Page 55 of Cartel Viper
Maddy’s voice pulls me back into the present again. My thumb rubs away lines where her brow furrows as she watches me.
“Just slipping back into memories again,chiquita. I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t.”
She observes me for a moment more before she nods.
“Javi, I’ll never ask because I don’t want to bring up painful memories. But I’ll always listen. I know there are things from your childhood I’m certain you believe would scare me away or that I’d reject. There’s not. You’re the man you are today because of what you’ve experienced. I’m here with you because I want you, which means I accept everything that comes with you. Past, present, and future.”
She appears nervous with the last word.
“Past, present, and future, little one.”
“There’s more for me to tell you about what I’ve done, but I can’t manage that today. I’m scared you’ll reject me for it.”
“Have you hurt children or animals?”
“No!”
“Then I won’t reject you, Maddy.”
“I’m not who you thought I was, though.”
“Yes, you are. You’re intelligent, resourceful, funny, kind, giving, fearless, strong, sexy, and mine. That’s who I thought you were, and that’s what I still think.”
“You thought I was yours?”
“Well, I imagined it enough times.”
“If only we’d known back then what we know about each other’s feelings now.”
“True, but maybe God knew neither you nor I were ready to be an ‘us’ back then. Maybe we needed to get to who we are now to be ready.”
“You’re right.”
I doubt her relationship with God is as complicated as mine, but we grew up with the same faith. I think she gets what I mean.
We finish our bath and dry each other off. Running the fluffy towels over each other tempts us to do a lot more, but we both know I can’t ignoreTíoEnrique much longer. Since she has clothes with her—she told me she’d done laundry at the hotel—she has something fresh to put on. I remember I have a couple t-shirts and pairs of athletic shorts here, so I grab a set.
“Are you hungry, little one?”
“Is there anything here?”
“Yes. We keep the house supplied with nonperishables. I can send men into town to get anything fresh we want. But I can make us plenty of things with what we have.”
“Okay. If you want, I can go to the kitchen and rummage around. I’ll cook while you call Enrique.”
She gets that she probably can’t hear most of the conversation. Her Spanish isn’t good enough to understand everything, but I don’t know what she can, and I don’t know how much of it will be things she can’t hear.
I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her against me as she turns toward the door.
“Not so fast.”
We share a kiss that tests my resolve to care about what my uncle has to say, but I can’t risk not speaking to him if it would endanger Maddy. I’ve always followedTíoEnrique’s rules, even if I bent them sometimes. I don’t want to start ignoring his commands now, but I know without a doubt I will if I don’t agree with what he says about Maddy. I’ll put her safety first.
That’s a shocking realization.
I watch her close the door and wait a minute before opening it to peek down the hall. I want to trust her, but I know what temptation it is to listen when you’re scared and aren’t in control. I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t fully trust me or justwanted to know what I’m planning without her. But I don’t see her. I leave the door slightly ajar, so I can watch as I hit my uncle’s contact in my phone.
“Took you long enough,sobrino.”
