Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Isabella
I t wasn’t until I was out on the patio in the sunshine that the time difference between San Diego and Kansas City hit me. I’d left early this morning from Missouri, and while it was now late afternoon here, if I was to make it past dinner without falling asleep, I decided I needed rest.
I met Mia at the top of the staircase. “Did you want to discuss more about the apartments?”
“It can wait for Liliana. I wanted to be sure you understood the rules around here.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve lived my entire life with rules.”
“These aren’t so strict. If you want to leave the house for things other than work—well for work too—it’s not a problem. You just need to tell Horace, and he can drive you. Do you have his phone number?”
“Yes, we exchanged numbers. Right now, I think I want to lie down. Being out in the sun made me tired.”
Mia smiled and tilted her head. “Isabella, I want you to know how much I appreciate you coming out here to help. I think when you meet Liliana, you’ll understand why she’s having difficulty. Unfortunately, she has gone through a lot for someone so young.”
“She’s a widow.”
Mia nodded. “Sadly, that’s not the worst of it. I want her to be happy and find purpose. If working at the apartments isn’t what she wants to do, that’s okay too. I’ve been trying to boost her self-esteem.” She tilted her head. “While I’m asking you to take the lead and help her, to her, I’ll ask the same. Please don’t take offense. If I’d known Uncle Carmine would let you come out here, I would have had you out here a lot sooner.”
“No offense will be taken. I’ll do my best to not overstep.”
“Oh, there’s no overstepping. All you can do will be appreciated. Don’t hold back. But if in the process, you can make her feel more confident, it would be nice.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Go ahead and rest. Liliana will be here about six and dinner will be at seven.”
I nodded.
As I started to walk away, Mia turned back my direction. “I left a cover-up for you on your bed.”
“Thank you.”
The long white lacy cover-up would reach all the way to the floor and had flowing sleeves to shield me from the sun if I wanted. It was perfect. At the same time, looking at it reminded me of my encounter with el Patr?n , sending shivers and goose bumps over my skin.
For some reason my thoughts went from el Patr?n to the guards I’d recently met, Silas and Horace, to Silas’s wife, Viviana. With the exception of Mia’s husband, all the cartel members were surprisingly pleasant. My lips curled as I recalled Em coming out on the sun deck and teasing me about the punch. If I were to have the same thoughts about members of the famiglia, I could pinpoint those who are friendly and helpful and others that could be considered scary.
Before resting, I chose to take a shower and wash away the travel and sunscreen.
What was it like for Mia to marry into the cartel?
As I added conditioner to my hair, I thought about Jasmine.
How could they stand the dangerous life and dangerous men?
I mean, now that I was out here, I was curious about the dangerous men…in a way that caused my nipples to bead.
“Stop that,” I said aloud, referring to my treacherous body. “You’re not out here to further cement the alliance. These men may seem nice but remember how el Patr?n made you feel.”
Wearing panties and a loose t-shirt, I closed the blinds to the beautiful ocean and climbed between the cool sheets. Despite my concerns about sleeping with the cartel around, I drifted off without any effort and woke to the sound of the alarm I set.
It was five-thirty.
I twisted my unruly hair into a messy bun, applied some mascara and lip color. Next, I donned another sundress. This one was golden and went all the way to the floor. At the last minute, I grabbed a half cardigan to cover my arms. I wasn’t looking for another lecture about being covered up.
The delicious aroma of whatever Viviana was cooking met me before I reached the landing. As I stepped onto the first floor, I saw Mia and a young girl out by the pool. The too-thin dark-haired girl was holding Jorge and bouncing him on her hip. My first thought was that this girl couldn’t be Liliana. She looked younger than Noemi.
Maybe she was the daughter of someone Mia knew.
“ Senorita Isabella,” Viviana said as I passed the kitchen area.
“Viviana, whatever you’re cooking smells delicious.”
“ Gracias .” She lifted her chin. “Mia and Liliana are outside. Mia wants to eat out there. It’s a beautiful evening.”
Okay then. This waif of a girl is Liliana.
I thought about Viviana’s greeting. Papà would be furious that she spoke even a little Spanish. Instead of feeling the same way, I grinned at the little knowledge I had of the language. While it wasn’t extensive. I could say please, thank you, and yes.
“Isabella,” Mia said.
Liliana turned, her large brown eyes meeting mine. My first thought was of a Margaret Keane painting, ones where the eyes were giant, often of children and women.
“Hi, Liliana,” I said. “Nice to meet you.”
She let out a sigh. “You are young.” The tips of her lips moved upward. “I know they sent for you because I’m not very good at the job.”
“No,” Mia and I said in unison.
I walked closer and ran my hand over Jorge’s soft hair. “Honestly, Liliana, I’m here because Mia knows what it’s like to be out of high school and in the Luciano family.” I pressed my lips together and looked at my cousin. “The men in our family can be overbearing.”
“ Sí ,” Liliana said. “I know that feeling.”
“Mia’s giving me a chance to spread my wings, and I’m grateful.” My speech wasn’t prepared and while I thought I was bending reality to make Liliana feel better, maybe there was more truth in my statement than I realized.
She sat on a chair near the pool and adjusted Jorge, so he was sitting up on her lap as he held tight to one of her thumbs. “I still need help.”
“Good,” I replied. “That will give me something to do.”
Mia reached for Jorge. “Let me get him changed for dinner.” His shirt was wet from drool. “You two can get to know one another.”
I sat on a chair near her. “Can I ask you something?”
Liliana nodded. “Were you scared to work with…” I didn’t say whores. “…the women from the club?”
“ Sí , at first.” Her cheeks rose as her smile grew. “But once I met them, I wasn’t afraid. Some were so nervous themselves. They’re apprehensive around new people. Some have confided in me that they fear being judged. I understand that.”
“Then why do what they do?”
“First, they aren’t all sex workers. Some are only dancers. We had a bartender, but she didn’t get along with the other women well, and truly, she makes more money than they do. But even the sex workers have their reasons for their profession. For most, they have long-term goals.”
I let out a sigh. “I didn’t know that there were women at the apartments who didn’t have sex. Will I know who does what?”
Liliana laughed. “Not by looking at them. In their apartments, everyone is the same. No makeup or costumes. No false eyelashes. Just women and girls. Like you and me.”
“What about communicable diseases?”
“The apartments have a clinic, open daily until five. They have required testing as well as healthcare available when requested.” She leaned back, allowing her long brown hair to fall over her shoulders and down her back.
I was struck by how pretty Liliana was as she closed her eyes and looked up toward the sky. I hadn’t noticed her delicate features or long eyelashes until now. “How old are you?”
“Nineteen. Almost twenty.”
“Sorry,” I said, “if I’m being nosy, but how can you relate to the way the women in the apartments feel?”
“Because I’ve been judged.” She shrugged. “Wrongly or rightly. It doesn’t matter if the judgment is founded, it can still hurt.”
I sat back and turned my attention to the setting sun over the water as Liliana’s words took root in the depth of my soul. When I turned back, my eyes were moist, probably from the bright sunshine. I wiped a tear from my cheek. “I should have brought out my sunglasses.”
She nodded.
“I’m guilty,” I confessed. “Ever since Mia asked my mother about me coming out here, I’ve been judging the women.” I forced a smile. “Thank you for helping me see that was wrong.”
“I hope that helps you when you’re there. They need to trust us for Mia’s plans to work.”
My gaze went through the open glass doors into the house. “Do you like Mia?”
Liliana’s large eyes grew even bigger. “Mia is fantastic. She’s done so much for the women and for me. I have an apartment. If el Patr?n— not Aléjandro but his father—had his way, I would have been sent back to live with my parents.”
“Mia challenged Aléjandro’s father?”
“I don’t know if she challenged him. All I know is I have a life now.”
“Would moving back with your parents have been a bad thing? I mean, you’re only nineteen.’’
She sat still for a moment and exhaled. “It would not have been a good thing.” She turned toward the house. “I’m going to see if Mia or Viviana needs help.”
“I’ll go with you.”
There was more to Liliana’s story. I could feel it. I found myself wondering if eventually she’d share. And then I was surprised I wanted to get close enough to this cartel girl I barely knew.
Liliana and I set the outside table with utensils, napkins, glasses filled with ice water, and plates. Silas carried Jorge’s highchair out next to the table. All the while everyone was talking and relaxed as if we weren’t in a drug lord’s home.
When we sat down and Viviana carried the tortilla casserole out to the table, I expected el Patr?n to appear, a dark cloud over our friendly conversation. He didn’t.
“Isn’t your husband home?” I asked Mia.
“He is. Viviana took his dinner to his office.” She shrugged. “He works hard. Too hard. I don’t know the details, but something happened last night and something else happened today. Whatever they are, they have him extremely agitated.”
“He’s not usually agitated?” I asked.
Mia’s smile returned. “No, he’s a good husband and father. Remembering my father running the famiglia, I know that sometimes, it’s better to let him be. He’ll come to me when he’s ready.”
To my surprise, Viviana and Silas joined us. We were almost done eating when Silas received word of a car arriving to the front gate. He turned to Mia. “Rei and Jasmine are here.”
My eyes opened wide.
“Good,” Mia said. “I feel better if they’re here.”
I lowered my voice. “You want Jasmine at your house?”
She nodded. “I made a lot of mistakes in the past. Instead of dwelling on them, I chose to move forward. After all, she’s now my sister-in-law.” She grinned. “We have the same last name.”
Roríguez.
I had never thought of that.