Chapter 13 #2
He grunted, finished off his piece and reached for another. “Back to your terrible situation,” he said, steering the conversation back to her. “Did your brother hurt you in any way?”
“Not physically,” she admitted. “He mostly ignored me, shuffling me from one hiding spot to another.”
“Why were you so keen on leaving?”
Moment of truth. “Because he planned to marry me off to Manuel or Joaquín Cardenas.”
Xander arched a brow, pausing mid-chew. “They’re vile bastards.”
“Tell me about it. I knew I had to escape.”
“Wise decision.” He appeared thoughtful for a moment, and she wasn’t surprised when he put the pieces together. “He wants to align with them, merge cartels.”
She nodded. “End the Lazaro Cartel’s reign and cement himself firmly as the head of the Barrera Cartel.”
Xander grimaced. And she didn’t think it was because he’d burned the roof of his mouth on the hot cheese.
Fuck. Combining two of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico meant more trouble, chaos and death. Increasing José Barrera’s command and control would lead to nothing good.
Over my dead body.
Xander swallowed back the rest of his wine and poured another glass. Stopping Barrera and getting his vengeance was imperative. But what the hell was he going to do with his enemy’s sister? How best could he use her to draw out José?
The obvious answer was kill her just like José killed his sister.
But, no. He could never destroy the spirited beauty sitting across from him. The amount of trust and innocence in her dark brown eyes as she looked at him, toying with her gold cross, made something inside him reel. Made the protector in him vow to never let anyone hurt her. Ever.
She looked at him like… Like she needed him.
Other than Alyssa, no one had ever needed him.
As she wiped her luscious lips with a napkin, he couldn’t look away.
Couldn’t tear his gaze off their tempting plumpness and pretty rosy shade.
They were the best damn lips he’d ever seen, and he remembered how soft they’d felt moving against his mouth.
When she stifled a yawn behind her hand, he shook himself out of his reverie.
“You should go to bed.” He stood, gathered their plates and put them in the sink.
“It just hit me hard.” She yawned again, standing up and looking adorably sleepy in his too-large shirt and sweats. He wondered how many times she’d rolled them up at her slim waist.
“C’mon.” He flipped the lights off, and they headed for their bedrooms.
She paused beside the guestroom and gave him a smile. “Goodnight, Xander.”
“Night,” he murmured. He waited for her to close the door, noting that he didn’t hear the lock engage, before walking the rest of the way to his room. What the hell was he going to do with Essie Barrera?
He sighed heavily, because he had no fucking idea.
After brushing his teeth and using the bathroom, he dropped into bed.
Sleep eluded him, and he tossed and turned for two hours straight.
Finally, he sat up and sighed heavily again.
It was becoming a habit. And he knew why.
Or rather, who to blame. He was beyond exhausted, but he couldn’t fall asleep knowing his gorgeous house guest slept right down the hall.
Probably making his sheets smell like cinnamon.
Christ, he wanted to sneak into bed with her. Slip between the soft sheets and let her sweet scent envelop him. Get lost in her body, her satin skin a whisper against his as he caressed every inch of her.
Huffing out a sound of frustration, he got out of bed and decided to get some fresh air. Maybe it would help clear his head.
Making his way through the shadowy house, he headed for the rear sliding glass door which led out to a small deck.
Nothing fancy, but he enjoyed sitting out there when the weather was nice.
Shoving his boots on and donning his coat, he stepped outside and an ice-cold breeze blew through him.
Good, maybe it would help cool off his overheated dick.
Why was he thinking with his dick so much instead of his head?
Because Essie was pretty? Big deal. He’d slept with beautiful women before.
Granted, it had been a while, but this wasn’t his first rodeo.
When it came down to it, they were all the same.
Just a warm, soft place to bury his dick in until he had an orgasm.
Gripping the railing, he looked up at the clear Montana sky illuminated with countless stars. And, of course, his thoughts shifted to Alyssa. Remembering when she used to try to count every single one when they were little. The way she always made nightly wishes that never came true.
“I promise I’ll avenge you, Lyss.” His fingernails dug into the wood. “I swear it.”
How many times had he said those same words?
It didn’t help his conscience at all that Essie reminded him of his sister in more ways than one. It was more than just the necklace. They had similar spirits—so bright and lovely it made his cold heart ache. They also both possessed an innocence far too good for this fucked-up world.
His head dropped, chin hitting his chest. Essie didn’t deserve his wrath. His beef was with her brother. But he had to keep his distance from her and control his emotions. And keep his stupid dick in his pants. Fucking thing was becoming a nuisance, constantly jabbing into his zipper.
Because as much as he liked her, he couldn’t allow himself to get involved any more than they already were. It would split his focus, distract from his goal. Make him question everything he’d been working so damn hard to achieve.
He couldn’t risk that. He’d die before allowing José Barrera to walk away. And he didn’t—couldn’t—care who his sister might be or how she made him feel.