28. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Miguel
The dry rawness of my throat has me tossing and turning, unable to fall back to sleep. I sit up in bed. The room is dark and there's a figure shifting in the chair in the corner. I get to my feet, almost hitting the floor the minute I leave the bed. I grab onto the nightstand, steadying myself on my weak legs. It's been two weeks since I've been mostly in bed. I have not done more than walk to and from the bathroom, usually with Marcus holding onto me.
Unable to stay in bed any longer and needing to get my strength back so I can deal with all the mess back home, I force myself to do more than my body wants me to. The more I remain in the house, the more stir crazy I've become. I don't do well staying still for too long. Listening to my sons speak to each other outside my room about issues with certain customers and a few deals falling through recently has me wishing I can get on a plane today and handle the misunderstandings myself. I can't go anywhere until I know Marcus will be waiting for me when I get back.
I get halfway down the hallway, gripping onto the wall and a voice behind me has me freezing in place.
"Where do you think you're going, you stubborn ass?" Mateo grabs onto my arm as Isaiah steps in front of me to block my way.
"To get some water, food, and then back to Mexico."
"The hell you are,” Isaiah shouts. “How about you get back to bed and I get you some sustenance. Then we will talk about this trip back home you're badly wanting to make.”
"I'm a grown ass man and should be able to leave when I feel like it." I look between Mateo and Isaiah, grinding my teeth.
A loud sigh comes from behind me. "Not when you're still healing and not thinking clearly. That's how you get bombs attached to your car without noticing you're being followed."
"That was one time."
"One time too many,” Marcus says in a biting tone.
I sigh, turning around to face my rival, the man who could save my life and kill me all in one day if he wanted to—Mi conejito. "Fine. You win this time."
He shakes his head, smiling and reaches for my hand. "No, mi amor. Not just this time, but before and after today as well."
I shake him off when he tries to direct me to the bed. "I'm not getting back into that fucking sink hole."
He laughs. "Okay, let's get you to the chair then, your majesty."
I plop down, holding onto the arms of the chair. Marcus leans down and kisses me on the lips. "I'll be back. Don't you move."
"I'll make sure his ass stays put," Mateo says from the door.
"What are you doing here, pendejo? Why aren't you back home dealing with our current issues?"
He folds his arms, moving closer. "I'm not the only one capable of handling business deals. Angel and Santiago are dealing just fine without me. Probably better than me."
"What are you saying?"
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "You know being a drug lord and running a cartel organization was never my thing."
"You were getting the hang of things from what I could see. You have lots of potential and what it takes to run anything you put your mind to."
He nods, forming his lips into a thin line. "Yes, but my heart should be in it too."
"So you want out?"
"Not completely. Running the clubs and hotels is something I enjoy. I'm a businessman, but not the same kind as you."
"So this is your way of telling me. When things are falling apart?"
"Is there a better time?" He cocks his head, leaning against the door frame.
I laugh. "I guess not. I should plan to leave tomorrow to make sure—"
"I don't think you should run it either."
My eyes widen. "What do you mean? Who else is there?" I scoot closer to the edge, gripping the arms of the chair.
"You have more than one son.” Mateo steps closer, folding his arms.
I run a hand through my hair, looking off to the side. "He runs his own organization with Marcus and Joey."
"Before, yes but he feels you belong at Marcus's side more than him and he was only filling in until you were ready to be there again.”
My heart races at the thought of getting to hold Marcus's hand on the way to work every morning. “And he's sure this is what he wants? To handle this all alone? What about Joey? He helped build this business with Marcus too.”
“He won't be running it alone. He has Gabriel, Santiago and Angel stepping in when needed. Joey wants to focus on the sanctuary and going after sex trafficking rings. I think this will be good for everyone all the way around.”
"A lot has been discussed behind my back I see." I shift in the chair.
"We thought it would be better to figure things out while you were healing." He looks behind him and back at me.
"So taking my business from me that I've kept running and successful all these years is how you figure things out."
Marcus appears in the door, holding a tray. "No, mi amor. We only thought you might want to stay here." He steps closer, placing it on a stand in front of me. "With me. I know it won't be us disappearing together where no one can find us but it's a start.”
I stare up at him. "And here I thought you were adamant about sending my ass back to Mexico the first chance you get."
He smiles, placing his hand on my cheek. "Not anymore."
"So I'll stay here with you and then what?"
He sets the tray on a nearby table. "We live our lives together the way we always intended. We promised thirteen years ago in a hotel room we would love each other unconditionally the minute we were both free."
"That was before. I'm not good for you, Marcus. All I do is bring more problems to your doorstep." I place my hand on his.
Squeezing my fingers, he stares deeply into my eyes. "It's us against the world, remember? Any problems you have automatically become mine."
"Is that how it works?"
"Love has no rules. Ours didn't before and there's no use starting now."
“Your nightmares and the scars on your back—”
“Are because of me. I knew the risks of loving you and I wouldn’t change things if I could. I would rather face my nightmares with you than alone.”
I grab his hand, lacing our fingers together. "What is it you truly want?"
"This." He kisses my lips.
I brush my mouth over his. “And all I want is you. I don’t care how or where.”
"Then take me." His breaths come out ragged.
When I glance behind me, Mateo is nowhere in sight, and we are all alone. "Close the door and I will."
"You are still healing."
"Yes and I'm in need of some physical therapy. How about you help me stretch and strengthen my muscles."
He glances down at my crotch. "Pretty sure your cock isn't a muscle."
I throw my head back laughing and pull him down into my lap. "So we are really doing this?"
He presses his head to mine. "We are, Papi. There's no turning back now."
"Good. The only place I want to come back to is you."
He pulls away and gets to his feet. I tilt my head when he holds out his hand smiling. "Dance with me?"
I take his hand and he pulls me against him once I'm to my feet. Before he can start singing, I beat him to it. He holds onto me as much as I cling on to him, becoming each other's anchor, strength, and home.