Page 23 of Naughty and Nice
I pictured the two women as they appeared when not at Wanderland. No one should be able to connect them to the Roríguez cartel. “I’ll feel better when they’re back.”
Izzy sat in the chair near my desk. “I don’t think el Patrón will close Wanderland. Remember last time?”
Moving to my desk chair, I sat and turned her way. “I remember. We were on lockdown. It was your wedding night.”
Pink bloomed on Izzy’s cheeks. “It was.”
“Maybe history could repeat itself.”
Her blue eyes opened wide. “What do you mean?”
Shaking my head, I tried to find the right words. “Nick. Umm. He had an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
“It’s crazy.” It was then I spotted our unfinished lunch and changed the subject. “Have you eaten?”
“I had a salad from the dining room.”
Pushing back my chair, I walked to the small table against the wall. “Viviana sent this food. Either we should eat it or put it in the refrigerator.”
“Oh, Viviana, Mia’s cook?” Izzy said, standing and coming closer. “When I lived there, I swear I gained ten pounds.”
I scanned her petite and shapely figure. “You didn’t gain ten pounds.”
“Do you know she makes her own chipotle mayonnaise? Lola, Valentina’s cook, is amazing, too.” She hummed. “But Viviana is world class.” Izzy picked up a knife and cut off part of Nick’s roast beef torta. “I’ll have a bite.”
As Izzy ate, I thought about my father’s assessment and Nick’s about women eating. “Do you eat in front of Emiliano?”
Swallowing, she laughed. “Yes. Why wouldn’t I?”
“My mother hardly ate a bite in front of my father. She’d serve herself a miniscule portion and pick at it. Later in the kitchen, she’d eat.”
Izzy scrunched her nose. “That’s silly. My mom never did that.”
“It’s true, our parents can really screw us up.”
“Valentina isn’t shy about eating in front of Andrés. El Patrón didn’t always come to dinner when I lived with Mia, but his presence didn’t make a difference in her eating.”
“You’re right. When I was over there a couple weeks ago, he wanted her to eat and keep it down.”
“Morning sickness sounds horrible,” Izzy said, dropping a strawberry into her mouth.
“Señoras Ruiz,” Horace said, turning our attention to the doorway. “Please come with me.”
“What’s happening?” Izzy asked.
“Our security picked up intruders at the perimeter of the property. I want to take the two of you to a safer location.”
I was the one to speak. “Em told us to stay here.”
“Sí, señoras. Safer here. Hurry.”
Izzy hurried to her office. My hands trembled as I opened my desk drawer for my purse. It wasn’t there. Then I recalled leaving it in the apartment unit where I’d spent the night. Instead, I grabbed my phone and caught up to Izzy and Horace in the hallway.
“Where are Celeste and Reina?” I asked.
“On their way to the shelter,” Horace replied.
