Chapter 13 #2
“We’ll discuss that in a moment,” his dad says. “But first, I’d like to know why, when I got here thinking the place would be empty, I found this woman and your employee here.”
Ethan’s cold eyes bounce between his mom and dad for several long seconds before he says, “Your office.”
His dad nods then steps over to Raquel. He says something to her in Spanish that has Ethan tightening his fists and stalking back into the house.
Once all three men are gone, leaving Raquel and me alone, she speaks again. “I’m so sorry you had to see that. We thought the house would be empty. We planned to tell Ethan, but not like this.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t really know what I saw,” I admit.
Raquel nods and gestures toward the table and chairs. “How well do you know Ethan?”
“We just met a week ago.”
Her eyes widen.
“Oh, no. It’s not like that.” My mind goes back to the way I grinded against his pelvis until I came… well, maybe it is kind of like that.
“You don’t have to explain,” she says. “The day I left twelve years ago, lost me the right to know anything about my son.” Her red-stained lips turn down into a heartbreaking frown.
“You haven’t seen him in twelve years?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve seen pictures of him. And every year since I left, I come to town and check on him, but we haven’t spoken, no.”
I have so many questions, but I don’t want to pry, so I just nod as if I understand.
“I know you’ve only known him for a short time,” she says after a few minutes of silence, “but could you maybe tell me about him?”
My heart cracks at her request. She’s right, we just did meet, and what I know isn’t exactly the stuff you tell people about—especially a mother who hasn’t seen her son in over a decade.
But when her eyes lock with mine in a silent plea, I feel like I have to say something, so I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.
“He saved me from being sold as a sex slave.”
Her eyes bulge out in shock, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth.
“Jesus Christ,” a masculine voice says.
Our heads swing over to see Ethan and his father standing there.
“Is that true?” Raquel asks Ethan.
“It’s none of your business.” He hits her with a hard glare before turning it on me. “She’s not to be trusted.” He points to his mother and steps toward me.
Raquel opens her mouth to respond, but Ethan beats her to it. “I don’t care that you’ve somehow convinced Dad to take you back. He and I aren’t the same person. He might forgive you for leaving, but I don’t. And I sure as hell don’t trust you.”
She nods, and her eyes glass over. “I understand.”
“I don’t,” I cut in. “I don’t know what happened, but you haven’t even heard her out.”
“I don’t need to,” Ethan says, his voice devoid of all emotion.
“My dad busted his ass so she could have everything she wanted. He bought her this expensive house, made sure she was driving in the best vehicle money could buy, and stocked her closet full of designer clothes. She didn’t work a single day she was with him.
And when shit got tough, she walked out the door without once looking back or giving a damn that she was leaving her husband or son. ”
“You know that’s not true!” Raquel cries, tears streaming down her face. “It killed me to leave, but I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice,” Ethan booms.
Andrew pushes past Ethan to comfort his… wife—I have no idea if they’re married or not—and Ethan growls. “This is completely fucked.” He grabs the back of the empty chair and flings it across the patio like it weighs nothing.
“Enough!” His dad shouts. “E-nough!”
He stalks over to Ethan and gets in his face. “You don’t have to agree with me taking her back, but you will respect my choice, and you will respect your mom.”
“She’s not my fucking mom. She’s nobody.”
Raquel chokes out a sob, and I stand to comfort her, but when I do, my head goes fuzzy and I sway slightly. I trip over the leg of the chair and almost fall. But Ethan must’ve seen me, because he’s over to me, his hands gripping my waist, before I hit the ground.
“You okay?” he asks, his tone full of concern.
“Yeah,” I say, closing my eyes in an attempt to stop the world around me from spinning. The dizziness dissipates, but in its place comes a pounding migraine. “I must’ve been in the sun too long.”
Opening my eyes, I meet Ethan’s worried face. “I’m going to go lie down for a little while.”
He assesses my features for several seconds before he nods. “I’ll be up to check on you in a little bit.”
I want to ask why now. He hasn’t checked on me all week. But I don’t want to add to the tension in the air, so instead I nod.
“It was really nice to meet you,” I say to Ethan’s mom, who smiles a watery smile.
I glance over at his dad, praying my migraine doesn’t worsen before I can make it up to my room. “I’m sorry Ethan didn’t tell you we would be here. As soon as he tells me if it’s okay—”
“Nonsense,” Andrew says, cutting me off. “My son explained what’s going on and you’re more than welcome to stay here as long as you need. I never liked that piece of shit Logan.”
My brain feels as though it’s being banged with a two by four, and I worry I’m going to pass out, so I quickly thank him and then make my exit, leaving Ethan and his parents to talk.
I barely make it up the stairs and into my room before my body gives out and I fall into my bed. I’m going to need to ask Ethan to get my migraine medication is the last thing I think before my eyes close and I fall into a fitful sleep.
I open my eyes and glance around, unsure how long I’ve been asleep. I lie still for a few seconds, waiting for the pounding to return, and sigh in relief when it doesn’t.
“Your head better?” a voice asks, causing me to jump. I glance over and see Ethan sitting in the reading chair with his laptop balancing on his leg.
“Yeah,” I say, sitting up against the headboard. “What are you doing in here?”
“I was concerned.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ve been avoiding me all week.”
He clears his throat. “Okay, fine. I’m hiding out from my parents.” He lifts a single shoulder, and I crack up laughing. The idea of big bad Ethan Romero hiding from his parents is comical. “I knew they wouldn’t come in here and risk interrupting your nap.”
Figuring I should take advantage of having him momentarily cornered, I ask, “Care to explain why you’ve been avoiding me all week?”
He rubs his hand over his scruffy face, reminding me what it felt like when his face was rubbing all over my breasts. What I wouldn’t give to have his face rubbing on other parts of my body…
“I’ve been busy.” He closes his laptop and stands. “Speaking of which, I need to head to the hotel.”
“Hotel?” I ask, curious. I know he owns The Warehouse, but I didn’t know he owns a hotel as well.
Or maybe he’s going to meet someone. A fiery sense of jealousy zaps through me even though I have no right to be.
Ethan is nothing to me. He’s just a man who saved me from a horrible man who killed my brother and was trying to sell me to make money off me.
“My dad and I own a couple different hotels and casinos. Since he’s been busy playing house, I’ve been running things for him.” Now, him mentioning before that his dad stays in a hotel makes sense—he owns the hotel and…
Wait… “Casinos?” This catches my attention. An item on my list is to learn how to play cards and what better way to learn than at a casino!
“Yeah.”
“How many do you guys have?” I’ve always wanted to go to a casino like in the movies. Dress up in a sexy little black dress and a pair of heels and sip on an expensive drink while playing Blackjack at the table.
“We have one in Atlantic City, a couple in Vegas, one in Tennessee, one in New York, and one in Miami.”
“Cool.” I’ve only traveled once to Arizona for a mission trip, but aside from that, I’ve never been anywhere else. Meanwhile, they own hotels all over.
“I need to get going,” he says. “Rosco will be here looking out for you. Apparently my parents will be here as well.” The way he says the word parents breaks my heart.
It’s clear Ethan is upset about his mom being back, which means he cares.
Because if he didn’t, it wouldn’t bother him the way it is.
“I know you’re upset about your mom being back, but—”
“Not going there,” he barks, stepping toward the door.
He swings it open, at the same time there’s a knock on the door. “Hey, boss,” Rosco says, stepping forward, but still staying in the hallway. “There’s an issue at RH, ” he says, his eyes flitting back and forth between Ethan and me.
“What’s RH?” I ask nosily.
“The hotel,” Ethan explains. “Romero Hotels.” He turns back to Rosco. “I’m heading there now.”
“Can I go?” I blurt out. Ethan and Rosco look at me. “I’ve, uh, I’ve always wanted to see a casino.”
“No,” Ethan states. “You’re safer here.”
“We can bring Rosco,” I argue. I haven’t left this house in over a week, and I’m itching to get out. “Please,” I plead, trying to bat my eyelashes like I’ve seen women do to get their way.
I know it works when Ethan’s shoulders slump slightly. “Fine. I’m leaving in five minutes. If you’re not dressed and downstairs, I’m leaving without you.”
“Yes!” I fist pump in the air before taking off to my closet to get dressed.
I don’t own a little black dress or heels, so I just throw on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a maroon off-the-shoulder sweater I love but only wore once because my mom said showing my shoulder gave off the wrong vibes.
I pair my outfit with fluffy black UGGs Blaire bought for me last year for Christmas.
After quickly putting on deodorant and brushing my teeth and hair, I run downstairs, excited to not only get out of the house but possibly be able to check another item off my list.