Isidoro #3
With that, she walks away. I should give her a piece of my mind, but there is a more pressing issue here.
My thoughts have gone sharp and single-tracked, every one of them circling him.
Julian is mine, whether I wanted him or not.
His stubborn spirit, his body, his taste, I own it all. And no one touches what’s mine.
***
Andras’ apartment is barren, abandoned. Dust clings to every surface, tickling my nostrils and making goosebumps stand up on my arms. I haven’t been here since the initial raid, believing there was nothing left to uncover.
Clearly, I was wrong or Julian wouldn’t be marching across the parlor with such determination, like he knows exactly where to go. I missed something, and it would be a lie to say I’m not curious as to what it is.
“What are you looking for?” I say, trailing behind him.
He stops and twists his head to look at me, pursing his lips as I almost crash into him. “You’ll see when I find it.”
“You at least know what it is, I presume?” I press, trying not to think too much about my conversation with Ria or how close he is and how enticing he smells.
His eyes scan me from head to toe, looking for something. Tension at the back of my neck sends streaks of pain across my body. Why didn’t Julian say anything? Why keep it a secret? Do those two actually love each other? But he’s mine now, and even if he begged me, I’m not one to share.
“What’s up, Isidoro?” He inches in, entering my personal space. “You seem off.”
I seem off? My hands ball into fists at the sides of my body. Impossible. “Your eyes must be playing tricks on you. I’m fine. Let’s continue, we don’t have all day.”
He swallows and I am mesmerized by the movement of his Adam’s apple, prominent and sexy as if seducing me to press my lips to it. “Did… Ria say something?”
Ice shoots through my veins. I’m not in the habit of lying, but I’m not sure fessing up is the right move either. I wasn’t supposed to know, but I found out, and not from his pretty mouth either. We are in the middle of a murder investigation, and an argument is the last thing I need.
This is the first time I don’t know what to do.
I’m not used to that, but more than it, I don’t like this weird feeling, this anxiety.
I want to confront him, but why should I even care to begin with?
That’s what bothers me as much as actually lying to him.
Isidoro Altamirano does what’s best for him—he doesn’t care if it hurts someone else or if it might lead to spilled blood.
Yet here I am, afraid to both lie and confess what I know to my now-husband, who’s stuck with me as much as I’m stuck with him.
It’s a double-edged sword even if he is the one who tricked me into it, because I’m not the only one tasked with protecting the wellbeing of my spouse.
Julian’s hand comes up to my cheek, stroking it fondly. “You can tell me anything, you know.” He chuckles, his dark eyes glinting. “I am your husband now, even if it wasn’t really anything either of us planned.”
A surge of electricity zaps me, raising my hackles. I lean in and mirror him, dragging my fingers along the curve of his jaw. “Seems like you were supposed to be Ria’s.”
He stiffens and goes completely still. “Right. She told you.” He pokes his pink tongue out, wetting his lips as he swallows again.
“Why didn’t you?”
He steps back, dropping his arms to his sides, and considers my question. “I don’t know. It didn’t seem important what with you kidnaping me and stuff. And I didn’t think I’d ever see her again either. Plus, now that her father is missing, or potentially dead...”
The pressure inside my chest doesn’t let off. Their marriage might be through, but the way Ria acted… I think she might not have given up.
“What?” Julian says, folding his arms.
I raise an eyebrow, schooling my expression. “What?”
His eyes go to half-mast. “Nothing. But also, you took this better than I expected. I thought you might lose your shit and go all ape-possessive on me even though we hate each other.” He shrugs, fighting off a grin.
A shiver crawls down my spine. I take a step closer, then another, until his back is pressed against the wall and he’s got nowhere to run. “You’re the one who tricked me into this marriage, Julian.”
“Well, yes.” His gaze trembles and his scent intensifies. “It was kind of a life-or-death matter at the time.”
“It’s not anymore?” I challenge, caging him with my body as my every sense heightens.
He averts his eyes, his brow slanting. “I hope not? While our truce lasts? Wasn’t that the whole idea? And I didn’t expect...”
As he pulls on his lower lip, his chest rises and falls quicker than normal. His presence pulsates all around me. I suck in a sharp breath, suddenly not quite sure what I was about to say next as my instincts threaten to take over.
“You didn’t expect…?” I tip his chin up, gazing into those captivating eyes. Something dark and shy flicks inside them, elevating my pulse.
“Oh, look!” Julian squeals, ducking under my arm and darting away before I can react.
I spin on my heel abruptly, getting whiplash as my brain regains control of me.
The devil has already crossed half the room, red touching his cheeks. “This corridor leads to my father’s office. That’s where I found him. Come on!”
I follow him into a room with wooden paneling, an old desk and dozens of bookshelves full to the brim with rare editions. I would be impressed if my own library wasn’t twice the size of Andras’ humble collection.
“This is the spot,” Julian points at the fluffy blue couch behind the glass coffee table. “He was lying right here.” His eyes cut to mine, twinkling more than usual, and he tilts his head. “Do you mind?” He offers me his hand.
I take it. He guides me to the couch and positions me on my stomach, arranging my limbs meticulously. Then he snaps a photo, crouches down and shows it to me.
“Yep. This is how I found him.”
I study the pose. “Were there any signs of a struggle? Injuries?”
He shakes his head and straightens up. “No, but I didn’t get to examine the body properly. I did find one thing out of place, though.”
Once I am no longer lying on the couch, he takes me to a bedroom.
“It should be right here,” he hums, scanning the minimalistic but cozy space.
I lean one shoulder against the doorframe and wait, my stomach churning. This is the moment of truth. Just what is it that me and my investigation team missed?
Julian walks over to his bookshelf. Unlike his father’s, this once houses primarily mystery and action novels rather than relics. He leafs through a couple, smiling to himself. Curious, I push off the door and approach, peeking over his shoulder.
He turns around just then, my heart lurching into my throat as his beautiful face almost crashes into mine. His eyes go wide and he gasps in shock, not expecting my proximity. A shudder runs through him, violent and visible. I inhale sharply, my nostrils flaring.
“Here!” He tosses the book onto his bed and holds up a small, rectangular object between us.
He’s panting and sweating as if he’s run for hours.
His temperature is also a little hotter, but I do my best not to overthink the changes in his physiology.
“This is it! I almost missed it, because it was tucked into his sleeve when I found him.”
I open my palm and he places the item inside it. It’s a business card with only a name on it.
Red Leaf.