32
“Fuck.”
Gloria had taken a hit to the fuel tank. We’d had her towed from Amalia’s condo two days ago, and I hadn’t had the stomach to look at the damage until now. But I’d take a totaled bike in exchange for Amalia’s safety any day.
Wiping the sweat from my brow with the shirt I’d torn off ten minutes ago, I reached for my bottle of water, but instead of drinking, I poured the damn thing over my head. The Texan sun would take some time to get used to. It was a world away from Philly’s four seasons, but I’d go anywhere she was. Hot, cold—it didn’t matter, because when I thought of my wife, only one word came to mind.
Home.
“Milly tells me you’ve been out here for quite some time.” Amalia’s father’s footsteps stopped just behind me. “You know, we have people who do this. All you have to do is say the word,” he offered, regarding a freshly hand-washed Hellcat sitting in the drive.
“And miss the opportunity to admire that work of art?” I said, straightening and drying off my face. It wasn’t just the car. Doing these small things for her filled me with a sense of pride and purpose—anything to make her smile.
“You seem the type to have had your hands on a number of specialty vehicles…and yet you choose this”—he motioned toward my bike—“as your main means of transportation.”
“It’s fast and perfect for a quick getaway, if need be, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.”
“I heard,” he said, eyes dropping to the bandage at my side. “Dr. Ward said he took care of that for you.”
Amalia had ultimately convinced me to get treated by her doctor friend—it wasn’t my choice, but when a goddess is on her knees, my cum sliding down her throat, she could have very well asked me to jump out the goddamn window, and I would have obliged with a smile.
“Yeah, it’s nothing serious.”
“Thank you,” he said, a hand on my arm. “I always worry about her. And there are many days, if not most, I regret ever getting her involved in this life.”
“So why did you?”
He hesitated, eyes slightly narrowed as he studied me. “I’ll be the first to admit it was for selfish reasons. Greed. Ambition. Amalia has always been beautiful…” Antonio Montesinos sucked in a deep breath, as though deciding whether to continue his story. “I wanted to capitalize on that,” he finally said.
Anger raged inside me at the thought that Amalia’s own father had all but sold her soul for money. Used his daughter’s beauty as a tool to gain more power. To this day, he was willing to risk her life for his own greed. The same way Ronan had used Derek and me.
It was my turn to exhale forcefully and relax before I did or said something I’d regret, if only because I knew she and him were close, and I’d never do anything to hurt her.
I said nothing and used the rag on my shoulder to polish a random spot on Gloria’s dash.
“Kai, I know that makes me sound like a piece-of-shit father. I used my daughter’s pretty face for my own gain, but it was also the best way to keep her from the same fate that most women in our world are subject to. An arranged marriage.”
I stopped my frantic wiping.
“I know about you and Amalia.”
“Then you know this is exactly that.”
“No, what exists between you and her is completely different than what would have happened to her if I’d been forced to marry her to some drug lord’s son. I would have lost my only daughter.”
I hated that he made sense. And I hated even more that we seemed more alike now than five minutes ago because, selfishly, I’d prefer to have her in my life the way she was than married off to some spineless bastard who would have treated her like nothing more than an object to showcase, fuck, and discard when he pleased.
“Isabel and I are headed back to Sinaloa tonight. Gio asked to stay until the end of his vacation. But I know you two are newlyweds and probably want—”
“You’re leaving? In the middle of all this?” I tossed the rag to the floor and eyed him, face twisted in disgust at his disregard for his daughter’s safety.
“I don’t have a choice. Business doesn’t wait for personal matters to resolve. And despite what you might think, Amalia has protection and can handle herself. Gio, on the other hand…”
If I had to guess how much of what’s happened in the last weeks was due to Antonio’s shady dealings, I knew my assumptions would be right. I knew he loved his daughter but loved money and power even more. After all, he hadn’t done a damn thing, but allowed her to risk her life, time and time again.
“Gio can stay, but with everything going on, I’m not sure if—”
“That’s not fair, Kai. I thought we were friends.” Gio was standing by the door, leaning against the frame with a reproachful look. “And besides, this is nothing new. Growing up a Montesinos, there’s a new threat every week. Just because you all thought I was in the dark doesn’t mean it was any less dangerous,” he added with air quotes.
Maybe the kid had a point, but it would have been easier not to have to babysit or worry about him getting caught up.
“Kai is right, Gio.”
“Papá, I’m not a kid anymore. Please stop treating me like I’m not part of this family.” His voice was tinged with hurt and resentment, and I suddenly felt like I was intruding. “I’ll stay out of trouble, I promise. But don’t make me leave because you think I’m too weak. It’s what you’ve thought about me my whole life.”
Antonio looked away and said nothing, not even to deny his son’s claim. I never knew what a good father was growing up. Never had one. The father figures in my life were scum. I’d convinced myself that because of that, I’d never be worth a damn at being someone’s dad. But Derek had proved me wrong. Maybe it was the circumstances, the fact he’d had his daughter with the woman he loved. But I found myself contemplating the idea that maybe someday…
Maybe.
As if I’d manifested her in my thoughts, my wife was pulling up in the passenger side of Holly’s vehicle. I didn’t realize how big I was smiling until the sides of my cheeks started to burn. Amalia hopped out, looking too goddamn good for me to express how much I missed her, while her father and brother stood just steps away. Her smile widened the moment we made eye contact.
She’d been at a meeting this morning with her girls, then called to tell me she’d be running errands with Holly. I felt like a pathetic bastard because I missed the hell out of her after just a few hours. Maybe that’s why I washed and waxed her goddamn car and sat in the driver’s seat because the interior and seatbelt strap smelled like her perfume.
Fuck me, I was gone. Completely fucking done for.
“Hey, handsome,” she said before wrapping her arms around my neck and climbing onto my waist, her legs around me, and I held an ass cheek in each hand. “I missed you.” Her mouth was on mine in the next second, and for that moment, I didn’t care that we weren’t alone. That I was sweaty, filthy, and missing a shirt, while she was dressed in sleek beige pants and a silky white tank top, looking every bit like a powerful woman.
“Come on, Gio. Let’s give the lovebirds a moment to get reacquainted after a grueling morning apart.” Amalia peered around me at the sound of Holly’s laughter as she dragged Gio inside the home. I hadn’t noticed when Antonio left or seen where he’d gone off to, but nothing else mattered but the woman in my arms.
“You’re bad for business, Cain.” She nipped at my bottom lip.
“How so?”
“You have any idea how hard it was to focus on anything going on around me? To have to get up and speak, schedule, and arrange shipments when all I wanted to do was come home to you and get fucked.”
Every ounce of blood in my body migrated to my pants.
“Fuck, vicious. I missed you too.”
“What’s wrong with us? I’ve never been this pathetic.”
I laughed over her lips and kissed her again. “It’s because I like you, wife.”
“A lot?” she asked, wiping her lipstick from my mouth with her thumb.
“A lot.”
“Is that why Milly called to tell me you were sitting in my car for an hour?”
Barking a laugh, I walked us over to the Hellcat and sat her on the hood, wedging myself between her legs.
“Milly is a chi…chi…help me out here.”
“Chismosa,” she choked out in laughter.
“That’s it. Exactly. I was detailing your car, not missing you or smelling you or thinking about you on your knees and how fucking beautiful you look choking on my cock.”
Her laughter quieted, and she placed a hand on my cheek. “How romantic of you.”
“I thought so.” My hands journeyed up her blouse. “Any updates?” I asked, flicking her hardened nipples.
Amalia rested her forehead on mine, closed her eyes, and reveled in the pleasure of my caresses.
“No, but I’ve got Holly looking into possible leads and tracing phone calls. As you know, a lot of these transactions happen anonymously from burner phones and accounts— Fuck, Kai,” she whispered, tipping her head back as I kissed behind her ear. “Just like that.”
“So what’s next?” My hands dropped to her hips, and I hauled her forward. The heat of her pussy on my abdomen made me want to take her right here on the hood of this car.
“Unfortunately, wait until they strike again. Or we can set up a drop and see if they take the bait.” She bucked against me as I kissed down the valley of her breasts. “It seems like I’m the target, so if I’m alone, it might entice—”
“The hell with that.”
Her eyes snapped open.
“Excuse me?”
“You alone? No, absolutely not. Fuck that.”
Amalia rolled her eyes and shoved me back. “Again, I wasn’t asking, Cain.”
“No, maybe you weren’t, but I am telling you, that plan is shit.”
Her laugh was cynical and maybe downright diabolical, but it didn’t faze me.
“Oh?”
“Putting yourself at risk is out of the question.”
“You mean, my every day? I think you forget that I cut the dicks off cocky, pieces-of-shit men for a living—in heels and a skirt, no less.”
“And you look goddamn sexy doing it, woman, but deliberately putting yourself in danger is different. I know you’re capable, so get over yourself. This isn’t me trying to be an overprotective husband or underestimating you or whatever bullshit it is you’re thinking.”
She arched an eyebrow. “And what is it then?”
One of my hands wrapped around her throat, and I tugged her close. “This is me letting you know that as long as I’m breathing, no one touches my fucking wife.” Amalia’s eyes closed, her nails digging into my arms. “That’s my ring on your finger, mi reina. Whatever needs to get done, you and I do it together. I’ll burn this whole goddamn city to the ground for you. Just say the word.”
“Kai.” Her voice was barely a whisper as her lips grazed the shell of my ear, followed by the tip of her tongue. “You owe me an orgasm today. Every day. Your words.”
“I made sure you started the day properly satisfied. Don’t tell me you already forgot.”
“Hmm, I might need you to jog my memory a bit.”
“Join me in the shower? I’ve been out here all day, messing with this bike and your car. I’m filthy.”
“I noticed,” she said with a slow smile. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Is that right?” Maybe she recognized the mischief in my voice because her eyes went wide, and she attempted to wriggle away, but I was faster. Snatching her from the hood, I tossed her over my shoulder and ran inside as she laughed in my arms.