47. Santiago
SANTIAGO
“Where do you want this?”
“Right here is fine,” Imani said, her back to me, as she stocked beer bottles into the outdoor bar’s fridge.
Dropping the box next to her, I then stretched my arms. “Need me to bring anything else?”
She checked the supply list on her phone. “No, it looks like we got everything we needed.”
She went back to the beer while I watched her work.
“That party really emptied us out of booze, huh?”
She nodded. “Yes. But it’s always like that.”
Glancing around the pool area, which now stood empty, it was hard to imagine that only last weekend, it was packed with people.
“Say, Imani.”
“What is it?”
I leaned against the bar. “Don’t you think it’s weird how they hire different people every time?”
“I guess? But it’s been like that since the start.”
“The start?”
Grabbing the empty box from the floor, she pointed at the other ones. “Help me toss these out?”
Not letting her ask twice, I grabbed the other cartons and ran to keep up with her.
“So when did those parties start?”
She pursed her lips, her brown eyes meeting mine. “Since the hotel opened. So, about a year and a half ago?”
“And you’ve never been to one?”
She looked at me funny. “Yeah… What’s this all about?”
I shrugged. “Just curious.”
She scoffed. “Bullshit. Is it somehow related to Ariyan?”
“No…”
“Oh, fuck.” She gasped, a huge smile spreading on her lips. “You’re still hung up on him, after all this time? It’s been months since you last brought him up, so I sort of figured you moved on.”
Moved on? She had no fucking idea. Not that she was to blame. I hadn’t told a single soul about Ariyan and me, and I doubted he had either. Sure, that French weirdo had us all figured out, but who cared for what one psycho knew.
Holding the door for the garbage room open for Imani, she walked in first and tossed the boxes into the recycling bin, me right behind her.
“I’m asking ’cause my brother’s girlfriend was invited.” Although, from the looks of it, ex-girlfriend would be more accurate, with how Nacio had been locked up in his room these last few days.
“Seriously?” she asked, one sculpted brow raised.
“Yeah, why’re you surprised?”
Done in the trash room, we both got out and started making our way back to the bar.
“Is she rich or something?”
“Not at all.”
“Well.” She cleaned her palms over her apron. “From what I know, it’s extremely hard to get invited unless you’re loaded. But then again, pretty girls often get a free pass.”
Despite my overall contempt toward Tess, I couldn’t deny she was hot, hence my idiotic brother’s obsession with her and her boobs.
And thinking about what Imani had just said, the girls at the party really were good-looking in an odd way.
And not just them, but the men, too. I mean, sure, Miami was packed with attractive people, but so many in one place?
It made me think back on Olivia. She was drop-dead gorgeous, and yet, she didn’t look rich.
Not at all. Judging by her platform heels, which were so cheap they broke, I guess her looks got her the invitation.
Before I went to prison, I used to hang out in places that invited chicks like Tess and Olivia, who called themselves escorts, to spice things up.
But the vibe in those places was trashy and so different from the Kallos.
And while I knew rich people paid for sex just as anybody else, I couldn’t imagine Ariyan having a hand in something so vile, especially with what he thought about the whole sex-industry thing.
Like, fuck, there was that one time in his office where he got pissed at me for using the word “whore” as a slur—
“By the way, did I tell you this is my last week here?”
I paused on the spot and glared at her. “What?”
Today, she had her cornrows pulled into a high ponytail, which she started playing with while looking at the floor. “I know it’s sudden, but… I got accepted to acting school in NYC.”
Knowing she’d always dreamed of it, I couldn’t help but smile at the news.
“That’s amazing, Imani.”
She looked up to meet my eyes, a slight hesitation in hers. “Is it? I mean, it’s not like the world needs another actress—”
I grabbed her shoulder before she could go on. “It’s incredible, and you’re going to be famous. Just remember me when you are, okay?”
Her full lips turned up into a beautiful smile that lit up her entire face. “You bet, babe.”
Returning her smile, I pulled her into a tight hug.
“But New-York? Fuck.” I squeezed her tighter. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You better call me, asshole. All the fucking time.”
I chuckled. “You bet. Who else will I complain to?”
When I let her go, she held my stare for a minute longer before pointing at my face. “You better not make a fool out of yourself while I’m gone either, especially not with Ariyan.”
“I can’t promise anything—ouch,” I chuckled when she hit my chest.
“For real, babe. I can’t have your heart broken while I’m away. You’re already pathetic enough as it is.”
I bumped my shoulder with hers. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Side-eying me, she scanned me skeptically. “Oh, really?”
“Don’t you know the saying, un clavo saca otro clavo?”
She rolled her eyes. “You and your Spanish.”
“Are you mocking my culture?”
“Hey.” She paused, staring ahead. “Speaking of old loves, isn’t that Gabriel?”
Following her gaze, I was surprised to see she was right. Despite me standing outside and having a window between us, there was no mistake about it. Gabe was right there, standing in the lobby while glancing around.
The fuck?
My anger spiked up, and I kissed Imani on the cheek before saying goodbye.
Walking the trail leading into the hotel, my eyes locked on Gabriel as if not to lose sight of him. That son of a bitch had really crossed a line this time by coming here.
“S-Santiago,” he said with a smile as soon as he saw me approaching, but the smile wiped off his face the second I pulled him aside.
“Was my not answering your texts not clear enough that you decided to come here?” I hissed, pissed off that he had the nerve to come to my fucking work.
His face fell as he glared at me in return. “While it would be nice if you replied once in a while, that’s not why I’m here.”
“Is that so?” I narrowed my eyes at him, not believing this bullshit.
He huffed, shaking his head. “Yes, Santiago. I’m here for work.”
Before I could doubt him, again, he pointed with his thumb over his back, and I noticed his partner—the one I once saw giving him a ride—talking to the front desk clerk.
“Why’re you guys here?” I snarled, eyes moving back to Gabriel.
He looked around before meeting my stare. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but we’re following a missing person report.”
My brows snapped together. “A missing person—”
“Oh, officers, there you are,” Ariyan’s voice cut through my question, and Gabriel and I both looked up to see him stepping toward Gabriel’s partner. After shaking his hand, Ariyan turned to look at us, his eyes stopping on me for a second before moving on to Gabe.
“Officer Sánchez, I’m so glad to meet you again.
” Ariyan pressed his hands together. “I understand from your partner that you have some questions to ask me, so how about we go to my office?” he offered, and honestly, one would think he was inviting them for tea with how calm he seemed.
If I were to be questioned by the police, I sure as fuck wouldn’t be this nice.
But more importantly, why the fuck did they need to question him, of all people?
“What do you need from him?” I asked when Gabriel’s eyes shot to me.
“I can’t say—”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about, Mr. Rivas,” Ariyan cut in, his eyes darting to my hands and up. It was only then that I realized how hard I was clenching my fists. “Stop by my office later, okay?”
His calm composure somehow helped me relax, and without breaking our stare, I nodded, holding my breath as I watched him walk away with the two officers.
But the second he was out of my sight, all my nerves kicked back in, and I struggled to sit down.
Instead, I began walking in circles in the hall outside Ariyan’s office.
What if they were here because of one of his hit jobs?
Fuck. There was no way, right? I mean, he was a professional, so efficient in everything that he did, that I bet he left no evidence behind.
Besides, if he truly were a suspect, he’d be called to the police station.
That said, they’d been in there for almost half an hour now.
Should Ari really not have lawyered up or something?
Fucking shit… the fact that I was more concerned for his safety than for the fact that he was a literal killer said something about my moral bankruptcy, but then again, I’d long since stopped caring for right or wrong when it came to him.
The sound of footsteps cut my train of thought, and I looked up to see a tall man, wearing a white T-shirt and gray slacks, walking toward me.
He had tanned skin and a head full of thick, dark hair slicked back that made him look like some of the guys in my neighborhood, the type to drive their cheap convertible back and forth just to show off.
“Who are you?” he asked, his brown eyes landing on me.
“One of the staff.”
He scoffed, then pulled out a pack of smokes from his pants.
“I figured that much by your clothes.” He tucked one in his lips. “I mean, what’s your name, kid?”
“You can’t smoke here,” I hissed.
He lifted his gaze to stare at me, a smile slowly dragging on his lips.
“So don’t rat me out, yeah?” He winked, then pulled out a lighter, but before he could light up the cig, I snatched it from his lips. His eyes widened, danger crossing them, but not giving a fuck, I crushed the cigarette in my fist and pushed it into my pants pocket.
“You can’t smoke in here,” I repeated myself, unbothered by the way he continued to stare daggers at me.