Page 94 of Till Death Do Us Part

“What did you decide?” Aléjandro asked once we were on the plane and in the air on our way home.

“Let me ask you: what is your impression of Gerardo Ruiz?”

“He’s an arrogant prick. It revolts him to have to deal with me instead ofPadre.”

“Was he at least respectful?”

Aléjandro nodded. “As he was at dinner.”

“Did you notice how he did all the talking? Liliana barely said two words throughout the meal.”

“She’s eighteen, Mia. She’s intimidated. When it comes to the Roríguez cartel, we are royalty.” His cheeks rose as his smile formed. “Like you appear.” The brown of his eyes melded with the black of his pupils. “You only need a crown.”

I shook my head. “It’s more than that. She’s frightened. She doesn’t want to take piano lessons.”

“That’s your big find? Piano lessons?” My husband let out a long breath as he leaned against the soft chair. “Maybe because of your history, you’re seeing things that aren’t there.”

Clenching my jaw, I stared out the small window as darkness prevailed. I wasn’t projecting. In the depth of my marrow, I knew the hell Liliana was going through.

Aléjandro reached out his hand toward me. “You’re a caring person.”

I crossed my arms over my breasts, not taking his. “If I’m right, she needs help.”

“Has she asked for it?”

“No,” I said. “She won’t. She’ll suffer silently because Gerardo is a respected lieutenant. No one will stand up to him.”

The cut of my husband’s jaw sharpened, and tendons strained in his neck.

“I’m sorry,” I said, lowering my arms. “I shouldn’t push you to do something you don’t want to do.”

“It’s not just that.” His words were terse. “Remember when I told you about Dante’s comments about Wanderland?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve spoken to Nicolas multiple times. He talks a good game, but nothing is changing. Rei said there are two new whores on the payroll, and he’s not certain they’re participating willingly. Many of the cartel soldiers like the way things are, the way they have been. We’re fighting the bratva. They’re breaking into our homes. We need a united front. It feels like I’m butting heads over issues that may not matter.”

“You don’t think that forced prostitution matters?”

Aléjandro shook his head and his tone deepened. “It matters. Fuck, if someone reports us and we’re linked to human trafficking, they’ll shut down Wanderland and come for other cartel businesses.” He lifted his glass of tequila and brought it to his lips. When he set it down, he exhaled. “It matters—they matter. Liliana matters, but making sure Wanderland isn’t setting itself up for a raid is different than interfering in a marriage. Gerardo already doesn’t want me to stay in the States. He was happy with the freedom he used to have.”

“You can stay because of me.”

“What?”

“You can stay in the States because you married me. I asked Dario about it before we were married.”

Aléjandro nodded.

“The entire time Silas and I were with that driver, Ángel, he only spoke Spanish. Silas explained that it was Ángel’s way of doing his job and protesting me at the same time.”

“Mia, it’s not?—”

“Please.” I shook my head. “I get it because now I see how I should have treated Catalina differently, but I just had another thought.”

“What thought?”

“If I’m unhappy, if I feel threatened or unwelcomed…if I leave you, your ability to stay in the States is gone.”