Page 15 of To Have and To Hold

“That’s Jano’s office. Just ignore it.”

Before I could reply, I saw the front—or would it be the back—of their home. Large glass doors were open to a stunning patio and pool. It was what was beyond that caught my attention. The Pacific Ocean. “Oh, Mia. This is amazing.” I took a step toward the doors, feeling the summer breeze and smelling the salty aroma of the ocean. “Your home. I had no idea it was…” I turned to her. “I remember your townhouse in Kansas City.”

Mia pressed her lips together and nodded.

“This is…it’s so much nicer.”

“Everything here is nicer than Kansas City. Don’t tell my brother I said that, but it’s the truth.”

As if chatting with the capo was ever on my agenda.

Rafaele, Silas, and Horace appeared behind me with my suitcases.

“Did you leave any clothes at home?” Mia asked as she scanned the three large suitcases and a smaller carry-on.

“I had no idea what to pack. What I will wear when I’m working. If I’ll need anything nicer…”

She laughed. “I guess you just packed it all.” She turned to Silas. “Please take her things up to the spare bedroom we discussed.” She turned back to me. “After you meet Liliana tonight—she’s coming over for dinner so we can talk shop—if you want to live with her instead of here, that’s still your choice.”

“Papà said?—”

Mia shook her head. “I promised Uncle Carmine you would be safe. You will be protected in either place. Consider this month a taste of what it’s like to make your own decisions. I sure as hell wish someone would have shown me that when I was your age. It would have saved a lot of pain.”

Mia’s the wife ofel Patr?n. She couldn’t possibly make her own decisions.

Could she?

She turned to Rafaele and extended her hand. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Mrs. Mor—” He stopped. “Mrs. Roríguez.”

“That’s right. And if you report anything that I just said to Carmine or Dario, you will live to regret it.”

Rafaele’s eyes opened wide, and he grinned. “My job was to transport Miss Isabella safely to you.”

“And you’ve done a fabulous job. Would you like a drink or something to eat before you leave?”

“No, ma’am.” He turned to me. “Miss Isabella, are you satisfied if I leave for Kansas City now?”

Satisfied.

Holy shit.

I wasn’t sure who this new Mia was, but I was excited to find out. “Thank you, Rafaele. As Mia said, you did a fabulous job.” I took a step closer to Mia. “I’ll be fine.”

Chapter

Seven

Emiliano

Jano sat at his desk swearing in two languages, his stare transfixed on the video on his screen. Much was grainy and pixelated. From reports from soldiers on the street, a gun fight broke out at Pacific Beach last night. Two people were killed and three wounded. None of them cartel or bratva soldiers. It was the innocent who paid the highest price.

The press blamed the entire incident on the cartel despite the street camera footage showing that our soldiers were fired upon first. My cousin, Nick, also a soldier growing in stature among the Roríguez cartel, stood behind Jano, pointing out specifics. I sat across the office at my laptop. With access to the cartel’s larger computer network, I had access to other cameras, from those of residents’ doorbells to commercial-grade security systems.

This was the hackingel Patr?nwanted me to do. My job wasn’t to find evidence to change the mind of the police. They’d never be convinced that we didn’t start it. This diligent search had another purpose: to provide Jano with the proof of who needed to pay.

“It’s Kozlov’s men,” Nick said.

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