Page 60 of Naughty and Nice
Cabezõn’s whores.
“And if Roríguez protects her?” I asked.
“To be protected, she’ll need to remarry.”
A smile came to my lips. “She’ll be required to marry a man she may or may not know.”
“Sí, a soldier.”
“Be sure she knows he’s not paying a bride price for her,” I said. “I need to tell Liliana about her father. He was a piece of shit, but he was still her father.”
“The bride price?” Jano asked.
“Give it to Mia for the apartments.”
El Patrón nodded.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Liliana
* * *
It had been a few days since Nick informed me of my father’s crimes against the cartel. While the news was shocking, I barely grieved. I’d done that years ago when my parents chose to not support me. I was over the five stages of grief, or I should say I was at the final stage—acceptance. Nick showed me what love truly can be. It may have been a lonely road getting to where I was, but it was worth it.
The SUV carrying el Patrón, Emiliano, Isabella, Nick, and I stopped in front of Jasmine and Rei’s home. The feast of seven fishes was to happen later tonight. Mia, Jorge, Silas, and Viviana traveled north a day earlier. As others got out of the vehicle, Nick reached for my hand. “We can back out. We’ll just stay in the SUV and go back to the airport.”
I loved how concerned Nick was. “It would be silly to fly from San Diego to change my mind at the last minute.”
My chest expanded as I took a deep breath. Jasmine told me that Rei had done some remodeling, but the exterior front looked very similar to how it had the last time I was here.
“Tesoro, remember my rule,” Nick whispered as we got out of the vehicle.
Shivering in the slightly cooler climate, my eyes went to the cobblestone driveway. I remembered how difficult it was to walk in high heels on the uneven surface. Yet that was what was required of me as the lady of the house. Today, I wore ballet flats. The dichotomy of the past and the present was showcased in everything from my shoes to the man at my side.
“It looks the same,” I said.
Nick peered up at the monstrosity of a house. “We’re going house hunting after the holidays.”
I spun toward him. “Why?”
“Because you used to live in this and now, we’re in an apartment.”
“No.”
His smile quirked up on one side. “You keep saying that.”
“You said I could.” My cheeks rose. “I’ve just not said it when you expected me to.”
He laid his hand in the small of my back. “Who are you?”
“I’m your wife, Señora Nick Ruiz.”
I looked up, seeing Jasmine standing at the door. Her long red hair was pulled back, and her arms were crossed above her growing midsection. “It’s warmer inside,” she called.
Together, Nick and I climbed the steps. Jasmine wrapped me in a hug. “Thank you for joining us.”
