Page 17 of Torched

“Joder, Junior. Couldn’t you at least crack a goddamn window?”

Like the asshole that he is, he just smirks, blowing out another cloud of smoke my way.

“Hey, Crissy.”

I let my shoulders hang with a roll of my eyes, not willing to put in the energy to plant my fist in his side at his annoying behavior. Resting my head as the car takes off, I watch the street pass by from the safety of the tinted glass.

“How did it go?” Junior switches to Spanish like he always does, too lazy to perfect his English like me, but stubborn as I am, I reply in English.

“Like a well-oiled machine.” I turn my head toward him, instantly frowning at his outfit. “What the hell are you wearing?”

“¿Que?It’s a suit. What’s wrong with a suit?” He glances down at his three-piece suit, and I just hold still at the black man bun on top of his head.

“Nada. Except the fact that you don’t wear a suit,ever. And it looks a bit weird with your man bun sitting on your head like a turd.”

“A turd?” He watches me, amused. “Joder, you’re becoming a true Americana.”

“Callarse!” I shush him, not appreciating his assumptions. “I’m not American. I’m just playing the part so we can keep doing what we’re doing, mydulce primito.”

“Primito? I’m older than you are, Cris. There is nothing little about me. Or sweet, for that matter.”

That’s an understatement. It wouldn’t surprise me if the devil is looking at Junior Reyes to perfect his game.

“Don’t I know it.” I mockingly roll my eyes. “Where are we going that has you dressed like you’re Scarface?”

“We have some meetings with potential clients that have expressed interest in switching from the Carrillo brothers to a new supplier.”

“Oh, goody.” I cock my head, giving him a stern expression. “I’m not going to sit back and look pretty. We’re in this together.” Or as long as I fucking need him anyway.

“¡Claro!You get a seat on the table, I promise.”

“Good.” I know Junior is the one who’s officially taking over from Frank, his father, and my uncle, but when they asked me to join the deeper side of family business, I made it perfectly clear I wasn’t going to be anyone’s sidekick. I want a leading role or I’ll just start my own business. I’ve been recruiting girls for long enough and there is no way in hell I’m taking orders from any man, not even Junior. I want to call the shots, sitting on top like the boss I was meant to be.

“We have to be careful in this meeting, though. We don’t want anyone leaking that we’re after the Carrillo connections just yet. Gotta lay low, but test the waters a bit.” His dark eyes give me a knowing look, as if I’m not aware of what is at stake.

“I know, Junior. I’m not stupid.” We made the plan together. In fact, I set up most of the line and allowed him to feed it to his father so he would see how this could benefit us. He agreed, but he told us to arrange it ourselves, giving us a way to show our worth for the future.

“So, we’re on track with your newprimo?”

“As a matter of fact, we are. It won’t be long before I indeed have a newboyfriendeating from the palm of my hand.”

He gags.

“What? This was part of the plan.”

“Si, yo se. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. You’re myprimita. I don’t want his filthy paws all over your body.”

You and me both.

“It’s just a body.” I shrug. Sex is great, but it also doesn’t mean shit to me, and if it gets me what I want, I’ll happily use my body to get there. “Just focus on the endgame. It will all work out.”

“It can’t be that easy, Cristina.” There is a reprimanding tone in Junior’s voice that I’m not appreciating, and I snap my glaring expression his way. “This is Liam Carrillo. Not to mention that pitbull little brother of his.”

“It never is, but I have this under control. You can take a shot at it if you don’t believe me?”

“No, I know you do. I’m just saying. These men are powerful. Don’t let him get any control over you. Don’t let him get under your skin.”

The worried look Junior shows softens my harsh features. It’s moving, really, since Junior doesn’t care for anyone in the world other than himself, but every now and then, he graces me with the small level of affection. Other than himself, I’m convinced I’m his favorite person, all rooted in the undeniable bond we share. When growing up, it sometimes confused me that we were thick and thieves, but he had not even some form of a relationship with his little sister, Callie, other than terrorizing the shit out of her.

---