Chapter 27 #2
It’s Friedrich who jumps in, sounding ashamed. “It’s clients of mine who did business with the Cosa Nostra and the Mala del Brenta.”
All I can do is stare at Friedrich. It’s not like I don’t know how money’s laundered.
Even before I became part of this insanely long chain, I knew about it.
But I’ve never heard of money going through so many hands.
That’s just more opportunities for something to go wrong from a law enforcement agency or one party’s greediness.
Jorge draws my attention away from Friedrich as he strokes the back of my hand.
“Friedrich fears they used you to force him back into syndicate life, but not on his family’s side. They know your practically family, so my guess is they assumed they could use you, and Friedrich would do nothing to stand in their way because he wants to protect you.”
It’s way too much to digest. I shift my focus to Friedrich, and he looks like shit.
Guilt makes him not want to meet my gaze, but I don’t blame him.
I’m certain he didn’t ask for any of this.
Not clients who duped him. Not a family who’s in a syndicate.
Not endangering me since I’m his girlfriend’s sister, and I was his best friend’s girlfriend.
This is a massive weight he bears on his shoulders, so I won’t make it worse.
“So where does that leave us?”
I suspect I know the answer, but I want to hear it from Jorge.
“I need to head back to the States since that’s where at least one of the parties involved in this is from.”
“What about us?”
He stares at me for a long time not saying anything while I await an invitation to go with him.
As the seconds tick toward a minute, I realize Jorge’s nervous that I’ll feel rushed into this or that I’ll reject his offer.
His anxiety isn’t just from being the center of attention among strangers.
I think it plays out even when he’s with friends and family.
I think it’s when he’s not in control of a situation.
I wonder if that stems from him watching his father’s murder at such a young age and feeling like he had no control over what happened to his dad.
Or maybe it’s because none of his family had control either.
Could this be some type of survivor guilt that’s lasted with him two and a half decades?
I keep my voice soft and low even though everyone else can hear.
“Do you want me to stay here for now or go with you?”
I see the relief in his eyes with those last three words.
“I’d prefer you came with us, but I understand if it’s too soon.”
“Can we pack my apartment today?”
He beams and nods. “If that’s what you want, Liesel.”
“I’d have to do it anyway, but this is certainly a far better reason.”
“We need to take off today. The sooner, the better. With the number of men we have here now, plus my brother, cousin, you, and me, we won’t all fit in Alejandro’s jet that he, Joaquin, and their men traveled in.
We’ll need our family’s one to come over too.
Between both, they can transport us back.
It’ll be at least five hours before we’re ready to take off.
We can go to your place now if you’d like. ”
I nod, then shift my focus to my parents to see their reaction from everything changing so quickly and the monumental implications to this.
Neither of them appears surprised. I wonder what my mother said to my father last night.
Heidi’s shoulder nudges mine, and I look over at her.
She’s wearing the same shit-eating grin she has since we were kids, and she had a secret she couldn’t wait to share with me.
“Mutti and I can go over and pack up your stuff later if you can only take a small amount. We can ship whatever you want and either store or get rid of the rest.”
I match her infectious smile. “You just want to raid my kitchen for that mixer and air fryer.”
She shrugs unrepentantly.
“Thank you.”
My family knows I mean more than just Heidi’s offer for our mom and her to go and pack up my place. I look over at Jorge.
“Can we go after breakfast?”
“If that’s what you’d like, sweetheart.”
That’s a new one, but it’s an endearment that’s appropriate in public.
I nod, and we’re soon filtering into the kitchen to grab plates for breakfast Noor cooked.
I’m certain she heard our conversation, and any parts she may have missed, Hisham will fill in later.
We save her the effort of having to plate and serve everything, and I’m sure she appreciates that since I doubt she expected such a full house.
It’s not exactly a cheery meal, but we discuss the different things in New York I’ll get to see. None of us actually say it’s a permanent move for me, but it basically is since my family’s offered to ship things.
My father says he’d like to rest, and my mother agrees she could do with some more sleep.
Heidi and Friedrich are going to talk more before Friedrich makes a few additional calls.
Alejandro, Joaquin, Jorge, and I head upstairs to pack up the few things we took out of our cases.
Once Jorge and I have zipped up ours, he comes to stand in front of me and takes my hands.
“Chiquita, when we get to New York, I’d like you to stay with me while this is still being resolved.
I will likely have to travel, and I’d feel better with you somewhere that has security protocols already in place.
But once things are resolved, if you’d feel better with your own place, I understand. ”
“I’d like that, Daddy. I’d feel better if I were somewhere you know is safe. But…”
I pause, unsure of whether I should share my thoughts. That fear of rejection Jorge must have experienced earlier wraps itself around me. He cups my face before pressing a quick but soft kiss to my lips.
“Chiquita, you can stay as long as you want. I’m in no hurry for you to go anywhere that doesn’t have a bed we’ll share every night.”
I nod as best I can with his hands still cupping my jaw. “That’s what I want too, Daddy.”
Jorge grabs our cases and wheels them out of the room.
He carries both downstairs. It’s weird to think I’m moving out of an apartment I shared with a man for six months and who I was with for two years in order to move to a new country and live with a man I’ve barely known two months and have only really been with for a week.
When I think of it like that, it’s absolutely insane. But it feels right.
I hemmed and hawed about living with Bastian.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to share my space with him.
But it felt like we were ready and the logical next step.
It was an easy transition when we moved in together.
Despite my nervousness, it ended up working out well until it didn’t.
I wonder if things will go as smoothly with Jorge.
Jorge, Alejandro, Joaquin, and I take one of the large SUVs since there’ll be trunk space for a few suitcases.
Jorge explains to me how much room there’ll be for my luggage when they factor in everything else that’ll need to go in the cabins and holds of the jets.
It’s not just the space but the weight limits.
When we arrive at my apartment, it shocks me to find Bastian there. I assumed he’d be at work. My gaze sweeps the living room, kitchen, and dining room. Everything’s just as I left it. He’s packed nothing. He stands from the desk where he works when he’s reviewing case notes.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I feel Jorge bristle, but he says nothing. It’s not that he’ll leave me to deal with Bastian on my own. I can tell he knows anything he says will only antagonize Bastian more. I walk farther into the living room, and Joaquin closes the door behind us.
“I’m here to get some of my things.”
“And what? You felt like you had to bring your guard dogs with you.”
“Don’t be like this, Bastian. They came to help, and that’s it.”
Bastian stalks across the living room until he’s standing in front of us. Jorge shifts just enough that if he needs to, he can step in front of me.
“Bastian, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. We’ll pack up my clothes and be out of the way. My mom and sister will get the rest of my stuff in a few days, but I warned you already that you need to leave. I’m not keeping the lease on this place.”
Bastian leans toward Jorge’s face. The last thing I need is for this to devolve into a fight since there’s no way Bastian would win, even if it were only him and Jorge without Alejandro and Joaquin here too. It would be a bloodbath even though I’m certain none of the men would let it go that far.
When I step in front of Jorge, his hands immediately go around my waist. He’s gentle but moves me out of the way. He leans in to whisper to me, and I clench my ass as his warning rings loudly in my ear.
“Never step in front of two men who’re ready to fight. Do that again, chiquita, and I’ll spank you.”
Bastian gasps since I’m certain he heard Jorge, but I merely look up at him and mouth, Yes, Daddy.
Alejandro and Joaquin step forward, placing themselves in front of Jorge and me without even touching Bastian.
They convince him to back away until he reaches the sofa.
Joaquin leans toward him until Bastian sinks onto a seat.
Joaquin’s and Alejandro’s expressions clearly tell Bastian it would be wise for him to not try to get up.
Jorge and I head into the bedroom. My suitcases are stored at the bottom of one of the closets.
Most European homes aren’t that large, but many have more than adequate storage.
This apartment is just like that. I point to things and give Jorge directions as he packs one large case, and I pack the other.