Page 48 of The Angel

CHAPTER28

FLYNN

Pedro Carlos is a man I’m familiar with. I understand his life because I live one the same.

We touch down in Colombia and the blacked-out windows of the cars that stand waiting for us wraps me in familiarity. Mafia comes in many forms and Pedro Carlos is the best at what he does in Colombia.

Today we flew with two extra passengers. A family visit or a business one. Both, I suppose, and as we take our seats in the two waiting cars, I know Pedro favors caution above everything.

Louisa snuggles by my side and whispers, “Why aren’t we traveling with my father and Vivian?”

“Security, baby.”

I drop a kiss on her lips and grin. “Your uncle knows the score. If we are ambushed, we stand a better chance apart. One car may survive, which limits the casualties.”

“You’re kidding me.” Louisa appears anxious and I shrug. “It’s our world and you will get used to it.”

She grips my hand, and I don’t think I will ever stop desiring this woman. Out of respect to our family, we slept apart last night, but there won’t be many more of them. I need Louisa by my side as if she is one of my own limbs and I am surprised how quickly I reached that point. I have always been alone. I preferred it, but when she came into my life, I found an overwhelming need to keep her by my side. It’s as if I can’t breathe unless she is safe and she will never be safer than by my side. If I’m anxious about anything, it’s that any harm will come to her because of me and that is why I’m not stopping until every threat is dealt with and we can breathe a huge sigh of relief.

I am used to amazing homes. My own is a fortress and Dimitri lives like a King. Pedro, it seems likes to flaunt his wealth and I smirk to myself when we pass through huge, pillared gates with a gold crown on each stone column. The ornamental gardens stretch along the sweeping driveway and the white house that appears around the bend almost sparkles in the sunlight. I’m not sure where it ends because I’ve never seen a house as big as this in my life. It has no end and I’m certain could contain a small town within its walls.

“Your uncle likes the finer things in life, it seems.” I can’t help saying.

Louisa laughs. “He’s a little ostentatious with his money, but you’ll like him. He’s a teddy bear.”

Biting back a grin, I’m guessing he is anything but. More like a grizzly bear with sharp claws because his reputation precedes him. Pedro Carlos is a man even I wouldn’t like to meet on a dark night. He cuts his enemies down before they can even make an excuse and disposes of their assets in a damaging way. Unlike Massimo, though, he doesn’t torture for fun and has a strict moral code where it concerns his family. His own live a respectable life and he has high expectations of them. His sons joined him in the family business along with his daughters, who, by all accounts, married well and provided him with several grandchildren, all of whom live in this giant fortress. A family man and a killer.

I’m interested to meet him.

* * *

As the carscome to a stop, the doors are wrenched open, and a surly guard looks inside and sweeps the cab with his eyes. As welcomes go, it’s an unfriendly one, but I’m guessing security has no friends. They always expect the worst and act accordingly and only when he can see we mean no harm, does he nod and toss his eyes outside the car.

“Please stand facing the car.”

He directs his words to me, and I catch the furious expression in Louisa’s eyes as she opens her mouth to protest.

“It’s ok, baby, the man’s only doing his job.”

I do as he says and as he searches me and removes my weapons, the flush on Louisa’s face tells me that danger excites her. Wishing like crazy we were alone right now so I could take advantage of that, I wink and throw her a scorching look, promising we will revisit this moment when we are alone.

Dimitri and Vivian join us, and he says apologetically, “Sorry, Flynn, Pedro doesn’t like surprises.”

“It’s fine. He’s a wise man.”

Loud laughter heads my way and as I turn, I see the man himself leaning against the huge front door, watching on with amusement.

“Uncle Pedro.” Louisa breaks free and runs into his arms and the genuine warmth on his face at seeing her brings a smile to my lips.

“Mi Angel, you make me so happy.”

He looks past her to Vivian and winks. “My beautiful Vivian, you bloom like a rare orchid in the desert.”

Dimitri laughs out loud and rolls his eyes, taking his wife’s hand firmly in his. “She ismyrare bloom, Pedro, and don’t you forget it.”

I watch with interest as they embrace one another and feel the genuine warmth surrounding us.

This is what I crave. It’s much the same when I meet up with my friends from Club Mafia, but aside from that, it’s alien to me.

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