30: A Simmering Storm

My heartbeat accelerated, and I mentally cringed at the thought of being found out.

"Diego!" Caesar called, his voice laced with razor sharp menace. "What a delightful surprise. We meet again." Their gazes met in a silent duel.

Bemused, my gaze flickered between the two of them. I recalled Caesar telling me he knew the Fernandez family but the animosity crackling in the air spoke of a deeper discord. They were like wolves circling each other.

Diego ignored him and averted his gaze to me, a silent question hanging in the air.

I swallowed a ball of nerves in my throat as I awaited the inevitable questioning. I was already thinking of an excuse to give but it seemed Diego wasn't interested after all. "Nicole, shall we get out of here?"

"Wait a minute," Caesar stood in front of me like a protective shield. "Is this how you treat your acquaintances? Oh," he face palmed. "Of course, how could I forget?...that's who you are. And more importantly, where in the world do you know