Page 13 of To Have and To Hold

As I drove away from Jano’s home, I wasn’t concerned about the world. I was thinking about one particular woman—a young woman but a woman all the same. I would spend what time I could over the next month showing Isabella Luciano that cartel members were also men of honor and duty.

My first order of business was to find a soldier who would protect Isabella with his life while at the same time understanding that if he crossed a line with her, his life would be over.

Chapter

Six

Isabella

Rafaele and I deboarded the airplane at our final destination. Exiting first class, we were some of the first passengers to make our way up the long jet bridge. With each step, I tried to remind myself of the promise I’d made to my siblings, the promise to use this experience to learn, to explore, and to see more of the world. As we stepped into the San Diego airport, I glanced out the large windows, seeing rows of commercial airplanes parked at gate after gate. This wasn’t exactly seeing more of the world, but it was a start.

“Miss Isabella,” Rafaele said as we stepped away from the parade of people. “Wait with me as I call Mr. Ramírez and let him know we’ve arrived.” When I didn’t respond, he added, “Silas Ramírez is the head ofel Patr?n’ssecurity.”

I nodded my response.

These were names I’d need to learn. I nibbled on my lower lip as Rafaele spoke discreetly into his phone. There were so many uncertainties running laps through my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders. There were things I couldn’t or wouldn’t allow myself to concentrate on. For one, eighteen years old was hardly old. I couldn’t drink alcohol, and I’d never learned how to drive. Nevertheless, I was officially an adult. Even if my father and the capo didn’t agree, I could legally make my own decisions. My thoughts went to Aldo Ricci. Marrying him wouldn’t be my decision.

As I waited by Rafaele’s side, I had the epiphany that I’d always had a bodyguard, one of my father’s men, at my side. It wasn’t as if I gave any thought about trusting them. I simply did.

What would happen when it was no longer a famiglia guard?

The questions came faster than the answers. Despite the mayhem multiplying in my mind and wreaking havoc on my emotions, I stood tall, refusing to display my insecurities. I may never know why the capo demanded this of me, but I wouldn’t let it bring me down. I’d show Mia and the others that I was ready to attack the world head-on.

After his call ended, Rafaele sent a text message and placed his phone in the inside breast pocket of his suit coat. “Mr. Ramírez is waiting in the car. Mr. Horace Torres will join us in luggage return.”

“Torres?” I asked. “Who is he?”

Rafaele inhaled as he led me through the long hallways and connecting walkways. “He has been assigned to you.”

“My new bodyguard.” I verbalized my recent thought. “How do I know if I can trust him?”

“I’ve sent a text message to Mr. Luciano. Dante will send a report quickly, and we’ll know all we can about him.”

I let out a breath. “Do you always do that…background checks?”

Rafaele nodded. “No one gets near the famiglia who hasn’t been vetted.”

That made me think. “But all the cartel that show up at the capo’s home. Surely, they haven’t all been vetted.”

His jaw clenched. “Every one of them.”

“So, they’re not murderers and rapists?”

“A spotless crime report isn’t required. Understanding and trust is.”

We walked through the crowd in silence, following the signs. As we neared the terminal with the luggage return, I asked, “What about Papà, Uncle Salvatore, or even Dante? If a crime report was to be run on them, would it be clean?”

Rafaele shook his head. “There’s much the police don’t know.”

Before I could give this train of thought more of my attention, a man wearing a dark suit not too different from Rafaele’s, holding a tablet that readMiss Luciano,caught my attention. My heartbeat accelerated as I scanned the man up and down. It was difficult to judge, but I’d guess that he was older than Rafaele and younger than my father. Physically, he appeared to meet the unwritten bodyguard code—tall, fit, and buff. The gold band on his left hand let me know that he was also married.

“Miss Luciano,” he said with a bow of his head.

I wasn’t sure why I expected him to have an accent. He didn’t.

“Yes,” I replied. “And you are Mr. Torres?”

“I am Horace Torres. You may address me as Horace. I’ll be at your service throughout your stay.” He turned to Rafaele. “You will join Miss Luciano until we reach Señora Roríguez’s home.”

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