Chapter 14

Mia

I wasn’t sure how I felt about going to Mexico.

“No,” Aléjandro said. “He wants us to stay with him and mi madre until Silas can be certain our home is safe.”

“Stay with him where? Are they staying in a hotel?”

Aléjandro shook his head. “When he’s in the States, if possible, he prefers to stay on his yacht.”

I tilted my head. “Your parents are on a boat?”

“A big boat,” he said with a scoff. “He keeps it in international waters. That way he’s not subject to the US laws.”

“How far away is that?”

“Over twenty-four miles from shore.” He shrugged. “About a half-hour boat ride or less than fifteen minutes by helicopter.”

My eyes grew wide. “I’ve never been on a boat that travels that far that fast. I’ve been on a helicopter. My father had one to get to and from the mansion in the mountains. My mom hated it. When he died, it was one of the first things she got rid of.”

He reached for my hand and slowly turned it over in his. After his Adam’s apple bobbed, he met my gaze. “I don’t know which mode of transportation we’ll take. It will depend on who’s available to transport us and weather conditions.”

“How big is this yacht? I’ve been on a few yachts in the Ozarks, but they wouldn’t be safe in international waters.”

“Trust me, it’s big. Mi padre was rather insistent with his invitation. Jorge Roríguez doesn’t believe in coincidences or random acts of aggression when they’re aimed at him or his family. He wants us close.” Aléjandro lowered his voice. “You know that your first husband was in cahoots with your father and Elizondro Herrera to take down the current alliance.”

“Dario didn’t tell me everything. He said he’d keep the details secret for my reputation. I pieced some of it together.”

“Your reputation isn’t based on the asshole you married.”

It seemed that my identity was continually linked to my husband—or make that husbands.

Aléjandro went on, “Mi padre believes since Herrera’s plan failed, he’s trying other avenues. Padre wouldn’t put it past Herrera to make a deal with the Russians. And next is the question, how did they know we were at Wanderland?”

“You think you were being targeted?”

“Mi padre wants to be certain, especially if there’s an alliance between Herrera and the Russians.”

I shook my head. “No one deals with the bratva.”

Aléjandro’s lips curled. “Before this, no one would imagine the cartel and the Italian Mafia being allies.”

“I guess that’s true. So, your dad thinks the attack on the three of you involves Herrera?”

His handsome face contorted into a grimace as he shrugged. “He wants to rule it out. There’s also the idea that people aren’t happy with our alliance. There has been rumbling in the ranks. No one thought Cat would stay with your brother. Now, there’s us. Rei said your phone was called while you were in our home.” There was a sharp edge to his chiseled jaw. “Before we can live there, we need to up the security.” He lifted my hand to his lips and looked at me through long lashes. “Killing you would send a message to both our cartel and your famiglia.”

My empty stomach twisted. “Me? I’m a target?”

“Not if you can’t be found. Few people will know where we’ve gone. It will appear as if we’re on a honeymoon.”

I nodded.  

“What about our things? Is it safe for us to stop by the house and get clothes?” I remembered something. “And Rei has my phone.”

“You can’t have your phone.” He looked around.

It was the first time I noticed Rei was gone.

Aléjandro went on. “Our men probably have it by now. We have some fucking great hackers. They’ve been trying to determine where the call from my phone originated. Your phone will help them.”

“But my phone is how I contact my family and friends.”

Aléjandro squeezed my hand. “You’ll get a new phone. We’ll go by the house and get our things.”

We both turned to see Rei entering the room and coming toward us. “Padre is sending the chopper.”

Night had fallen since Rei had brought me into the hideout. Since Rei’s Audi only had two seats, I rode back to the house with him while Aléjandro rode with two trusted cartel soldiers.

Once we were at the house, the soldiers did a sweep inside as we waited on the pavers within the front gate. With the outside lights illuminating the area, my attention went to the shadows. I had the unwelcome feeling of being watched. The soldiers were only in the house for less than a minute when they came out. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but I heard the agitation in their voices and saw my husband’s reaction. Rei took off running around the back of the house.

“What is it?” I asked, reaching for Aléjandro’s arm.

The muscles pulled tight on the side of his face and the tendons in his neck came to life as he removed his gun from the holster strapped to his back. “Someone broke in. The glass doors to the pool were jimmied open.”

“Someone broke into our home?” I felt my body temperature rise and my temples throb as I stared at the gun in my husband’s grip. Weapons had been an everyday occurrence throughout my life. That didn’t mean that I wasn’t alarmed that the person or persons could still be on the property. “I was here most of the day.”

Aléjandro said something to his soldiers. He turned back to me. “Rei was with you. This happened after you left.” His nostrils flared. “I don’t like this. Diego and Felipe are making sure the house is safe. Then we’ll go in and grab our things.”

“I thought there were other guards.”

Rei came from around the back of the house. “I think whoever was here came by sea. In the dark, I can’t see the beach, but there’s broken grass and sand on the pool deck that wasn’t there before.”

“Fuck,” Aléjandro growled. “That’s how they avoided the guards.” He cursed under his breath. “Word is out I bought this house.”

What does that mean?

Will we need to move?

Diego and Felipe returned to the courtyard.

“No one is inside,” the taller one said. He turned to me. “Señora, your bedroom. It’s in shambles.”

“They went through my things?” I turned to Aléjandro. “Why would they do that?”

“We’ll fucking find out.” After holstering his weapon, he took my hand. “I’m staying with you. Let’s go inside.”

I clung tightly to him as we went inside.