Page 91 of Till Death Do Us Part
His response was equally as quiet. “Gerardo arranged the cars and drivers as an offering of good faith.”
“Can we trust them?”
“Silas will be at your side.”
I nodded and inhaled, failing to ignore the unease percolating deep in my stomach.
“Hola, Señora Roríguez,” the driver said, his countenance without emotion.
That was the first and last time he addressed me the entire day. I learned through Silas that his name was Ángel. He didn’t fit his name.
We spent the next six hours in a game of translation. Silas would ask me where I wanted to go, and then he’d relay my answer to the driver. While there wasn’t anything that was outwardly threatening about the man behind the wheel, there was also nothing friendly.
Ángel waited in the car as Silas and I went into various shops and boutiques. By midafternoon, the lack of acknowledgment was wearing on me. “Do you really think he doesn’t speak English?”
Silas shook his head with a grin. “He speaks English. I guarantee it. What he’s doing is his way of protesting your presence.”
My feet forgot to walk as we stopped in the middle of a busy sidewalk. Turning to my bodyguard with my lips agape, I asked, “Why is he protesting me? What did I do to him?”
Silas’s expression softened. “Nothing, Mia. Your offense isn’t your actions but merely your presence. Many in the cartel have vocalized their displeasure regarding Patr?n’s alliance with the famiglia. You’re a reminder of that coalition.”
“So, they hate me because I’m famiglia?”
“Essentially,” Silas confirmed. “I won’t lie to you.” His smile returned if only briefly. “I respect you too much for that. The others, they don’t see what Viviana and I see, the way you and Jano are in private. They assume you’re miserable and you’re out to make Jano miserable. You may be out to harm the cartel.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t want to harm it.”
“I know that because I’ve taken the time to know you. Don’t give the other people time in your thoughts. Eventually, the truth will be seen. In the meantime, it only takes one rumor to sour the attitude of the majority.”
By four in the afternoon, I was shopped out, and my head ached from the unease of the unknown. In the time since Silas’s and my conversation, I was acutely aware of each glance or comment made by the driver. The scrutiny was overwhelming.
“I’m ready to go back to the plane. I’d like to rest before I change for dinner.”
Silas translated my request to the driver before calling ahead to the pilot.
When we arrived on the tarmac, the steps to the plane were open and the attendant was waiting at the top. While the Gulfstream was luxurious, it was basically one large cabin with a bathroom without a shower. After the day I’d had, the idea of soaking in a hot bath or under a steady spray was at the top of my wish list. Instead, I settled in one of the cream leather seats and reclined with a cool glass of water and a Tylenol.
I wasn’t certain I slept, but the rest combined with the painkiller were helpful. Over forty minutes after settling in, I sat my chair up, gaining Silas’s attention. A smile came to my lips. “Thank you for watching over me. And for being with me today.” The thought of being alone with the driver sent chills over my flesh.
He nodded. “It’s an honor. Jano called. He’s on his way.”
“I’d like to change, and the bathroom is…”
Silas lifted his hand. “I will be happy to wait outside.”
“Thank you.”
One of my finds today was a long fuchsia tunic dress with gold, pearl, and turquoise embellishments around the neckline. I’d purchased it before Silas’s and my conversation, believing the minimalistic tailoring with the opulent trimmings made for the perfect statement. Elegant yet simple. I even found gold sandals, a turquoise beaded necklace, and turquoise earrings to complete the ensemble. Now, as I stood before the bathroom mirror, styling my hair, I was left wondering if I could be of any help to Liliana even if I learned my suspicions were true.
Did everyone in the cartel hate me?
Again, my thoughts went to my sister-in-law. We, the members of the famiglia, didn’t hate her. If anything, she was insignificant. The truth hit me. Catalina was no more insignificant to Dario than I was to Aléjandro. The more time I spent in his world, the stronger was my realization of how selfish we’d been not to welcome her better.
The rumble of footsteps on the metal steps and the sound of deep voices let me know I was no longer alone. Thankfully, even in his native tongue, I recognized one particular baritone voice. With a smile, I stepped from the bathroom.
Aléjandro stood near the entry with his dark stare fixed on me. “Guau!” His smile grew. “You’re exquisite, Mia. You look like a princess from India.” He came closer, his eyes still scanning the length of the dress and back. He dipped his nose toward where my neck and collarbone met, sending shivers with the puff of his breath. “Definitely royalty.”
“You approve?”