Chapter 27
Chapte r
Twenty-Seven
Jasmine
W earing a sundress, sandals, and with my hair pulled back into a low ponytail, I held tightly to Rei’s hand, as we entered the dining area a little after noon.
“Buenos dias,” Josefina said, sitting on the sofa next to Mia.
“Buenos dias,” Rei replied.
Aléjandro came forward. “It’s afternoon, Mama. Buenas tardes .”
Josefina stood. She was as beautiful as I recalled, with big gold earrings, numerous gold bracelets, and wearing what appeared to be a long black coverup over a bathing suit. Mia on the other hand was reclined, looking uncomfortable as one could nearing her ninth month of a pregnancy. She waved.
Rei walked us closer and spoke to his mother, “I know you’ve met Jasmine but not as my wife. This is Jasmine Roríguez.”
Josefina’s smile grew as she came closer and wrapped her arms around me, enveloping me in a cloud of her perfume. “Jasmine, we’re sad we weren’t able to see Rei wed.” Her smile returned. “But now that you’re both here, we’re happy you did.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Dario wouldn’t let me leave without the marriage.”
Mia scoffed. “My brother likes to be in control of everything.” She pushed herself to stand. With her hands supporting her lower back, she came toward me. To my utter shock, she too spread her arms and wrapped me in an embrace. “I’m glad you convinced him to let you choose your husband.”
Had Camila talked to her?
Was she actually on my side?
“Mia,” Aléjandro said with a smirk, “didn’t get that choice.”
Mia pointed to her large midsection. “And look what happened.”
“My nieto or nieta is what is happening,” Josefina said with a smile as she laid her hand on Mia’s belly.
Mia leaned down to my ear and whispered, “Be warned, if you do more of what you did last night, this is bound to happen to you.”
What we did last night?
Could they hear us ?
They think we had intercourse.
My gaze went to Rei, but before he could reply, Aléjandro came to Mia’s side.
He said, “I think it’s a little too late to warn Jasmine away from Roríguez men.”
“Now, now,” Josefina said, reaching for my hand. “No one gets to frighten Jasmine. Besides” —she gestured with her hand— “we’re in paradise.” She lowered her voice. “I raised good boys who respect women. If they don’t, tell me.”
My eyes opened wide. “Rei’s been good.”
Aléjandro laughed. “That’s a solid B- if you ask me.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Rei said.
“Language,” Josefina scolded. Tugging my hand toward the table, she said, “Come, let’s get you breakfast or lunch. I want to hear all about the wedding.” She looked down at my left hand. “And oh, Rei, these rings are beautiful. Where did you find them?”
As soon as we took seats at the table, a parade of people dressed in white came from what I imagined was the kitchen, carrying pitchers of drinks and trays of food. I’d never seen anything like it. I was used to Contessa, but this was house staff on steroids.
Rei sat beside me with his hand on my thigh as I tried to answer all Josefina’s questions. Once el Patr?n joined us, there were multiple conversations happening as a variety of food filled the table.
“Rei,” Josefina asked, “where did you find such lovely rings?”
My gaze went across the table to Mia as my stomach twisted. “Dario had them,” I said .
“It’s a story,” Rei said, “that I think you’d like, Mama.”
“It’s not—” I tried to interrupt.
Rei went on, “Dario had bought them a long time ago for Jasmine’s sister, Josie.”
I dared to look across the table. Mia’s jaw was clenched, and she had her hand over her midsection. “It’s nice,” I interjected. “My sister died a few years ago, but now it seems like she’s here, approving of my marriage.”
Mia stood, pushing back her chair and dropping the napkin on her seat. “I’m sorry.” She waved. “I’m not feeling well. I think I need to rest.”
“Jano,” Josefina said, “will bring a plate of food to your suite.”
Exhaling, I looked down.
“Are you all right?” Rei asked.
Fighting tears, I nodded and picked at the food on my plate, no longer hungry.
“Oh, honey,” Josefina said. “Mia’s close to her time and being out here on the ocean doesn’t always settle well.”
Aléjandro stood and reached for Mia’s plate. “I’ll see if she feels like eating.”
After he was gone, I turned to Rei and Josefina. “It’s okay. Mia hated my sister…and me too.” I shook my head and feigned a smile. “It’s really all right. I’m used to it.”
“The fuck?” Rei said. “Jasmine, that’s not true. It might have been, but Mia called me about you. She suggested that I get you out here on Bella to wed.” His eyes darkened to nearly black. “She doesn’t hate you. ”
She did call. That was good to know.
Josefina and Jorge exchanged looks.
It was el Patr?n who spoke, “You’re Rei’s wife, and you’re part of this family. We’re happy to have you here. I’m sure it’s just pregnancy. I’ve been told it can be difficult.”
“Men,” Josefina said. “Can be?”
Looking at Rei, I grinned.
He squeezed my thigh. “After lunch, I’ll show you around Bella.”
“And later,” el Patr?n said, “you, Jano, and I need to discuss matters.”
“Did you bring a bathing suit and sunscreen?” Josefina asked. “The temperatures are cooler here than south, but on the pool deck, it’s warm.”
“I brought a bathing suit, but I didn’t think about sunscreen.”
“Oh, I’ll have some for you at the pool.” She shook her head. “Your beautiful skin would burn. We don’t want that.”
After lunch, Rei kept his promise, showing me around the multiple decks. Along with the staff dressed in white, there were quite a few men in dark suits. They were hard to miss, especially the one on the lowest deck with the machine gun, or some big gun.
“Guards?” I asked.
“ Sí, that’s where boats dock to bring people aboard. No one gets past that first line of defense who isn’t supposed to be here.”
It wasn’t until we were back in our stateroom that Rei mentioned Mia. “Why didn’t you tell me? ”
“When have we had the chance to talk, Rei?”
He led me out onto our balcony. We sat at the small table. “Now, we have time.”
“No, we don’t. Your father wants you and Aléjandro for a meeting. I’m sure that’s more important.”
He reached across the table and offered me his hand, palm up. Begrudgingly, I laid my hand in his. “Talk to me, preciosa .”
I shook my head. “It’s the same thing, the reason Dario wouldn’t allow you to marry me, why he offered Isabella.”
“Who the fuck is Isabella anyway? His offer didn’t matter. I wanted you.”
Swallowing, I tried to keep my composure. “Isabella is Dario’s uncle’s daughter. She’s a Luciano, like Mia.”
“You’re a Roríguez, like Mia.”
My gaze met his as his words computed. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“It’s the truth. For the record, Mia did call me about you.” He inhaled. “She was the one who told me to propose. She called me a pig for me telling you that you’re mine.”
My cheeks rose in a smile. “I couldn’t believe you proposed.” I clutched my heart. “You did it in front of everyone.”
Rei lowered his head to the table and back up. “What I do for the cartel is dangerous. Knowing my surroundings is cartel 101. In that moment, I didn’t even consider who was watching. All I could think about was that you were okay after the roofie and that I wanted to get you out of Kansas City.”
“It was beautiful, Rei.”
“Better than a B-?”
“An A+” I stood. “I should put on my bathing suit and meet your mother at the pool.”
“And I need to go see what is happening. I’ve been MIA for the last forty-eight hours.”
“Should I apologize for that?”
Rei stood and came closer. Snaking his arm around my waist, he pulled my hips to his. “You’re here. You’re my wife. I’ve feasted on your delicious pussy and covered us both in my cum. If you think there’s anything in that to apologize for, I will have to argue.”
My hands landed on his chest. “I don’t want to argue with you.”
“Then we won’t apologize about why I wasn’t here.” He kissed my forehead. “I’d do it all again to have you here, Jasmine.”
“I’m sorry if I’m causing problems with Mia.”
“Don’t be. Mí madre has a way of calming rough waters.”
I walked into our suite and looked around. “What happened to our suitcases?” It was then that I noticed the bed was made. A glance in the bathroom told me that our towels were picked up and replaced with clean ones.
“Try the drawers and closet,” Rei said. “ Mamá’s staff is thorough.”
I opened a drawer to find my underwear. It was in the second drawer that I found my bathing suits. “Oh my God, we are never leaving this boat.”
Wearing my bathing suit, I made my way up to the pool deck. Just before I turned the final corner, Mia came in my direction.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
She shook her head. “No, that’s on me. Old habits die hard but know I’m doing my best to kill this one. It was hearing her name…”
Josie. My sister.
I nodded. “Now, both of our names are Roríguez.”
Mia inhaled. “Well, fuck. You’re right.”
A smile curled my lips. “What do I need to know about our mother-in-law?”
“Only that she’s very intuitive and about the best person you’ll ever meet.” Mia lowered her voice. “A hell of a lot better than Catalina and Camila’s mother-in-law, and I even love my mom.”