Page 62 of To Have and To Hold

“Tony and Noemi,” I said with a tug in my chest. “I don’t want to leave them.”

His fingers splayed on my thigh. “When we marry, you can always go visit or they can visit us. We need to do our part, the cartel and famiglia, to eradicate our greatest threats, and then you’ll be safe to travel.”

“You wouldn’t mind if they came out here?” I thought about our walk. “They’d love to see the ocean.”

“Isabella, I’d never try to separate you from your family.”

I laid my hand over his and stared at the highway as we headed north back to Mia’s home.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Emiliano

We didn’t kiss again after we passed the first gate toel Patr?n’shome. With Silas’s security and surveillance as well as the guards standing by, it couldn’t have happened without some detection. Instead, before getting out of the car, I squeezed her hand. “I love you, Isabella. We’re going to make this work.”

“I’m so scared that this will all fall apart.”

“You’re mine to have and to hold. I can honestly say I’ve never felt something this strong. It seems I’ve been waiting for you to come into my life. They can’t stop what’s meant to be.”

Before we could say any more, the door next to Isabella opened.

“Welcome back, Miss Luciano,” Silas said with a bow before offering his hand.

“Thank you, Silas.”

I watched as she stepped from the car. The white bakery bag remained on the seat.

Silas leaned down, making eye contact. “Lieutenant Ruiz,el Patr?nwould like to see you.”

I shut off the car and grabbed the bag. “I’ll be right in.” Looking inside, I saw the flattened cannoli, and the scent of sugary goodness filled my senses. As I walked behind my vehicle, I remembered the kid’s gun.

Inside the trunk, I pulled two rubber gloves from the box in my supplies and picked up the Glock 45. With the popularity of this model, I doubted we’d learn anything, but we should try. Silas waited for me by the door. When I nodded, he opened the front door. While I could hear Isabella’s and Mia’s voices from the living room, I went directly to Jano’s office.

He looked up from the monitors in front of him. “How was the tour?”

“Good,” I replied, keeping my voice even.

His dark gaze went to the gun in my hand. “Tell me about that. Since you’re wearing gloves, I assume it isn’t yours.”

“It’s not mine. Although I did touch it. So, my prints will be on it.”

“The trigger?”

I shook my head as I laid the Glock on Jano’s desk. “The tour started in Little Italy.” That put a smile on Jano’s face if only for a moment. “Yeah, that seemed like a good idea to me too. Anyway, we had dinner. On the way back we stopped at a bakery.” I put the white bag by the gun. “I parked in the parking garage on Ash.”

Jano nodded.

“As we got to my car, I heard the distinctive click of a weapon cocking.”

“Fuck, Em. I told you not to get her killed or injured.”

“I didn’t. I secured her in the car and took off after the asshole.” I shook my head. “He was a kid. Latino. Scared shitless. He said he and his boss saw us coming out of the bakery. His boss, someone named Manuel Lopez, offered him a C-note to rob us.”

Jano leaned back against his chair and templed his fingers. “Did you believe him?”

“If I’d been alone, I would have taken him to Wanderland or the warehouse for more questioning.” I shook my head. “I wasn’t doing that with Isabella. I took his gun and told him to give Lopez a message. If I find him, he’s dead.”

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