Page 33 of Bound By A Promise

“Sí.”

Mia reached for her husband’s hand. “Por favor, ayudarlo.Él nos ayudó.”

My eyes went back and forth between the two of them. Whatever Mia said had Aléjandro considering my plea.

He looked at his watch. It was after eight at night. Finally, he spoke, “I’ll go with you and hear Andrés out.”

“Thank you.” I grinned. “Gracias.”

It wasn’t long until we were on our way. Aléjandro drove the two of us in his Porsche.

“Not a lot of room in here,” I said as the darkening streets passed by the windows. “No room for guards.”

“I don’t need guards to visit one of our lieutenants.”

“You’re sure?”

“Fuck yeah.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Are you saying I need one for you…mi hermano?”

“You don’t need one for me. I was just thinking. If you’re so confident in Andrés’s loyalty, why does he think he needs to use Camila to keep your and Jorge’s confidence?”

“You can ask him.”

While I contemplated the discussion I was about to have with Andrés Ruiz, I couldn’t help but think about the reason for the talk. Camila.

Would I even be allowed to see her?

Aléjandro pulled his car up to the gate. I recognized the Ruiz home from the times I’d been there. However, it had changed since the wedding. Now there was a man in a guard shack. After the attack, the Ruizes weren’t solely relying on technology.

“SeñorRoríguez,” the guard greeted before he asked a question. While I couldn’t understand what he said, by the inflection in his voice, I knew it was a question. By Aléjandro’s response, I believe he answered in the negative.

I needed to brush up on my Spanish.

The gate opened and Aléjandro drove us through.

“What did you say to him?” I asked.

“I told him that a lovesick fool wanted to speak to Andrés.”

“The fuck?”

Aléjandro laughed. “I said Andrés wasn’t expecting us, but he wouldn’t deny our visit.”

Wouldn’t deny us because of Aléjandro. I wasn’t under the misconception that I would be welcomed with open arms.

Beyond the gate, the brick-covered driveway led to the front of the house. Unlike the time I left here with Camila and Valentina, there weren’t numerous guards patrolling. Apparently, once one made it past the man at the gate, the house was welcoming. I peered up, noticing the not-so-subtle cameras following Aléjandro’s car.

He parked on the circular drive and opened his door without saying a word. I caught up to him by the time we reached the steps, and the front door opened.

“Valentina,” Aléjandro said with a slight bow.

“SeñoraRuiz,” I greeted.

“JanoyMr. Luciano.” She took a step back. “Por favor entra.”

The two of them had a quick conversation of which I only caught my name beforeSeñoraRuiz apologized to me for not speaking English and led us up the stairs toward Andrés’s office.

“Visitantes. Andrés, you have visitors,” she announced as she opened his office door.