Chapter Eleven #2
“Might as well, but get rid of any penalties and fees. I will not trap Lourdes in a situation where she cannot afford to buy her freedom.” Not that he expected she would ever want to dump him like yesterday’s garbage.
This contract was just a formality. Best he do everything aboveboard from now on.
“About Lourdes’s belongings, I want them as soon as possible,” he told her father.
Villegas snatched his phone from his pocket.
“It’s en route to the Nogales plaza. Give me your address.
I’ll text the driver.” Once Enrique rattled it off, the jefe rapidly tapped the screen.
“Done. My men will drop it off this evening. About the punishment,” he mocked and swung his crooked grin from Enrique to Rubén, “what do you have in mind for my soon-to-be son-in-law?”
“That ridiculous termination fee is plenty,” Rubén replied with a bite. “However, that money will go to Zayas. Enrique will pay you the same in reparations, and the matter will be settled. Agreed?”
“Figures. I knew you’d let him off easy, but fine, I agree.
” Villegas stood and straightened his lapels.
He glowered at Enrique. “I’m off to my hotel.
My flight is at seven, but if the contract is ready today, I’ll sign it before I leave.
Otherwise, I’ll do it once you and Lourdes arrive.
Be at my home by Tuesday at the latest. The wedding will begin at noon on Wednesday with the civil part one hour before. ”
A million dollars to get out of this mess. Carajo. It could’ve been worse. Much worse.
Standing, Enrique braced himself for another argument. “Lourdes only wants the civil ceremony. Nothing traditional.” Though she might change her mind now that they didn’t have to rush it. Regardless, he wouldn’t marry in Villegas territory for anything in the world.
“What?” Villegas jerked back as though slapped. “She must follow tradition.”
“Not in this. It’s our wedding, and we’re having it on my turf. Friends and family are welcome. Will you and your wife attend?”
“Absolutely not. If she wishes to demean herself and her family, yet again, that is her choice.” He harrumphed and addressed Rubén. “Inform me when the wedding is done.”
Rubén nodded. “I will.”
Villegas grudgingly extended his hand to Enrique. “Welcome to the family. I’ll take my money tonight. Cash.”
Enrique arched his eyebrow at the offered hand.
His jaw ticked. Every bone in his body screamed at him to spit in the man’s palm.
But for Lourdes, he reached out and gripped it.
Not a handshake. A test of dominance. He squeezed hard, holding for too long, meeting Villegas’s strength before they let go at the same time.
The door slammed open.
Enrique jerked around as Sera zipped in faster than lightning.
Rubén bolted to his feet. “Sera?”
“Papá Rubén!” Her breath hitched. She pointed out the doorway. “That angry man is yelling at Mamá.”
Enrique hurried out with Rubén and Villegas behind him.
Voices thundered from somewhere down the hall. Lourdes and Drina, shrill with fury.
Zayas cursed.
Oh, hell no. Enrique seethed. His boots pounded the marble tile as though a demon rode his back. Fiery heat blasted through his neck to his chest.
“You slut!” Zayas shouted. “You think you can walk away from me, make a fool of me!”
“Stop it, Diego,” Lourdes snapped back.
“Leave.” Drina’s steady, deep voice carried with an imperious edge. “This is my home.”
“Your home? A slave—now mistress of the manor?”
Enrique fisted his hands, strode through the gleaming foyer, and barged into the living room from the open double doorway.
Lourdes and Drina stood arm-in-arm near the glass coffee table as Zayas ranted, his back to Enrique. Anger transfixed the women’s faces in tight lines. Sunlight spilled in from the patio doors and cast them in sharp relief.
“Listen, you little bitch—” Zayas stepped forward and reached for Lourdes.
She slapped him across the face, and the crack of her hand hitting its target split the air. “I would rather die than marry you.”
Zayas snatched her arm.
“Don’t touch her,” Enrique lashed out. His low, lethal tone should’ve sliced Zayas’s skull in half.
The man released her before he pivoted and snatched his gun from beneath his jacket.
Enrique grabbed him by the collar and knocked the gun aside.
The metal clattered as it slid across the floor and hit the wall beneath the now-muted television. A cartoon played on the screen, the innocence blackened with the threat of violence. Sera’s whimpering as she clung to her father’s legs shattered the heavy stillness.
“Touch my woman again, I will tear you apart.” He crowded so close that Zayas’s tobacco stench clogged his nostrils.
Steady, now, he told himself. You have what you want.
Do not throw it away. The ice in his veins cooled his burning rage.
He released the man and straightened his suit for him, a threat in itself.
“Make no mistake, you’re on my shit list.”
Zayas turned toward Rubén, then Villegas. “You’re going to let this happen?”
Villegas adjusted his jacket. “Briceno will marry her. We’re leaving.” He pivoted and walked out.
The main door of the hacienda banged open.
Fuming, Zayas shoved past Enrique, grabbed his gun, and strode for the exit.
Rubén clamped Zayas’s arm and drew him up short. His razor-sharp voice resounded like a death knell. “You scared my daughter. Insulted my pregnant wife. Brandished a gun in front of them. This will not go without severe repercussions.”
The stiffness in Zayas’s shoulders drained away. His throat worked so hard that his Adam’s apple bobbed. He nodded and, once Rubén unhanded him, followed Villegas out.
Lourdes jumped into Enrique’s embrace.
Her lilac scent intoxicated him. The feel of her lithe body against his much stronger one sucker-punched him. She curled her fingers in his shirt as if she would never let him go. And she didn’t have to. He sure as hell would never let her face the world without him again.
She pulled back, eyes shining. “We can marry?”
“Let’s do it tomorrow, quick and simple as we planned. Unless you want something more traditional?”
“I just want to be your wife. Simple is fine.” She tunneled her fingers through his hair. “I can barely believe this is happening.”
“We need to talk, Ricky,” Rubén called out from where he wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist and held his daughter in his other arm. “Zayas is going to cause problems for you. Us, I should say. He’s a liability.”
Sera clung to Rubén and whispered to him in little gulps Enrique couldn’t catch. For Zayas to pull a gun in front of that innocent child, fuck. Rubén had shown massive restraint in letting Zayas walk out without a black eye or broken jaw.
His friend was right. Zayas was a problem. Right now, only Lourdes mattered. Marrying her. Loving her. Claiming her. He would deal with her jilted fiancé in due time.
A bullet to the head should do the trick.