Javier
Chapter 6
Javier
M y housekeeper and cook, Isabelle, has been instructed to shop online for everything that Charlotte will need and fill the closets in our bedroom. The only thing I want left alone is the wedding planning and the dress.
Abuela is coming to dinner tonight so I can tell her all that I have planned. My grandmother is tough as nails and has raised two Cartel leaders, but it’s important I keep her protected. I don’t want Charlotte’s father or boyfriend to think Abuela is involved in my plans.
There’s a knock on my office door, and I call out to whoever it is, instructing them to come in. Salvatore walks in and stands in front of my desk, waiting for me to acknowledge him.
“What is it, Sal?”
“I’ve found as much information from our hackers on the girl as I can. I think you will want to see the photos.”
As he hands me a stack of photos, I see the boyfriend Eric, but it’s not Charlotte he’s with. It’s her friend who works at the bookstore. I’ve seen the girl around while I’ve been watching and stalking Charlotte. She was also staring at me when I was in the bookstore picking up my grandmother.
“This is supposed to be her best friend?”
“Yes, Jefe.”
“Well, with friends like that, who needs enemies.” The next photo is of the dickhead with his tongue down Charlotte’s best friend’s throat. “What a disloyal asshole.”
“It works to your advantage though, Jefe. She will be more likely to accept you if she knows he’s cheating on her.”
“She doesn’t have a choice. Charlotte is mine, but I’m still undecided if I’m going to kill this stupid fucker. Eric’s father is a senator, and I get the notion that Detective Emory is forcing her to be engaged to the cheating fucker.”
As I sit with my fingers on my chin, rubbing the stubble back and forth, I think about Charlotte’s father. What turns a man into what he’s become? A person willing to barter their own daughter to someone like me, and for what? Leverage he’s never going to achieve.
I will never do such a thing to my daughters or sons. They will always know their papa loves them and will do anything to keep them safe and protected from monsters like me.
“Sal, you allowed Gambino to get out of line on your watch. Don’t ever let me catch someone disrespecting my girl while you are present again. You have my permission to kill anyone who touches her. If you don’t and I find out, you are a dead man.”
“Yes, sir.” Salvatore hurries out of the office, leaving me to contemplate what else Emory is hiding from his daughter.
Calling Isabelle to my office, I instruct her to help Charlotte get dressed for dinner. “Get her into the bath or shower her and dress her in a nice formal dress. Abuela is going to be here. I want dinner to be extravagant tonight. Make sure that Charlotte is on time and understands I do not tolerate lateness. She is to be there and dressed. Any theatrics will be met with harsh punishment, for you and her.”
Fear flashes in her eyes as she answers, “Yes, Jefe.”
Isabelle has been a maid in our family for years and knows that pissing me off can end in her death. My staff doesn’t get second chances. When they screw up, they pay with their lives. Any weakness I show or anything that can be translated as weakness or vulnerability can mean my death or the death of the people I care about. It’s not something I will allow.
The import of weapons and drugs is only part of my business. I also own multiple nightclubs and gambling establishments around the city, including a chain of hotels. There aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. I’ve tried over the last year to delegate some tasks, but I’m still learning to let go of my control. Trusting people is hard, especially when you know everyone is waiting in the wings for one misstep, ready to kill you for your power, money, and territory.
After concluding my jobs for the day, I go down to the dining room to meet Abuela. Remembering Charlotte’s reluctance earlier when we spoke, I can’t help but wonder if my woman is going to behave herself tonight.
Sitting at the head of a long formal dining table, I wait. When Abuela walks in, she’s smiling.
“You wanted to see me, Javier?”
“Yes, Grandmother. I have a surprise for you.”
“What could you possibly have for me? I am just an old woman who wants great grandchildren before I die, and I know you don’t have any of those.”
Chuckling at my straight-talking Abuela, I look up when I hear the click of heels coming down the hall. A gasp escapes me when I catch sight of the most beautiful redheaded woman I’ve ever seen. I take a moment to get lost in her perfect, crystal blue eyes.
Standing, I walk over to pull her chair out for her. She’s dressed in a formfitting red cocktail dress that looks like it was made for her. My dick perks up at the sight.
When Abuela sees who is joining us for dinner, a warm smile stretches across her face.
Charlotte walks up to me, looking defiant, raises her hand and slaps me across the cheek.
As the sting radiates across my cheek, I hear my grandmother gasp in shock. “Charlotte, you can’t do that to Jefe!” Abuela snaps.
“He had his men drug and kidnap me. My memories have come back now, and I remember that short chubby guy putting his hands inside my panties. How could you?” She looks betrayed, as if I allowed her to be assaulted.
“He paid for his transgressions, Carino, with his life. After I licked your cunt juices from his hand—a hand that was severed from his body—I fucking shot him in the face. No one gets to taste you but me.” I grab her by her upper arms and pull her up against my hard body. “He was forbidden from touching you, and his actions cost him his life; anyone else who dares to touch my possessions will suffer the same fate.”
Abuela’s brows rise, and her mouth drops open.
Looking over at her, I say, “I apologize for my crassness, Grandmother.”
Turning back to Charlotte, I’m unable to contain my ire. “Sit the fuck down or I will take you to our bedroom and fuck the defiance out of you.”
Charlotte looks at me with a trembling chin. “Please, don’t.”
“Sit the fuck down. Now.”
Once the women are all seated, and I’ve gained control of the situation again, I explain what’s going to happen. Charlotte must learn that she cannot disrespect me in my own home, especially in front of my staff. It could be deadly for both of us if they start to see me as weak.
“Charlotte’s father is Detective Emory. This marriage will bind law enforcement to the Cartel. A match made in heaven. The wedding will take place this weekend.”
As I speak, my grandmother looks at Charlotte with an expression akin to guilt. I’m sure she assumes I’ve done this because she encouraged me to ask her out on a date. She doesn’t realize that I already had my eye on Charlotte, and I was the one who actually pushed for this outcome. She was going to be ensnared in my web regardless of my grandmother going into that bookstore. Her father put her on my radar months ago.
“Abuela, her father is a business associate, and this was planned before you ever met her. Please don’t blame yourself.”
Charlotte looks over at Abuela, and I can see the plea in her eyes before she verbalizes it.
“Please, he kidnapped and drugged me, and now he’s holding me against my will. I can’t get married because I already have a fiancé.” Her voice trembles.
Slamming my hand on the dining table, both women jump.
“The fuck if you do. Eric has been fucking around with your best friend, and if you don’t know it already, I have the proof right here.”
Reaching into my jacket pocket, I pull the stack of photos out and slam them down on the table in front of Charlotte.
As she flips through the photos, a tear cascades down one cheek. “I didn’t know until last night. Tillie and I had an argument at work, over you of all things. I went by her apartment to apologize, and Eric answered the door in a towel.”
The beautiful redhead looks up at me with wet eyes that no longer sparkle as they did the first time I met her. It pisses me off that she dares to sit at my table and shed tears for another man.
“I don’t understand what’s happening. My world is falling apart, and I don’t know why,” Charlotte says with a sniffle.
My voice comes out booming, “Don’t dare sit at my table and mourn another man. You are mine and will do well to remember that. If I need to tie you down and spank your ass until you forget his name, I will. Don’t test me, Carino.”
“It’s not him I’m shedding tears over, asshole. It’s the loss of a friend I’ve had since high school. My only friend who betrayed me. I couldn’t care less about the man who my father arranged for me to marry as a business deal. I just don’t understand why my life is in shambles.”
Gritting my teeth and clenching my fist so I don’t reach out to comfort her, I respond, “Perhaps it’s because the people you surround yourself with are snakes.”