Page 32 of Cartel Viper
I shake my head again. She winds up her window and turns off her car as I open the door for her. Once she’s standing, our arms wrap around each other, and I hold her as tightly as I can. Her head burrows against my chest as she releases a shuddering sigh. It takes me a moment to realize my exhale matches hers. I finally have a sense of relief even though I know it’s temporary since there’s shit to sort out. I have obvious questions for her, but they can wait.
She kicks the door closed behind her since I didn’t open it all the way just in case she needed to slip back in quickly and take off or barricade herself in there. I’m still situationally aware even though I’m focused on her.
“Javi, I’m sure you have to deal with whatever happened out there, but when we get inside, will you stay with me for a minute?”
“Chiquita, I’m not letting you out of my sight or my reach until I’m satisfied you’re okay.”
She can tell me whatever she wants because I know she’ll try to reassure me once she believes we’re out of imminent danger. But until I’m convinced she’s safe and assured I can protect her, I’m not going anywhere. My men will clean up for me. They’ll dispose of the bodies; they’ll sweep the car, then strip it. There’s a good chance they’ll take it to one of our salvage yards and instead of crush it, set it ablaze. We have space for controlled burns. Sometimes we need to ensure there’s no evidence left behind, and merely smashing a car isn’t always enough.
I keep my arm wrapped around her shoulders as I guide her into the building. I don’t expect my cousin to be there, and I barely hide my grimace when Pablo recognizes Maddy. His eyes widen as his gaze darts between her and me. I feel Maddy lean against me more, which I didn’t think was possible since I’m practically holding her up.
She’s known Pablo longer than me and was far closer to him for years, but she doesn’t rush to him. She barely acknowledges him with more than a weak smile. I’m the one she still depends on.
Guilt prickles at me for how satisfying that realization is.
“Hi, Pablo, what’re you doing here?”
“I heard the crash, but I was on a call.”
“I’ll explain later.”
I jump in before Maddy can say anything, since I’m uncertain how much I want Pablo to know yet. I’m unaccustomed to keeping secrets from anyone in my family, but this involves Maddy’s safety. It’s not like I think Pablo would jeopardize her, but there are still too many unknowns.
Until I can talk to Maddy about who those men are, I don’t need any extra hands in this cookie jar.
“Is anyone in the office right now?”
Pablo’s watching Maddy as he shakes his head. I steer us past him, and now he watches me. I shoot him a look of warning,which surprises him even more, but he says nothing. He doesn’t follow us as Maddy and I make our way to the elevator. He understands I want to speak to her alone. He’ll take it up after we reach the office, and he’ll find something else to do.
We ride up in silence, and when we step into the hallway, I tilt my head away as I spot some of our men outside the back entrance to the storefront that’s supposedly just a liquor store. Maddy and the general public don’t need to know we run an illegal gambling ring in the basement, which is a floor above the underground parking garage.
We keep men in this interior hallway because our operations here aren’t a well-kept secret from our chief rivals: the mob, bratva, and Mafia. They’ll stay away until I tell them to return. No one in the store’s front will know I have Maddy in the office.
I unlock the door and hold it open for her, and she steps inside. The moment I have the door closed, she’s back in my arms. I want to devour her, taste every bit of her, touch every part of her to convince myself she’s really okay. But the last thing I’m going to do is take advantage of a traumatized woman. I didn’t do that when we were in high school, and I won’t do that now.
“Javi, just hold me, please. Don’t let me go.”
Her voice is little more than a whisper, but I hear every word as though she’s yelling. Our mutual need for me to protect her sharpens all of my senses.
Her arms wrap around me, and I don’t bother trying to keep them away from the gun holstered at the small of my back. When I’ve been involved with other women, whether it’s casual dating or subs, I’ve always made sure I leave my gun and holster somewhere they’re unlikely to find it, or I’ve ensured they never discover it by wrapping their arms around me. But Maddy’s always known who and what I am.
It’s a relief I don’t have to hide that from her. She’ll never know the extent of what I’ve done and what I can do, and what I inevitably will do. I will always lead a double life, but at least there are a few secrets I don’t have to keep from her that I would if it were any other woman, since I have no interest in being with a Cartel daughter.
None of our men have daughters I’m interested in, and I’m wary to let a subordinate’s daughter have that much access to my family. I never want to question whether the woman’s into me or into my position. Since I’m the worst possible choice for Maddy, I definitely don’t fear she’s in it for a bad boy or to ingratiate herself into my family. She’s already known us her entire life. I don’t fear she’s somehow a spy for Maks, since I burst into her life, not the other way around.
When she tilts her head back, I gaze into her fathomless green eyes. They’re that translucent shade that’s almost gray, not the deep emerald all those fuckers in the O’Rourke family share. The way she’s looking at me only increases the temptation to kiss her. Apparently, that sentiment is just as strong, if not stronger, in her. She rises onto her toes and brings her lips within inches of mine. Our gazes haven’t wavered.
Her offer is clear, but she’s not taking control. She’s letting me decide whether I accept her offer. I lower my lips to hers, and the rest of the world disappears. It’s as good as it was in the car, except now we don’t have a steering wheel in the way.
I reach back to double-check I locked the office door. Pablo won’t interrupt—at least not without knocking. I guide her toward the sofa in the office. It’s the most uncomfortable oneTíoEnrique could find. It’s barely more than a plank. The desk chair is high-end, cushiony, and ergonomic. That’s for my family. The bench sofa is for anyone unfortunate enough to be called before us for an interview. But it’s the only place short of clearing off the desk where we fit.
I scoop her into my arms and sit. I’ll deal with the planks of wood under my ass rather than let her be uncomfortable. The kiss continues as she clings to my shirt with one hand and cups my jaw with the other. I stroke her back with one hand while the other holds onto her ass. It’s both comforting and possessive. It seems to be exactly what she needs.
It’s definitely what I need.
When we come up for air, I kiss her forehead. “Chica, you know I need to know what happened. I won’t push you to explain everything now, but it has to all come out.”
She nods, and her body remains relaxed against me, but my sixth sense tells me she’s in no hurry to reveal everything she should. For whatever reason, she doesn’t trust me enough or isn’t ready to rely on me completely. I know I could interrogate her, demanding answers with rapid-fire questions to trip her up, but I won’t do that, even if it means I’m giving her time to come up with excuses or lies.
