Page 106 of Till Death Do Us Part

“Mia, I’d never let anything happen to you. That’s why we had so many eyes on both buildings. I’ll fucking find the mole and when I do, I’ll lay his head at your feet.”

Swallowing my tears, I scoffed. “I don’t want that. I just want us to be…”

What was the next word?

Happy?

In love?

“…to be safe,” I said.

“I’m calling a meeting at our house tonight. I’ll tell Silas to be ready.” The call disconnected.

I turned to Dante. “Aléjandro is calling a meeting. Will you stay?”

Dante nodded. “I’m not leaving until Aléjandro has his answer. If I did, I’d take you with me, and I would suspect your husband wouldn’t be too happy about that.”

“I’m not leaving him.”

“Mia, you’re still famiglia.” He nodded. “I know how this works, you and Catalina. You’re both important to both sides of this alliance. Hurting either one of you would hurt the alliance. It sucks and I’m sorry you’re in this position, but you are. You were the target today.”

My stomach churned as acid made its way up my throat. We rode in silence as Giovanni drove us back to my home. My turbulent thoughts added to my distress. Today’s meetings were supposed to be safe. It was all about helping the workers at Wanderland, and in the process, I’d been targeted. I didn’t relish hearing Dante’s truth. Who would? Yet he was right. Hurting Catalina or me would result in fracturing our alliance.

I kept my composure as Giovanni pulled the car beyond the first gate and into the driveway. Not waiting for anyone to help, I opened the car door and made my way inside, not stopping until I was upstairs, my head over the toilet bowl, expelling what was left of my breakfast.

Perspiration dotted my skin and the permeating odor of the school lingered on my clothes. Quickly, I stripped, pushing everything I’d worn into the corner and stepping into the shower. More tears coated my cheeks as I stood beneath the hot spray.

I was a target.

Aléjandro had mentioned the possibility. Today was more than a possibility; it was reality.

Scrubbing my skin raw and washing my hair multiple times, didn’t fully cleanse me of the smell. I was pouring more bodywash onto the washcloth when the bathroom door opened. Aléjandro didn’t slow. He came straight for the shower, opening the glass door, and stepping under the spray fully clothed.

I crumpled against him, my body trembling and sobs coming from my chest.

One hand came to my hair as he held me upright with the other. “You are safe.”

“I’ll never be.”

He turned off the shower and helped me from the enclosure. I shivered at the loss of heat. My husband wrapped me with a towel and lifted me to his chest. His canvas loafers squeaked over the bamboo flooring as he carried me into the bedroom. “Mia, you said something a while ago that has stuck with me. The only reason I allowed you to be out today and part of this plan was because I knew you were protected.”

I leaned my aching head against his chest.

Aléjandro threw back the blankets on the bed and laid me on the sheets. After covering me, he sat at my side. Droplets dripped from his dark hair, and his features were stark with emotion. The furrow of his forehead and sharpness of his jawline displayed his concern. His black t-shirt was wet and plastered to his muscles, and without seeing them, I knew his jeans and shoes were also wet. “Someone wants me back inMéxico. They’ve decided to fuck up my plans, maybe to make me look incompetent somi padrewould call me home. In case that didn’t work, their plan B is to take away my ability to stay in the States.”

“Me,” I said, my voice hoarse.

He ran his hand over my hair. “Yes. You. I fucking hoped I was wrong. If I couldn’t be with you today at your fucking side, I chose the one person who I could trust and who wouldn’t give away the cartel’s connection.”

I remembered that when we’d originally come up with the plan, I’d offered to do the business deal alone. I reached for my husband’s hand and intertwined our fingers. “Their plan won’t work. Jorge believes in you. I believe in you.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “What can I get you? Aspirin? Water?”

“Don’t bring it to my feet but the head of the mole.” I squeezed his hand. “I know you have momentous plans, and you’re capable of leading when Jorge is ready. We can’t keep living like this. We need to know who’s undermining you.”

Aléjandro nodded. “I’ve called a meeting. I want you to go to Nicolas’s house.” Before I could question, he went on, “Valentina’s in Missouri with Catalina and the baby. Nicolas and the other men will be here. All the other women will be there. Take Viviana.”

Alarm bells sounded. “Why? Who will be at the meeting? Why can’t I stay here?”