Page 64 of To Have and To Hold

“And you know, how?”

“Fuck, Jano. We went to Little Italy, ate dinner, and walked around. Then I took her to Imperial Beach. We walked the pier to watch the sunset. I didn’t defile her.” When he didn’t speak, I added, “You said I could take her around San Diego. That’s what I did.”

Jano threw his head back. “Fucking women. It’s always about a woman.”

“Did you talk to Dario about my request?”

“No,” he shouted. “I didn’t talk to him about your request. I took the phone from Mia because she was obviously upset. He said Carmine wanted Isabella back in Kansas City. She’s to leave Saturday morning.”

“Fuck no.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Isabella

A little while earlier

Ifound Mia sitting at the kitchen island looking at her laptop. “Hey,” I said.

Mia spun around and scanned me from head to toe. “Tell me you’re okay.”

My smile couldn’t be hidden. “I’m good. Why?”

She got down from the stool. “You shouldn’t be with Em unaccompanied.”

“I was safe. Heck, he’s deadlier than anyone else out there.”

“Come” —she motioned toward the counter and stools— “sit down and tell me what happened. What made you want to do something so reckless?”

I went to the refrigerator and got myself a bottle of water. Sitting with a stool between us, I unscrewed the cap, trying to compose my response. Finally, I laid my hands out on the counter. “I’m sorry if you thought Em showing me around San Diego was reckless. I went because he asked. He even asked your husband first.”

“He didn’t ask Jano to take you without Horace. You have a bodyguard for a reason.”

I scoffed. “I’m certain that Em is as capable of protecting me as Horace.”

She lowered her voice. “Do you know what your mother and father would say if they knew you spent the evening unaccompanied with Catalina’s brother—a member of the cartel?”

“I wasn’t planning on mentioning it to them.”

“Then you should have answered your phone when she called you.”

My phone.

Shit.

I pulled my purse from where I’d draped the strap over the kitchen stool. Opening the zipper, I removed my phone. After entering the passcode, my stomach sank at the sight of eight missed calls. “Oh no. Mom called me this afternoon, and after that call, I turned off the volume. With it being in my purse, I must not have felt it vibrate.” I met Mia’s stare. “Should I call them?” I looked at the clock. Nine thirty in California meant eleven thirty in Kansas City.

“Yes, but wait a minute. The whole ordeal was a shit show. Apparently, Aunt Aurora was upset about her call with you earlier. Then the more she consequently tried to call you and you didn’t answer, the more upset she became. She told Uncle Carmine that she wanted you back in Missouri. I guess I’m a bad influence.” She shrugged. “Anyway, Uncle Carmine called Dario.”

With my elbows on the counter, I held my head in my hands. “This is ridiculous.” I looked up. “Papà called the capo. Then what happened?”

“Dario called me, asking me what I was doing with you, exposing you to…basically saying that working in the apartments has corrupted you in only two weeks.”

Tears prickled the back of my eyes. “Mia, I’m sorry. You haven’t corrupted me.” I gestured towardel Patr?n’soffice. “Em hasn’t corrupted me or done anything reckless. I told him I wished the lockdown was over and I could see San Diego. This is my first time here without my family, and all I’ve seen is your house and the apartments.”

“Jano told me. Atour?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

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