Page 26 of Guarded

“Don’t you want to get breakfast?” he asks, still pushing me forward.

The hostess greets us, and I ask for my usual booth. I wasn’t used to coming in when there was a big rush like Sunday Brunch.

I slump into the empty booth, and Nero slides in across from me. Tres Coronas only serves breakfast on the weekends, so I was excited when he suggested we eat here—or, more accurately, forced me in. But it’s whatever. I never say no to food.

Looking at the Kitchen, I search for my Tia Olivia.

Axel, Adan, and I spent every summer at my grandparents’ house. They spent most of the days with Thalia fighting eachother WWE-style on the trampoline. It’d start out friendly, but someone was always crying by the end. You didn’t hear this from me, but it was usually Axel after Thalia and Adan ganged up on him.

Anyways, since I wasn’t into all the violence, I spent most of my time with my Abuela and Olivia. It’s where my love for cooking came from. The smells of the kitchen and the love my abuela put into making a meal. I missed her so much. Cooking was how I kept her memory alive.

“What’s the special?” I ask the waitress.

“Chorizo Eggs Benedict in a chipotle hollandaise sauce.” She reads off her notepad.

“Oooh, that sounds fancy. I’ll take it. And a watermelon mimosa, please. Oh, and a side of churro pancakes, too, please.”

“Y para usted?” she says, her eyes brightening at Nero.

I hated the way women ogled over him in public. Also, why didn’t she ask me for my order in Spanish? Never mind, I don’t know how to say eggs benedict in Spanish.

Nero orders country-fried steak and a black coffee for himself.

“Black like his soul,” I whisper to Guapo.

“Really?” Nero replies, his brow arched.

I smile and shrug. I’ve grown more comfortable with Nero over the last few weeks. It was easy to be myself around him. He seems to enjoy my company and laugh at my jokes. However, I am also delulu as fuck, so if he is annoyed, he’ll have to make it more obvious than he is.

“So, when do you plan on apologizing to me?” I ask, feeling a little braver than usual, thanks to the mimosa.

We hadn’t spoken to each other since he found me at Alfonso’s.

“And what would I be apologizing for?” the smug smile is back, but I don’t back down from the challenge.

“For yesterday, that wasn’t very gentlemen-like,” I say, earning me a sinister laugh from him.

“I’m not apologizing for shit.”

The waitress interrupts our stare down and sets down some napkins and utensils, but not before she flashes him a smile. I roll my eyes at the way she acts like I’m not there. I look at her name tag.

“Muchas Gracias Estephanie.” I say.

She finally looks at me and smiles before walking away. The side of Nero’s mouth slightly twists up before he covers it with his cup of coffee. God, he could be aggravating at times.

“Anyways, I do think you owe me an apology.” I continue.

“You put yourself in danger. I saved you. If anything, you owe me a thank you.” He says matter of factly.

“A thank you? I am an adult, not some damsel in distress. Also, how the hell did you even know I was there?” I retort.

Which is my real concern. I didn’t put it past Axel to pay someone to stalk my every move. Nero’s face is horrific when he stares back at me. His voice lowers, and he leans over the table.

“You will not be returning to that neighborhood, princess. Is that clear?”

The whole restaurant disappears, and I force down a nervous swallow. Holy shit, he’s hot when he’s mad. When I don’t reply, he growls again.

“Do you understand me, Ariella? You will not put yourself in danger like that.”

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