Page 71 of Bound By A Promise
“Camila,” I said, “we were about…”
She came forward and walked toward the edge of the patio, the ocean breeze blowing her long skirt and the small hairs around her face. “About here. It was where the arch was.” She turned and pointed. “I came out that door.”
Silas stood peering toward the sky in different directions. “Red dot sights are typically used for closer ranges, 100 yards or less.”
“Depending on the rifle,” Em added, “they can be adequate up to 300 yards.”
We were all looking up at the roofline. “If the shooter wasn’t on your roof, with the way the second story obstructs a straight view...” I looked from Viviana to Camila. “There. Someone was on your neighbor’s roof or in that window.” I pointed. “That’s the only possible vantage point.”
“Do you know your neighbor?” Andrés asked.
“I’ve met the wife,” Mia said. “Only once.”
Walking to Camila, I wrapped my arm around her. I did it without thinking because she looked chilled. After I did, I noticed Andrés turning away. “Why would Kozlov send a sharpshooter and a helicopter?”
“Why didn’t they shoot?” Andrés asked.
“Because Dante and the priest weren’t the intended targets,” Dario said.
“If those shots would have happened,” Camila said, “right before the helicopter, the sharpshooter would have gone unnoticed. The submachine gun would have obliterated the body or bodies.”
I hadn’t noticed Silas stepping inside, but we all noticed his return and the man at his side.
Jorge Roríguez lifted his hands. “You are all getting along better than I anticipated.” He went to Mia and gave her a hug. “Hija. How are you feeling, Mia?”
She smiled back at him. “Well. Just tired.”
“And my grandson?”
“We don’t know. You may have a granddaughter in there.”
“Roríguez men father boys. But I’d take a girl.” He turned to the crowd. “What’s happening out here, where yesterday my son’s home was attacked?”
Dario and Aléjandro explained what we’d found, starting with the video. As they spoke, Silas sent guards next door to look for clues to determine if the sharpshooter was where we suspected.
Camila reached for my hand and whispered. “Who would have thought I’d be happy about last night’s attack?”
“They do seem to be more concerned about that than our marriage.” As I spoke, Jorge turned toward us. I lowered my voice. “We spoke too soon.”
I pulled my shoulders back, remembering Dario’s warning for me to make things right. “SeñorRoríguez.”
He offered me his hand. “Luciano. I didn’t plan on another of our women going to the famiglia.”
We shook. “I’m sure Reinaldo will find a wife.”
Jorge nodded and looked at Camila. “He kidnapped you?”
“No, sir.”
“He forced you?”
She shook her head. “No, sir.”
“What did he do to convince you to disappoint so many?”
I squeezed her hand, fighting my urge to step in and answer for her, but I knewel Patr?nwanted Camila’s response.
“El Patr?n,” she said respectfully, “Dante made me feel special.” She grinned up at me. “He loves me, and I love him. I didn’t mean to disappoint anyone. I wanted to marry the man I love.”