22. Chapter 21
Chapter 21
R amiro looked tense when they got in the car, leaving late instead of early like he’d offered. He’d stayed on the phone with Ash for a long time.
He sat behind the steering wheel, staring through the windshield. Summer was fine waiting. His overthinking face was as compelling as his I-want-to-take-care-of-everything-for-her face.
The worry wrinkles on his forehead made her want to stretch toward him and smooth them out, but she stayed on her side of the car, her hands in her lap.
“Something’s come up that I need to handle tonight,” he said.
“Okay. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine alone.” Alone felt lonelier than being near him without really having him, but she wouldn’t ever complain.
His jaw grew tighter, the muscle there beginning to throb.
“I really will be okay.” Sometimes he still treated her like that helpless kid she’d been on the bridge.
“It’s Friday.”
She had no idea why the day mattered to him. He must have been worrying about her needing him all weekend. Her fingers twisted together.
Ramiro turned his body toward her. She didn’t lift her head to look at him, but her awareness was focused on him. The BMW was roomier than you’d expect inside, but Ramiro still took up all the air and space.
“I was thinking you might want to visit your friends at the apartment.”
Oh. Summer stared at her aching fingers. She started hanging out with her neighbors because it made Ramiro happy. At first, their laughter and chatter had been nice. She’d fooled herself into thinking they liked her.
It took her a few months to realize they didn’t remember anything she’d told them unless she reminded them. They liked that she hung on to their words and brought them the alcohol they liked and cleaned up their place a little afterward; they didn’t like her.
Still, Ramiro asked her about them every Monday, and the way he smiled when she told him she’d spent time with friends had been the best reward.
“I can go over there,” she agreed. Spending time with the women would make him feel better, and that was reason enough to do it .
His rough fingers gripped her chin, lifting and turning her head so she looked at him. “But do you want to go, Summer?”
She swallowed, her skin tingling under his fingers. “If it makes you—”
Ramiro pinched a little, stemming the words. “This isn’t about me. I asked you what you wanted to do.” He sighed, moving his hand to brush her hair away from her face before letting it drop to the gearshift. “Do you want to spend time with your friends? Or would you rather I take you home?”
Every time he called it home, her chest twinged.
He would worry about her if she was home alone. “I—”
“This can’t be like last time,” he said, making her swallow her words. “You spent the night with your boyfriend when you guys were having problems. You thought I wanted you there, but I never wanted you with that prick.” Ramiro’s nose flared, and he looked out the windshield, his cheek flexing again. “You’re safe alone in my house,” he continued. “Either choice you make here would make me happy. What would make you happy?”
She was happiest by his side. Anywhere else? The word happy didn’t apply.
Summer chewed on her lip, her fingers gripping each other harder as her stomach swirled. Which would be better? Alone with her thoughts? Or taking care of the women like she normally did?
They’d expect her, she realized. They didn’t know she’d moved. Summer should go spend time with them. She could at least give them closure and maybe make them a little glad she’d been around as long as she had. She could listen to them and clean up. If she brought them their favorite alcohol, maybe—
She bit her cheek, anxiety flaring. She hadn’t picked up their favorite bottle, but if she went without it, would they get mad at her?
Ramiro’s hand closed around her twisting fingers. “Talk to me, Summer.”
“I normally bring something,” she blurted out. “When I go to see them.” Her cheek ached. She deserved it. Here she was, hoping Ramiro would fix things for her again.
He glanced at the clock on the dash. “We have time. Where do you need to go?”
“Oh, if you drop me off at the apartment complex, I can walk—”
His grunt shut her up. She remembered the last time she’d heard it. He’d been inside her then. Her body shifted, her thighs pressing together.
“You’re not walking anywhere on your own, baby girl. Just tell me what you need.”
Summer’s heart thumped happily. Ramiro was taking care of her. He’d even called her ‘baby girl’ again. “Can we stop by the liquor store a couple of blocks past the garage? They have a flavored rum that my neighbors really like.”
He frowned. “But you’re pregnant.” His hand tightened on the gearshift just saying the word. “You can’t drink that.”
“They like it, though. ”
Ramiro’s jaw clenched. “What am I going to do with you?” Ramiro muttered under his breath as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Her eyes fell to her lap. He really was getting tired of her.
“My car.” She cleared her throat, hating the gravelly feel of it. “We left it at the apartment. I can drive back to the house when I’m done. That way, you don’t have to pick me up.”
“I’m going to come and get you. Just text me when you’re ready.”
She wanted him to come get her, so his words made her feel like she could float. She allowed herself to stare at his profile for the whole drive. Ramiro was paying attention to the road. He’d never know she stared the whole time.
When his eyes flicked to her, a happy pulse ran through her body. She never wanted the drive to end.
R amiro parked the car in the location they’d scouted at the dock. He was the first one there, even after lingering with Summer. She’d had that hopeful look in her eyes. The one that made him want to hug her and never let go.
She’d worn it all week, and yet she still slept in that damn guest bedroom.
Unable to resist, he pulled up the camera feed on his phone. That was why he’d mentioned her girls’ night. He could watch her as often as he liked while she was there and reassure himself that she was fine.
Feminine laughter filtered through the feed, but none of it was Summer’s.
“Wait, your apartment is empty?” one of the women asked.
He didn’t get to hear Summer’s voice. She nodded instead.
“That’s wild!” the other girl said. “We didn’t even notice!”
Ramiro frowned at the phone.
More laughter scraped over his nerves as both of her neighbors took a deep drink from their glasses. They were enjoying the alcohol Summer had purchased for them. He’d tried to get her to pick out something else, something she might like, but she’d resisted, insisting she always brought that fruity-looking bottle.
Summer didn’t even like rum before she was pregnant. If she drank anything, it was a glass of wine, but even that was rare.
Had he ever noticed her drinking on Friday nights in all the time he’d been watching? Or had she always sat there with that fake smile on her face, pretending to be glad to be there? He hadn’t been paying close enough attention after all.
Seb approached his car, and Ramiro put away his phone and got out. This wouldn’t take long. He’d pick her up as soon as it was finished.
“Why the hell did you want me here?” Seb griped, his voice low. Sound carried among the rows of metal containers at the docks .
“Are you always this lazy?” Ramiro asked, taking out some of his anger on his newest asset.
Seb snorted. “It’s not laziness. I don’t risk my skin if I don’t have to.”
“There shouldn’t be much of a risk if you did what I asked.” Ramiro lifted his eyebrow.
Seb sighed and slapped the remote into his hand. “Want to do the honors?”
“Let’s get a better view.” Ramiro moved past him, heading to the area Ash had suggested on the phone call earlier.
Ash had no issue finding a spot in the cartel, since he’d already had a foot inside. The hit on Ovidio Guzman stirred things up, just like Ramiro hoped, and everyone was left scrambling. Dock deliveries were scheduled weeks in advance, though. The crew working the delivery were nervous, since they had fewer people and they were suspicious as hell, but they wouldn’t willingly ditch the huge shipment of drugs. Losing the shipment would hurt what was left of the cartel.
Ramiro was counting on it.
Ash had been in the perfect position to find out the location. No one would even realize he knew. His cover would remain, in case they needed to do anything else. Ramiro doubted they would.
Seb remained silent as they walked through the containers and climbed the steps to a better view .
The shipment had already been off-loaded, and most of the men present stood around talking while one worker used the crane to set the containers onto the truck.
The truck Seb had already rigged with explosives.
Ramiro waited until the last container was placed.
Then he pushed the button.
Watching the explosion was cathartic. Ramiro had never liked the drug running portion of the business. It was better than the sex trafficking he’d tried his best to ignore until he couldn’t any longer, but drugs still fucked with people.
He was looking forward to going legitimate, even though he’d no longer get moments like these.
Seb’s smirk formed, the flames dancing in his eyes. “All right, that was kind of fun.”
Ramiro slapped his shoulder before crawling backward. Seb stared for a moment longer before following. He slipped into the passenger seat where Summer had sat not that long ago.
The need to pull up the feed dragged at Ramiro, but it was more important to drive the damn car. He’d look in on Summer once he dropped Seb off at his own car.
“You really know how to show your date a good time, Rodriguez,” Seb said, that smirk still on his face.
Ramiro shook his head, but his shoulders eased at the teasing. “Don’t expect a goodbye kiss.”
When Seb laughed, he felt a little better about the man.
“I wouldn’t dream about stepping on your girl’s toes. ”
Even Seb knew Summer was his. The idea of it settled something inside of Ramiro. Maybe he’d kiss Summer tonight. She seemed to enjoy kissing, and he would be able to keep himself in check. The way he’d scared her before was great incentive. Ramiro never wanted to lose control with her again.