Page 79 of Shadowed Obsession

Because through my own fieldwork, I’ve learned that Regina Delvecchio is one of Emiliano’s current legal clients.

Yeah, this motherfucker’s brother is the head of the Cartel, and he’s a fucking attorney.Que jodienda.

I look at the man who’s been my friend since our freshman year of college and say, “Her name is Deirdre Klarke.”

Emiliano stares at me, his brows furrowed as he glances away, sorting through his mental rolodex. After a few moments, his eyes widen, and he meets my gaze again.

“This is how you’re choosing to die,güey?” The way he fights a smirk pisses me off. But I’m not done yet.

“I know you’re representing her cousin, Regina Delvecchio,” I reveal, holding my hands up when he opens his mouth to respond. “I’m not asking you to breach any confidentiality agreement. I’m just putting all the shit out there.”

“The Hales hired you?” His eyes squint a fraction, and he downs his drink as he waits for my response.

“Yeah, but I can handle them. The last thing I need is for you and Ignacio to get involved,” I remind him. Shit can get messy, especially when white people are involved—foreign or not.

“So what are we discussing?”

“You making sure Regina doesn’t kill me when shit comes to a head.”

Emiliano snorts a laugh, shaking his head.

“What? You can’t save my ass?”

“Nah, it’s not that. She actually just asked if I knew anyone who could help her track down her husband,” he admits, quirking his brow at the timing of it all.

“The one who went missing?”

“Yup,” he answers, holding his glass of ice up so the bartender sees. “She’s convinced he’s still alive.”

“So she’s insane.”

“I don’t know,” he says with a shrug, nodding when he’s handed another drink as the empty glass is whisked away by a server.Spoiledcabrón. “She seems perfectly intact to me.”

“I’m not sure I can trust your judgment,” I start, grinning at his puzzled expression. “You can’t even tell when a woman doesn’t want your ass.”

“Pinche pendejo,” he quips under his breath, tipping his glass toward me before bringing it to his mouth. “But you don’t see me stalking her, César.”

He knocks back his liquor, and I follow suit, holding my now empty glass up because apparently that’s what these rich assholes do here.

“Then what do you suggest I do instead?” I ask, knowing damn well I’m not about to remove my equipment from her home and office. Still, I’m interested in his perspective.

“Show her who you really are.” He cuts his eyes to the side as he scans the room like there isn’t a man behind him that would gladly take a bullet for him. “You’re loyal, hard-working, somewhat funny, and women find you attractive. Let her get to know you the way you’ve gotten to know her.”

“So give her access to my every waking moment?”

Why do I even listen to him?

“And what about—” I start.

“Yourpest problem?” he interjects, speaking a little louder than I was.Shut the fuck up about criminal activity, his eyes say. “I know of a good exterminator.”

I can’t have the Hales taken out by the fucking Cartel.Can I?

No. I definitely can’t.

Another drink is set down in front of me, and before I can touch the glass, Emiliano asks, “Any advice for me?”

“Grow a pair and go get her,” I answer, watching him deadpan over the rim of my glass as I gulp down more whiskey.

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