with disgust. “Of course!”

“Of course what?” Steve felt like he was ten steps behind and tripping over his feet as he tried to catch up.

“Mirta,” Dina said with obvious vexation. “My mother-in-law!”

Chapter Fifteen

“Iknew it!” Dina pointed to her mother’s Audi in the parking garage next to her former mother-in-law's apartment building. The sleek black car straddled two spots in the most obnoxious way, further proof that her mother had been driving.

“Two spaces, huh?” Steve remarked with raised eyebrows.

“She’s special. Didn’t you know?” Dina rolled her eyes and pulled into the nearest open spot. “God forbid her car door get dinged.”

“That truck is familiar.” Steve motioned to the vehicle in question. “The orange Nissan?”

“It’s Jose’s. You’ve probably seen it in the employee lot where Beto usually parks.” When she killed the engine and reached for her purse Steve covered her hand with his. “I don’t think we should go in there guns blazing.”

Irritated that he assumed the worst, she shook off his hand. “I’m not a toddler that needs minding, Steve.”

“You’re right.” He removed his hand, and she instantly regretted being so snippy with him. More than anything, she missed the touch of his warm skin against hers.

“I’m sorry.” She clutched his hand. “I know you mean well.”

“I can be overprotective,” he acknowledged.

“And I can be overbearing,” she allowed.

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