Page 4 of Naughty and Nice
“Jano isn’t his father. I’ll be happy to inform him of your decision because it is your decision. What do you want to study?”
“I think I’d like to be a teacher.”
Mia grinned. “You’ll make a fine teacher. We could use you at the apartments if you don’t decide that teaching movie stars’ children in a posh private school is a better option.”
“I can’t think that far ahead. I wanted to start with two or three online classes.”
“Do you need tuition? We can help.”
I shook my head. “I have money from Gerardo.” I nodded once. “Thanks to you.”
“You deserved it for putting up with him.”
“We both know Jano’s father had other thoughts.”
Mia’s eyes widened. “Do we know that?” She grinned. “I think it’s fitting to use Gerardo’s money for an education. That’s what he’d want.”
It was my turn to laugh. “We know that’s not true.” I paused. “I’ve been worried about something else. It’s been almost two years since Gerardo…” I took a breath. “Am I expected to eventually wed?”
Mia nodded. “I’ll admit there’s been talk, but Jano listens to me. He makes his own decisions, but at the same time, he sees the world differently than those before him.”
“I don’t think I ever want to marry.”
“I understand that. I felt the same way. As you know, for a similar reason.” Over the years, Mia disclosed the not pleasant details of her first marriage. “My advice,” she went on, “is not to rule it out. There are good men in the cartel or the Luciano family. Not every man is like our first husbands.”
We both turned at the sound of deep voices.
The door to Aléjandro Roríguez, el Patrón’s, office opened as Emiliano Ruiz and his cousin Nick Ruiz came out. Their faces were lined with resolve, no doubt based on the subject of their closed-door meeting. With wide shoulders and muscular tall frames, they passed through the doorframe one at a time, followed by the leader himself, el Patrón.
Jano’s gaze went past his lieutenants to Mia. “Cómo estás?” he asked as he made his way to his wife.
“Estoy bien.”
The three men entered the kitchen. If I didn’t know them, they would be scary. All tall and fierce, determination in their dark eyes. Jano came to a stop behind Mia’s stool. His large hands encircled her waist as he leaned down, whispering in her ear. I couldn’t hear his words, but whatever he said returned a rosy glow to her cheeks. When he looked up, he saw me. “Liliana, is everything all right at the apartments?”
“Sí. I came to speak to Mia.”
“Bueno, she needs company.”
I turned to Em and Nick. “Hola.”
They both smiled, greeting me in return. While I didn’t know Nick as well as I knew Em, I knew deep down that they were both good men. Isabella’s happiness was proof of Em’s devotion. Em felt more like a brother to me than my nephew by marriage. After Gerardo was killed, Sofia and I moved into Andrés and Valentina Ruiz’s home for a few months. During that time, Em and his sister Camila became the siblings I’d never had. Nick and his sister, Mireya, were friends and cousins. Nick and Em had physically matured since that time, filling out and acquiring the expressions that come with battles fought. And matured mentally too, growing and succeeding within the cartel, both of them now top lieutenants for Aléjandro’s regime.
Nick laid his hand on my shoulder. “Cómo estás?”
“Muy Bien.”
His brown eyes glistened as they locked with mine. “Sí, it’s good to see you looking happy.”
“Tell them your news,” Mia said.
I sucked in a breath and slightly bowed my head as all three men stared my direction. “If el Patrón approves…”
“Liliana,” Mia said firmly.
Inhaling, I met el Patrón’s gaze. “I’d like to take some online classes. I’ve been accepted at SDCC.”
Jano moved his focus from me to Mia and back to me. “What will you study?”
