Page 88 of Till Death Do Us Part
“We’re both guilty.” As I lowered my touch of her soft skin, my thoughts went back to the wedding when Mia pointed out Gerardo and his new bride from among the guests. “I’m sure it’s tough with how young she is. She’ll adapt.”
“It’s more than that. She had bruises on her wrist.”
“Like I said before, maybe Gerardo is into kink.” I lifted my eyebrows. “The idea of you struggling under restraints is getting me hard as we speak.”
Mia smiled in a way that gave me hope of that dream one day becoming a reality. It wasn’t a secret that in the last few weeks, my wife had come out of her shell when it came to our sex life. While I didn’t want to push her, the times I had…call it encouraged…she’d surprised me with her acceptance. Taking what we shared deeper into the fringes of BDSM would require her ultimate trust in me. I planned to earn that first.
“When your schedule allows, maybe we could make a surprise visit to Sacramento.”
I nodded. “There are a few cartel endeavors up there I’d like to check on.”
My wife’s smile returned. “Don’t warn Gerardo until the last minute.”
“You’re trying to set him up?” I asked.
“No. I’m doing no such thing. I’m utilizing the element of surprise to confirm or refute my concerns.”
“I know you don’t want to hear it, Mia, but Gerardo is Liliana’s husband. She’s his wife. What they do in private isn’t under the jurisdiction of the cartel.”
“The cartel sanctioned their wedding. Maybe the cartel should consider the consequences.”
“Does your brother interfere with marriages in the famiglia?”
“Make the cartel better than the famiglia, Aléjandro.”
Shaking my head, I leaned in closer and captured her soft, pouty lips.
Make the cartel better than the famiglia.
The health of individual relationships seemed minimal in the grand scheme of the bratva, the alliance, and the dangers that lurked outside our safety zone.
When I pulled away and our noses were nearly touching, I looked into her soft hazel eyes and asked, “Do you plan to challenge me forever?”
Her lips curled. “Until death do us part.”
Rei leanedback in one of the leather chairs opposite my desk with his ankle resting on his opposite knee. “I have to hand it to Mia. Even you look important behind that desk.”
“No more important than I was behind the folding table with the milk crate.”
Rei laughed. “I know that, and you know that, but the soldiers will think otherwise when they meet with you.”
“I’m not ready to have anyone in our home until we make sure our people are loyal.” I changed the subject to another of my concerns. “How did our shipment get seized?”
Rei’s expression darkened. “Fucking 500 kilos.” He lowered his other boot to the floor and leaned forward. I saw the tension in the small lines near his eyes. “Doesn’t make sense. Our man had it across the border without a hitch. Then he was pulled over for mistaken identity. What the fuck? There was an APB out on the same make and model beater.”
“Someone knew the shipment was coming. They even knew the damn car. It was a setup. That person wanted the shipment to be seized.”
“A person or persons who want Roríguez to look bad or to prompt DEA’s radar and have them start breathing down our necks.” I let out a breath, clenched my jaw, and pushed back against the tall leather desk chair. “Where’s our soldier?”
“Custody. He’s not talking.”
“Does he have papers or is he getting deported?”
“Has papers,” Rei said. “Padre’slawyer is working to have him released, but we’re fucked on product. Fucking agents are probably using or selling it themselves.”
“Five hundred is too much to lose, but it’s nothing compared to the shipment we have headed to Kansas City.” I met my brother’s stare. “Who knows about the shipment headed to KC?”
“Too many people.”