Naughty and Nice (Brutal Vows)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Liliana

“Liliana,” Celeste said as she pushed my office door open and stuck her head inside. “Qué pasa?”

I looked up at the woman I considered a friend. Today her hair was light blond with bright pink tips. Nodding, I feigned a smile. “Estoy bien.” I jutted my chin toward the computer screen. “I’m trying to catch up on a few things.”

Celeste came in and sat on the chair beside my desk. “I thought Izzy did most of the paperwork.”

“She does.” I turned the screen toward Celeste. “This is something else.”

Celeste’s eyes widened. “Community college. I didn’t know you wanted to go to college.”

Pressing my lips together, I shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It was Izzy’s idea.” My gaze lowered. “I didn’t think I was smart enough to go to college.”

“Are you kidding?” Her volume rose. “Liliana, you know so much about what’s happening here in the apartments. I mean, Mia is in charge, but you’re the blood and soul of this place.” Her lips curled. “Are you thinking about counseling? Because you’re great talking with any of us.”

“I was thinking about teaching.” I shrugged. “Izzy asked me to put together a class for new arrivals, basic stuff.” My cheeks rose. “It was fun.” I shook my head. “College will never happen.”

“Why not?”

I forced a weak smile. “Hey, I’m supposed to be helping you, not the other way around.”

“What’s stopping you from taking a few classes?”

“My parents. They disowned me after Gerardo died, when I refused to go back to their home.” The bottled-up emotion created pressure in my chest. “If it weren’t for Mia, I would have been forced to go back to them. If I would’ve gone back, they would have married me off again.”

“Chica, if any of us had parents who gave a shit about us, we wouldn’t be here. Besides, who cares what your parents think? Is it too late to register for the spring semester?”

The new semester would start next month. “Can I share a secret, one that I haven’t told anyone?”

“Oh, juicy,” Celeste said. “Qué es?”

“I already applied, and San Diego Community College accepted me.”

Celeste’s eyes opened wide. “Why all the doubt? You’re in.”

“I can take online classes at first, but what if I don’t do well?”

“Oh hell no. You’ll do great. You know Julia is in pre-nursing classes. And Luz is taking general-study courses. They have a study time in the library on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons before Wanderland opens. You could join them.”

“I want to talk to Mia, but she hasn’t been in the office for over a week.”

Celeste scrunched her nose. “How is Mia feeling?”

“Fine. Why?”

“Oh, come on. We know she’s expecting another baby. Everyone is talking about it. El Patrón will have two children.”

Warmth flushed my cheeks. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say anything. The morning sickness is the reason she hasn’t been in. I’ve talked to her on the phone. I know I don’t have to answer to anyone, but I feel like I owe Mia so much. I’d really like her advice.”

“Then go see her. You’re a Ruiz, right?”

“I was, for a short time.”

“It’s still your last name.”

I nodded.

“You’ve been accepted to SDCC. Talk to Mia.”

My office door opened again, and Isabella Ruiz came in. Her long yellow hair was pulled up to a high ponytail. She pursed her lips. “Am I interrupting?”

“How’s Em?” Celeste asked, her eyebrows dancing.

A smile bloomed over Isabella’s pretty face. “Are you still after my husband?”

“A girl can dream.”

Isabella laughed, her confidence on full display. “He’s good. He and Nick will be by here later today.”

“Oh,” Celeste said, her eyebrows arching. “Nick. He’s still up for grabs.”

Isabella shook her head. “Lilliana, I just wanted you to know, I’m working on collecting information for the end of the year reports.” She sighed. “I can’t believe I’ve been in San Diego for nearly five months.”

Her stay was only supposed to be a month, time to help Mia after Jorge’s birth. An unexpected attraction with the Roríguez lieutenant Emiliano Ruiz changed everyone’s plans. Judging by Izzy’s smile, the change was for the better.

Isabella’s focus went to the window. “It’s already December. This time of year in San Diego is nothing like December in Kansas City. It’s so odd to see decorations on palm trees.”

Celeste stood and gave me a wink. “Tu puedes hacerlo.”

Isabella waited until Celeste was gone and the door was partially closed. “Do what?”

“Someone’s Spanish is improving.”

“Understanding, not speaking. And half the time everyone talks so fast…but I’m improving.” She took the seat Celeste had left. “What’s going on?”

As I told her about SDCC, Izzy’s smile grew.

“I think you’ll be a great teacher.”

“It’s just…”

Izzy tilted her head. “Just what?”

“It doesn’t feel real. I have until tomorrow to register for classes if I can still get any.” I shook my head. “Gerardo wouldn’t approve. He’d tell me I was too stupid.”

“He’s dead,” she said bluntly. “He was a pig. Besides, Sofia is at university. He approved of his daughter attending college but not his wife?”

There was more to that story, more that I didn’t want to get into. Gerardo sent Sofia away to school to separate us, another example of his cruelty. Before I was forced to marry her father, Sofia was my best friend.

I scooted my chair back, stood, and rubbed my hands over my arms. My skin felt tight as if it were shrinking.

Inhaling, I tried to fill my lungs. This visceral response was what happened when my thoughts went back to my late husband.

“It’s difficult to explain. I mean, you’re married to Em, and he’s good to you. ”

Izzy stood and reached for my hands. “You’re freezing.”

Was I?

She squeezed them, sharing the warmth of her touch. “Liliana, you’re beautiful. You’re intelligent. You’re a survivor. You’re only twenty-one years old. If you want to go to school, go. If you want to do anything, do it.”

Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I took back my hands and inhaled. “Would you mind if I had José run me over to Mia’s house? I won’t be gone long.”

Izzy pressed her lips together. “I don’t mind. Tell Mia I hope she’s feeling better soon. We miss her and Jorge.”

Jorge was a precious eight-month-old. On some occasions, he’d join his mother at the apartments and was the star of the show. If the residents’ reaction was any indication, Jorge Roríguez would be quite the ladies’ man.

“I will.” I took another deep breath. “I’d really like to talk to her in person.”

“Go,” Izzy said. “We’ll be fine here.”

When Mia convinced el Patrón, the late el Patrón, that I could live alone, that “alone” came with a stipulation.

I wasn’t actually alone. José and Renata Pérez were my staff; they came from the mansion in Sacramento.

In many ways over the last two years, they’d taken the place of my parents.

José was my bodyguard and driver. His wife was my cook and house manager.

Unlike my parents, they supported me, keeping me company and taking me under their wings.

Renata did what she could during my marriage to Gerardo.

I supposed that I should be seeking their approval.

I wasn’t. I was heading over to speak to the woman who saved me—Mia Roríguez.