12. Matheus
“Impressive,” the woman says quietly.
She and I didn’t speak much for the duration of the flight. I’d hired her for a service and talking wasn’t part of the deal.
I shrug a brand-new shirt onto my throbbing back and glance over at her. She’s stretching like a cat by the doorway where a few guys from my security team have gathered.
“You lasted for hours,” she continues. “Most guys would have needed more breaks.”
Leaving the top button undone, I tuck the shirt tails into dress pants and offer her a tight smile.
“Guess I’m not like most guys.”
“What happens now?” she asks. “I hadn”t planned on a trip to Sicily. In fact, I’ve never been this far from home in my life. What––”
“You’ll have the payment in your bank account by the time the jet takes off,” I interrupt, fixing my collar. “My pilot will fly you back to Colombia when he’s ready. Thanks for joining me last minute.”
“Yeah, uh…” she mumbles. “Sure thing.”
I check myself in the mirror and sigh heavily. When Mama sees the cuts on my face, she’s going to go off.
A designer suit can only do so much. And today, fuck, I’d need a miracle to appear somewhat presentable.
Or maybe she wouldn’t notice since André is undergoing life saving surgery, and his recovery is all that matters to any of us.
“You’re excellent at what you do.” I saunter towards my men and stop beside her. “I’m sure I’ll knock on your door again in the future. I might even send a few friends your way too.”
“I’d like that.”
She nods and looks oddly nervous, even though she had her hands on me for hours.
Bored already, I cover my eyes with a pair of black aviators and leave her standing in the cabin, bewildered and a few thousand dollars richer.
I”m guessing it”s not every day she’s dragged onto a private jet owned by the Souza cartel and flown across the world.
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I had to make a quick detour en route to the hangar where my jet waited, fueled and ready to fly.
There was still the pressing matter of a snuff film floating about on the internet. After I’d stopped off and sent the SIMS via a courier to my buddy Luke in the states, I saw the woman in the window, under a neon sign.
My security detail and I disembark together, leaving the air conditioning and hitting blistering heat. A few guys lead me down the steps and a couple more follow behind.
This is the protocol now, even if I’m a Covenant agent. I’m a Souza first and foremost.
Our whole family is on high alert.
Because of me.
I’m ushered toward a waiting SUV and one of the guards opens the passenger door for me. When I duck inside, tinted windows block out the bright sun and trap me in the same uneasiness I’ve suffered for hours.
My knee bobs up and down, guilt chewing me up inside. On the seat next to me lies a small tin and a silver zippo left there at my request.
I couldn”t smoke while I was in the air. But now that I”ve landed, a blunt should ease the tension from the mental pressure of everything taking its toll.
When Elias died, there was a collective sigh of relief from all of us. But André, my brother—I couldn’t imagine a life without him in it.
And then there’s Dani. I’m secretly praying she’d fulfill her oath to The Covenant and join us in Sicily, just so I could torment her.
I’d fuck her sexy little holes while she pretends it’s not what she wants. Kiss her reluctant wet lips when she’s moaning into my mouth and telling me we don’t belong together.
My dick grows thick at those horny thoughts.
What a pussy-whipped asshole. Even though I won’t chase love if it’s not there, I don’t think I’m done with her yet.
I dig out my new phone and unlock the screen, stupidly wishing I’d have a missed call from her.
Except she doesn’t have this number. Or any way to contact me.
The screen shows a few text messages waiting from Mama and Tomás. Both of them announce the early arrival of André and Sinéad’s healthy twins.
A boy and a girl.
While Sinéad was in labor, her husband was in the operating room, fighting for his life.
My head falls back to the headrest and I take off my sunglasses, scrubbing my eyes—exhausted.
I should have swallowed a few pills and slept on the plane or even drank myself into oblivion.
The return flight without Dani was always going to be a challenge. I wanted a clear head to think everything through, so I passed the time in other ways.
Aware of the dull ache spreading across my shoulder blades, I crack the window open a fraction and spark the tip of a pre-rolled blunt, hopeful it would cure the knots in my chest.
I inhale the marijuana deep into my lungs and hold it there, closing my eyes to settle my whirling mind.
What do I really want out of this life?
Exhaling down my nostrils, my mind fucks me over. It welcomes thoughts of my little firecracker and those silver eyes of hers. How they were filled with anger and fear when I’d left Blanco’s mansion.
The woman is such a conundrum. She cares about me, but won’t walk down the aisle to be my wife.
Isn’t that ironic?
I’m not completely ignorant either. I get how the whole contract thing is macho male bullshit and Blanco didn’t tell her about his plan beforehand.
There wasn’t an opportunity to buy a big diamond ring or get down on one knee and propose. Yeah, I understand all that…
But it’s not about Blanco, or even her becoming a Souza.
It’s about her wanting to be with me. Putting her full trust in me.
I told her she was mine well before I signed the contract. Naturally, a wedding would have followed in time.
However, she made her choice.
Eventually, I fall asleep, only to wake up with a jolt when the passenger door opens and sunlight pours in.
“We’re here, sir.”
I clear my throat and return my sunglasses to my eyes before climbing out. The main doors to the hospital lay straight ahead and there’s a bustle of activity all around.
Sirens wail, and the public steps out of my way when my guys move into position around me before I move inside.
Checking my wristwatch, I stroll to the reception desk and nod at the young brunette behind the glass screen.
“I’m here to see my brother. André Souza.”
Her lashes flutter and her cheeks heat.
“Ah, yes, Souza. He’s in the ICU, sir. I can show you the way if you like?”
“No thanks.” My smile is fake, but she eats it up with a big grin of her own. “These guys…” I jut my thumb at the guy next to me. “They don’t like it when strangers get too close.”
She smiles sweetly and points over my shoulder.
“You’ll need to take the elevator to the fifth floor.”
“Matheus.” A familiar voice tugs my attention away from her directions.
Tomás strolls up next to me and throws an arm around my neck, dragging me into him. The musky scent of his cologne reminds me of the nights we’d hit the clubs.
All four of us. Doing what rich cartel princes do. Long before life became so serious.
“Good to see you again, brother. Did you get my message?”
“Yeah, sorry, Tommy.”
I return his hug and hide the emotion bubbling in my chest.
“I couldn’t sleep on the plane and fell asleep in the car. Where’s Shane?”
“He’s in Bogotá, managing a few things for me. Did the woman fly back with you?” he asks, pulling away.
“Not this time,” I say vaguely.
“Shouldn’t she be on the way here?” He stares at me for a split second. “One of our warehouses was blown up the other day. Do you know anything about it? Your mission was around there, wasn’t it?”
“Have you spoken to Gio?”
“He’s upstairs with Dré. Right now, his focus is on India and the kid. I know he’s got men on the ground, though. We’ll talk soon.”
Together, we walk to the elevator lobby, aware of watchful eyes all over us. Doctors, nurses, and patients—they all know we’re not like them.
Just one look at Tomás’ tailored suit, pressed white shirt, and immaculate haircut would tell them he’s elite. The security crowding us lets them know we’re a force to be reckoned with.
We move into the elevator, following a few of our guys, and step back to let the rest join us.
“How is Dré?” I ask, seamlessly redirecting the topic of conversation. “Have the doctors said anything about complications or permanent damage?”
Tomás scratches his jaw and the blood-red stone from his ring catches my eye.
The niggle of unanswered questions sits heavy on my tongue, but now isn’t the time to dig skeletons out of their shallow graves.
Although I do need to get a few things off my chest.
“He’s heavily sedated. For his own good, apparently. Mama is watching over the twins because Sinéad won’t leave him for long.”
“Are they okay?”
“They will be. We’ve made a healthy donation to the Neonatal unit, so they’ll be treated like royalty.”
“Any names yet?”
The doors slide open. “Sinéad is waiting for Dré to wake up before she officially introduces them.”
When we exit the elevator, I take a deep breath and turn to him.
“Tommy, I need to tell you something.”
His brow furrows, waiting for me to speak.
“Turns out Dani is Blanco”s eldest daughter. Apparently, Eduardo’s nephew had a video of her stabbing his uncle…and us two having sex straight after.”
Tomás frowns. “Hold on a minute. Her identity was hidden like every other mission, right? You both wore masks?”
I roll back my shoulders, matching his height and meet his black eyes, my heartbeat thrumming strong and bold.