Page 20 of Naughty and Nice
Nine
Nick
* * *
My pulse quickened with Liliana’s response, as barely audible as it may have been. Curling my lips, I stared down into her soft brown eyes. “I’m sorry. Could you repeat the last part?”
Liliana pressed her lips together. “You heard me.”
“I’m going to need you to repeat it. Not to me,” I clarified. “To el Patrón and Mia. Everyone knows Mia’s opinion on arranged marriages. If you truly want what you just said, you’ll need to tell her.”
Color drained from her face as she sat back in her chair. “Just because it’s what I want doesn’t make it right.” She shook her head and pushed the rest of her torta away. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”
Why were women so confusing?
Taking a deep breath, I took my seat across from Liliana and decided to change the subject. “What have you eaten today?”
She looked up. “Luz made blueberry muffins.”
“Did you eat them?”
“I ate one. I also had a glass of orange juice and a couple cups of coffee.”
Without a word, I pushed the ham torta toward her. “I disagree with your father on many issues, but I find an appetite on a woman to be appealing. I think it’s healthy. Mi madre y hermana eat. While I’m sure Luz’s muffin was delicious, it’s hard to beat Viviana’s food.” I took a big bite of my torta.
Liliana turned her attention to the sandwich in front of her before slowly lifting it to her lips. She didn’t say a word as she nibbled slowly, making a dent. “What happened last night at Wanderland?” she asked.
“I’m sure the whor—residents have told you.”
She shook her head. “No two stories are the same. I figure if anyone would know, it would be you, the lieutenant in charge of Wanderland.”
“The important part of last night was that the Cabezõn cartel is back in Southern California. They’re vying for Roríguez territory.”
“They’re testing Jano.”
Taking another bite, I nodded. “He’s had a fucking uphill fight since Jorge was killed. Now with Mia expecting another baby, Jano doesn’t need this shit. Things seemed settled for a short time after we took out Volkov, and Herrera was eliminated.”
“Those absences created a vacuum.”
“They did. Jano worked to fill the void. He followed Dario Luciano’s lead and agreed to work with Andros Ivanov, the pakhan of the Detroit bratva. Ivanov’s men extended their bratva’s territory to include what used to be Kozlov and Volkov land.”
“That was supposed to take care of the bratvas. But it didn’t satisfy Herrera’s people?”
I shook my head. “Some wisely came to our side.”
Liliana exhaled. “The rest went to Mexico and teamed up with Cabezõn.”
I sat back, stretching my neck. “Maybe instead of studying teaching, you should study territorial global criminal affairs.”
There was a hint of a smile. “I don’t think they offer that at SDCC.”
“How do you know these things? Did” —I fucking hated saying his name— “my uncle inform you on cartel business?”
Her smile disappeared. “No. He didn’t think I was smart enough to understand.”
“I’d disagree. You have more of an understanding than some of our soldiers.”
“I pay attention. I’ve learned everything here.” She looked around the office. “The residents know more than they’re given credit for. They listen. They have customers who exchange information for favors.”
