Page 107 of Cartel Viper
Yesterday’s events are a jumble in my mind. They jump from one thing to another, almost impossible to keep straight. Drew’s men found me at my hotel. They followed me when I bolted. Javi came to my rescue, taking me to one of his family’s businessesin Jackson Heights. We didn’t stay long before we thought we could hide on his family’s private estate in Greenwich.
He told me several times it wasn’t my fault—that the attack wasn’t my fault—but waves of guilt crash over me as I think about the significance of that property to his family and how I’m the reason men violated that sanctity. Reasonably, I know it also had to do with the pressure the bratva and the Albany mob put on one of Javi’s men. But I definitely still played a part in that. Returning to the city did nothing to shield us. Going to Jersey wasn’t any better. Another chase and another attack. It shocks me that being in Manhattan has been the quietest place so far.
Shame and fear claw at me since I know this isn’t done yet. Drew may be gone, but the O’Sheehans aren’t. Javi and the Kutsenkos may have called a truce, but Javi won’t forgive them. I pray it doesn’t cause problems between Laura and Maks. Choosing Javi will inevitably strain my relationship with my sister. I can’t imagine it won’t. The weight of all of this is crushing me.
“Chiquita.”
I look over my shoulder at Javi. His hand runs over my ass, and it’s so fucking soothing.
“You’re thinking about everything, aren’t you?”
I nod, a lump forming in my throat.
“Do you want me to listen, or hold you, or do you need space?”
He practically chokes on that last option. I know he fears my rejection now that we’re in the cold light of day.
“Daddy, space is the last thing I need right now. The only thing that’s keeping me from falling apart is you being here with me.”
“I’ll stay with you as long as I can.”
I nod, but that’s what finally makes the tears fall. Not as long as he wants to be, not as long as I need him to be, but for aslong as he can. Something might call him away from me. I don’t doubt he wants to be here with me. However, the choice may not be his. It was much easier to say I could accept that yesterday when I was running on adrenaline. Now the aftermath leaves me depleted, even hollow.
He eases me to roll over and face him. He sits up, adjusting the pillows, so he can lean against the headboard.
“Come here, little one.”
He encourages me to sit up too. Then he lifts me to straddle him. I could feel how hard he was when I woke, his cock tucked between my ass cheeks. I’m still wet with his cum from the middle of the night. He lowers me onto his dick, his hand pressing my head to his shoulder. We simply sit like this together.
This isn’t about getting off. I rock my hips periodically and do Kegels to keep him hard even though I don’t think I even have to.
This is what I need. The intimacy without having to explain myself. I need him to be the strong, silent type for me. He gets that, and I couldn’t ask for more.
“I know Maks and Laura’s is the last place you want to go, but there’s no way my sister will calm down until she sees me in person. A video call isn’t enough.”
“Chiquita, I don’t blame her. That’s completely a reasonable request for her. And no, I never want to see Maks, and I especially don’t want to see him now, but I certainly won’t stand in the way of you being with your family. There’s just no chance in hell you’re going anywhere out of my sight today.”
“Will it cause an argument between you guys when we arrive?”
“It might, but Maks knows enough of what happened yesterday to understand how serious we are and why I won’t just drop you off. In the future, I would. You’ll go by yourself, but for now, not a chance.”
I lean my head against his shoulder as we ride in the second row of the monstrous SUV. I had a big one up in Albany, but this one makes it look like a little toy Tonka compared to what we’re in now. These SUVs are veritable tanks. They’re indestructible battering rams. I feel completely safe, which is the trade-off for not having privacy like we would in a town car. There’s no glass separating us from the driver and bodyguard up front.
It doesn’t help that Joaquin is in the front passenger seat, and Jorge and Pablo are in the third row. To top it all off, Alejandro’s driving. It’s not like all five of them showing up won’t antagonize my in-laws, but the other guys have promised to wait outside.
There might be some staring contests and posturing, but Javi reassures me Maks’s men who patrol his property won’t instigate anything. The neighborhood my sister and her family live in is the Switzerland of the underworld in New York. It’s one that nearly every syndicate family lives in.
Most of them grew up in this neighborhood, but Maks and his family didn’t. They moved in after they bought Galena a house in the neighborhood, which was after all four brothers were out of the home. Maks had a house in Queens he and Laura sold not long after the twins were born.
They now live in the same neighborhood as everyone else. Enrique and Elle, along with Luis and Margherita, are the only ones in Jersey. Everyone else is in this neighborhood or the adjacent one. The mob boss lives on the corner that connects the two neighborhoods.
We pass through the community gate and make our way past several Mafia and mob houses and two other bratva homesbefore we get to Laura and Maks’s. Alejandro’s barely put the vehicle in park before the front door opens, and Laura dashes out with Maks on her heels.
I’m certain he’s not thrilled with her leaving the house without a protective circle around her. Just getting me into the house without leaving me exposed to anyone driving by or another drone attack is why all five guys are here. Javi steps out of the SUV, and I slide over, but he makes me wait until his brother and cousin climb out of the third row on the other side and come around the vehicle. Joaquin does the same.
I disappear in the midst of these enormous men in their perfectly tailored suits. My sister disappears too as Maks’s brothers and cousins filter out of the house. The men glower at each other, but they remain quiet. It’s not until we’re through the front door that Maks’s family steps back and allows Laura to leave the center of their circle. Only Javi crosses the threshold with me.
Laura clings to me, and I gladly return the hug. I don’t notice who’s still around us, but I sense most of the guys are gone. When we pull apart, it’s just Maks and Misha along with Javi in the foyer with Laura and me. I turn to look over my shoulder at Javi and follow his gaze to Misha. I shift my focus to the blonde Russian who’s staring back at Javi with just as much disdain. I’m not sure what to make of the standoff.
