Page 33 of Cartel Viper
I’ll sort that out because I don’t want her to feel like I’m backing her into a corner to get what I want. That’s not how I want any type of relationship to begin. I’ll always hold more power than she will, so anytime I can make her feel like we’re equals, I will because I want her to know she can truly depend upon me. I never want her to doubt that.
“Javi, can your men take care of all of that before anybody finds out who they are?”
“Yes, it’ll already be done by now.”
“Really?”
“I know it’s only been a few minutes, Maddy, but you can guess this isn’t the first time.”
“Nor will it be the last.”
She finishes what should have been an unspoken thought, but there’s no point in denying it when I’ve just told myself to be open with her.
“Thank you for everything. Coming to my rescue. For dealing with all of this. For sheltering me right now. I didn’t know what would happen once I got to you, but I just knew I had to.”
“You can always come to me for anything, Maddy. I’ll always be here for you.”
I go quiet, silently encouraging her to share what happened before I found her near her hotel. My silence is met with hers. I don’t think she’s being awkward. I think she’s not ready to speak. Maybe she’s still gathering her thoughts.
However, as the moment drags into a couple of minutes, I realize some of this is stubbornness. Despite not wanting to interrogate her, it looks like I’m going to have to prod a little if I want to learn what’s really going on.
Chapter Ten
Maddy
I owe him an explanation. I owe him more than just a kiss in gratitude. But if I reveal anything, I’m likely to reveal it all. I’m not prepared to do that yet. There’s still shit I need to sort out in my head after that unexpected O.J. Simpson-style car chase. I didn’t expect Mikey or Pauly to show up at my door.
I need to figure out how they found me. I need to figure out whether they had time to tell Drew not only where I was, but where I’m certain they guessed I headed and to whom.
I knew better than to let anybody know I was here. As glad as I was to see my family and to even be at Enrique’s wedding reception, I knew I should’ve remained hidden. The risk of exposure was too great, and now I’m paying the price for it.
Mikey and Pauly certainly did. They weren’t entirely bad guys in the grand scheme of things. They were following Drew’s orders just like they always did. But of all of Drew’s men, they were among the nicest to me. It’s probably why my ex-boyfriend sent them after me. He figured if anyone could convince me to give myself up and go back to Albany, it would be them. Not a fine fucking chance in hell, but he wasn’t too far off.
Once I know how much Drew knows, then I can adjust my plans. As much as I’m enjoying a moment’s respite here on Javi’s lap, tucked away in a locked office in a building his family not only owns but guards, this is temporary. I won’t intentionally bring more danger to him and to his family than they already have on their own.
I also don’t need a syndicate war on my hands. As much as the O’Rourkes hate Drew’s family, they’re still honor-bound to support Drew as fellow mobsters and the head family on the East Coast.
And there’s no way Javi will let this go. He’ll not only go after Drew, once he finds out my full involvement, he’ll wipe out his entire family. It’ll be a war on two fronts. First in Albany, then down here.
Because my sister’s married to the bratvapakhan, they’ll get involved too. They’ll fight the O’Rourkes because they’re guilty by association. Then they’ll fight Javi’s family because there’s no way Javi will let them defend me alone.
Both sides will have their feelings hurt. The bratva won’t appreciate that I went to their rival for protection. The Cartel won’t appreciate the bratva getting involved because they’ll think it looks like they can’t take care of me on their own.
I need to defuse the situation, at least for now. At least I can tell myself that. Fat fucking chance that’s going to happen.
“Maddy, who were those men?”
I take a moment too long to answer.
“Don’t lie to me. I know I’ve given you time to come up with excuses, but don’t lie. Refuse to tell me, but don’t say something you can’t take back.”
“If you give me that out, then don’t ask me questions you don’t want to hear my answers to.”
“Oh, I want to hear your answers. I just want truthful ones. If you won’t tell me who they are, then at least tell me why you won’t admit that.”
“If I won’t tell you the former, how can you possibly think I would tell you the latter?”
“So, you admit you won’t tell me who they are?”
