Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Emiliano
M y lips quirked. “Would you like it to be a date?” The thought of having this stunning, strong woman on my arm brought life back to my tired body.
Isabella nibbled on her plump lower lip. “Is it safe?”
I nodded. “You’re safe with me, Isabella.”
“My parents wouldn’t approve.”
“Then we’ll call it a tour. You just said you wanted to see more places. I’m simply at your service.”
“Horace will come?”
“I think you’ve exceeded your one question.
She stood, pushing back the chair. “I can’t go unsupervised. My father was furious when you and Rei snuck Jasmine out.”
She was so fucking close that I could smell her sweet scent. I stood straight and squared my shoulders. “I learned my lesson. We won’t sneak. I’ll get Jano’s approval.”
“ El Patr?n? But I’m not cartel.”
“You’re under our protection. That makes you cartel.”
The way she nibbled on her lower lip when she was unsure was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. My circulation warmed as I imagined leaning down and kissing her. Every fiber in my body wanted me to take one step closer, wrap my arm around her slender waist, and pull her softness toward my hardening body.
My curiosity of Isabella took root back at Cat’s house. Those feelings had changed drastically over the last couple of weeks. Since her first day here, Isabella has been a bright fucking beacon, singing a siren’s song that I heard even in my slumber. It was as I’d said: she’d blossomed outside of the suffocating watch of her father, a flower finally allowed sunshine.
When she looked up, her milk-chocolate stare met mine. “I’d like that.”
Fuck.
The longer it took her to answer, the more afraid I was that I’d blown the connection we’d been developing throughout the past weeks.
My smile grew. “I’ll pick you up here.”
Isabella looked down at her clothes. “I should go to Mia’s and change.”
“Not a date, remember. You’re perfect for your first tour.”
Her smile grew. “Where are we going?”
“That’s my surprise.” Slowly, I backed away, possibilities running through my thoughts. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Isabella nodded. “Tonight.”
On my way out, I started to tell Horace I’d take care of Isabella after she was done with work, but I stopped, telling myself I should ask Jano first. Speak of the devil, my phone buzzed with a text message.
It seemed that going home, showering, and getting some shut-eye was going to have to wait. Jano’s orders had me driving from the Marina neighborhood to Del Mar Heights. It wasn’t good enough to have emailed reports from our chiefs on the streets. Jano wanted each army chief to be questioned in person by a lieutenant. The personal touch was to let them know we were watching and monitoring their businesses as well as our stakes in those businesses. It was fucking tedious, but I had to admit, it was getting the attention of the street soldiers.
The new el Patr?n wasn’t going to put up with shit. Do your job and do it right. Roríguez will reward you. Don’t do your job or do it poorly, and you’re fired. In the cartel, fired was meant literally not figuratively—a bullet fired into the back of your head.
It was nearly four in the afternoon before I made it back to Jano’s office.
He looked up from his desk as I entered, looking even more tired than I felt. “ Qué pasa ?” He motioned toward the chairs across his desk from him.
I took a seat. “No problems from the chiefs I met with today. Business is hot, and there haven’t been any sightings of Herrera’s soldiers.”
“Did every chief show?”
“They did.”
Jano pushed back against his chair, stretching his neck. “Kozlov’s men, the ones from the club, they’ve opened up a whole new world of intel for us.” He nodded. “So far, their information has checked out. The charred bodies were identified as Kozlov’s soldiers. We’ve gotten Volkov’s attention.”
“Isabella asked when the lockdown would end.”
Jano slapped the top of his desk and deepened his tone. “When I have Herrera’s and Volkov’s heads right here, fucking soaking this desk in their blood.”
I leaned forward. I’d given this some thought throughout the day. I could ask to take Isabella out for a tour or a date, or I could go big and ask for her hand. She’d only been out west for two weeks, and she was thriving. This was where she was meant to be. “Have you talked to the capo lately?”
Jano narrowed his gaze. “Have you heard something?”
“No. I was wondering about Isabella.”
Jano stood, sending his chair rolling backwards. “Fuck. Hay algún problema ? I thought Mia said things were?—”
I stood and lifted my hand. “No problem. I want to know if the capo will allow me to marry her. If you will.”
His lips came together, and his nostrils flared. “You asked that in the wrong order. Try again.”
Fuck. Not the best start.
“ El patr?n , I would appreciate your permission to marry Isabella Luciano.”
“Fuck, Em. We have more important things to think about.” When I didn’t speak, he asked, “How old is she?”
“Eighteen.”
Exhaling, he retook his seat. “Mia thinks we should do away with arranged marriages.” He gestured with his hand. “Consent of the woman…blah blah…”
“I believe she’d consent.”
“Why her? She’s a frightened child.”
I started to speak.
Jano lifted his hand. “She lives here. I know what she is. What about someone older? Mia’s cousin Giorgia should be past her mourning period after the death of her husband.” He grinned. “I’d recommend marrying a widow over a frightened child.”
“Eighteen is an adult. She isn’t frightened around me.”
“Remember Liliana?”
“With all due respect, I’m not my uncle, the asshole Gerardo Ruiz.”
Jano shook his head. “I can’t think about this right now.” He inhaled. “I’ll speak to the capo on your behalf. Candidly, I don’t anticipate Carmine Luciano accepting your offer. Giorgia’s father, on the other hand… He wants her out of the house.”
“Isabella is an adult. She doesn’t need his permission.”
“We can’t fuck with the alliance. We’re getting close to Volkov, especially now with the help of Ivanov’s man. Once we get Volkov, we’ll be a step closer to Herrera.”
“There have been two marriages since yours. They’ve strengthened the alliance, not fucked with it.”
He lifted his hand again. “I’ll speak to the capo. For now, this is tabled.”
“She asked to see San Diego. She’s been on lockdown since she arrived. I’d like to take her for a tour.”
“A date? In the middle of a fucking war?”
“I was on the streets today. Tension is high, but the threat level is down. Volkov is evaluating his strategies with the uniforms patrolling around since the car bomb. The bomb was ingenious. It’s his calling card, and the uniforms fell for it.”
“You’re a lieutenant. You don’t need my permission to give a tour. Don’t you fucking get her killed or injured.”
“ Gracias . I’ll return her safe and sound.”
“By ten o’clock. No fucking tour goes on that long.”
A smile came to my lips. “ Sí, jefe .”
He ran his hand through his ruffled hair. “Fuck, it’s like I’m her padre .”
“She’s under the protection of the Roríguez cartel. That means you.”
He shook his head. “If I ever have a daughter, she’s on lockdown until she’s twenty-five.”
A look at my watch told me I had enough time to hurry home, shower, and get to the apartments. Once I was back in my Mercedes-Benz, I sent a text message to Horace.
“I’m taking Isabella on a tour of San Diego after work. Stay with her until I arrive. I’ll return her to el Patr?n’s house before ten.”
He texted back.
“Has this been cleared with el Patr?n?”
My response.
“Yes.”
My next text message was to Isabella.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Your tour awaits.”
She replied.
“ It’s okay if we have to postpone it. I know you’re working hard.”
Oh, fuck no. We weren’t postponing this.
“Don’t leave the apartments without me.”
Her reply caused my dick to move.
“Yes , jefe.”