Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Nick
My pulse quickened with Liliana’s response, as barely audible as it may have been. Curling my lips, I stared down into her soft brown eyes. “I’m sorry. Could you repeat the last part?”
Liliana pressed her lips together. “You heard me.”
“I’m going to need you to repeat it. Not to me,” I clarified. “To el Patrón and Mia. Everyone knows Mia’s opinion on arranged marriages. If you truly want what you just said, you’ll need to tell her.”
Color drained from her face as she sat back in her chair. “Just because it’s what I want doesn’t make it right.” She shook her head and pushed the rest of her torta away. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”
Why were women so confusing?
Taking a deep breath, I took my seat across from Liliana and decided to change the subject. “What have you eaten today?”
She looked up. “Luz made blueberry muffins.”
“Did you eat them?”
“I ate one. I also had a glass of orange juice and a couple cups of coffee.”
Without a word, I pushed the ham torta toward her.
“I disagree with your father on many issues, but I find an appetite on a woman to be appealing. I think it’s healthy.
Mi madre y hermana eat. While I’m sure Luz’s muffin was delicious, it’s hard to beat Viviana’s food. ” I took a big bite of my torta.
Liliana turned her attention to the sandwich in front of her before slowly lifting it to her lips. She didn’t say a word as she nibbled slowly, making a dent. “What happened last night at Wanderland?” she asked.
“I’m sure the whor—residents have told you.”
She shook her head. “No two stories are the same. I figure if anyone would know, it would be you, the lieutenant in charge of Wanderland.”
“The important part of last night was that the Cabez?n cartel is back in Southern California. They’re vying for Roríguez territory.”
“They’re testing Jano.”
Taking another bite, I nodded. “He’s had a fucking uphill fight since Jorge was killed. Now with Mia expecting another baby, Jano doesn’t need this shit. Things seemed settled for a short time after we took out Volkov, and Herrera was eliminated.”
“Those absences created a vacuum.”
“They did. Jano worked to fill the void. He followed Dario Luciano’s lead and agreed to work with Andros Ivanov, the pakhan of the Detroit bratva. Ivanov’s men extended their bratva’s territory to include what used to be Kozlov and Volkov land.”
“That was supposed to take care of the bratvas. But it didn’t satisfy Herrera’s people?”
I shook my head. “Some wisely came to our side.”
Liliana exhaled. “The rest went to Mexico and teamed up with Cabez?n.”
I sat back, stretching my neck. “Maybe instead of studying teaching, you should study territorial global criminal affairs.”
There was a hint of a smile. “I don’t think they offer that at SDCC.”
“How do you know these things? Did” —I fucking hated saying his name— “my uncle inform you on cartel business?”
Her smile disappeared. “No. He didn’t think I was smart enough to understand.”
“I’d disagree. You have more of an understanding than some of our soldiers.”
“I pay attention. I’ve learned everything here.” She looked around the office. “The residents know more than they’re given credit for. They listen. They have customers who exchange information for favors.”
“Fuck, they’re like a Red Sparrow network.”
“The Russian sex spies?”
A laugh bubbled from my throat. “I think you’re missing your calling.”
“I watched the movie with Jennifer Lawrence.” Her eyes opened wider. “You think I should be a sex spy?”
“No, I think you run a sex spy network here. I need to talk to Jano and Mia, but damn, I think there’s a system here that we haven’t fully exploited.”
Liliana’s eyebrows knitted together. “You want to exploit the residents more than they already are?”
I lifted my hand. “Wrong word. Utilize.”
She plucked a grape from the container of fruit and popped it between her lips. “Choose your words wisely.”
Reaching across the table, I laid my hand on hers and tried to ignore the way hers froze at my contact. Looking at where we touched back to her beautiful eyes, I smiled. “I’m choosing these words carefully. Listen closely.”
Liliana nodded.
“You’re beautiful, Liliana. You’re brave and much more intelligent than you know.
I enjoy being with you, talking to you, and when you’ll let me…
touching you.” My gaze went back to our hands.
A smile spread across my lips as she turned her hand, bringing our connection palm to palm, our fingers intertwined.
“I’d like to marry you. I also think you deserve someone better than me, but I’m damn selfish, and I don’t want to think of you with anyone else. ”
“Nick.”
“Shh,” I scolded. “I’m still working on choosing those words.”
She inhaled and nodded.
“I’d like to take you to el Patrón’s today to discuss this with him and Mia. You don’t belong in this building twenty-four seven. And with the new threat of Cabez?n’s men on the streets, you can’t be alone in your apartment. I can help you.”
“And I’m helping you?”
It was my turn to nod. “Our marriage will get Em, Jano, and my parents off my ass.”
“Your parents…” She looked down. “Nicholas and Maria.”
“Nearly two years,” I said with conviction. “That’s how long you’ve been widowed. Mia remarried after six months.”
“She didn’t have a choice.”
“You do.”
Liliana looked up, meeting my stare. “Do I?”
“I mean, it’s a shitty choice. Stay here for an indefinite amount of time, move in with Aunt Valentina, move in with Mia, or marry me and we live in your apartment.”
Her cheeks rose as her soft brown eyes took on a new shine. “When you put it like that…”
“What’s your choice, Liliana?”
There was a sparkle to her eyes. However, it seemed as though she was trying to convince herself instead of me. “We like one another. That’s more than I had before.”
“I like you a lot. It could be more. Even if it’s not, like you said, it’s more than last time.”
“My choice is—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the door to Liliana’s office opened and banged against the wall. Releasing her hand, I stood, creating a barrier between her and the door, intuitively reaching for my gun.
Em stood in the doorway, eyes blazing with his hands up in surrender. “The fuck, Nick. I’ve been trying to reach you. Answer your fucking phone.”
Lowering my gun, I tried to read Emiliano’s body language. “What happened?”
“Two of our men were jumped down by the shipyard. You and I are on reconnaissance.”
“Jumped? Harmed?”
“Dead.”
Holstering my gun, I turned back to Liliana and then to Em. “This place is on lockdown.”
Em nodded. “Horace is taking Isabella home.” He looked at Liliana. “You should go with her.”
Liliana stood. “I should stay here with the residents.”
I turned, facing her. “You should go with Horace.”
She crossed her arms over her small breasts. “If the apartments are on lockdown, this is where I belong.”
Isabella appeared behind Em. “I’ll stay with Liliana.”
“Fuck no,” Em growled, turning to his wife. “You’re safer at home.”
She smiled with a tip of her chin. “Keep me safe here with Liliana.”