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“Who’s that woman?”
I grab a towel and toss it to Alexis as she hauls herself out of the pool, dripping wet. She deftly catches it, wrapping it around her trembling form.
“What the fuck just happened?” My low growl cuts through the clamor. She was supposed to stay undetected, and now she’s the fucking center of attention.
She shoots me a withering look, shoving her sodden hair out of her face. “I just saved a child’s life,” she hisses.
The words had no sooner left her mouth than Louisa Santiago is upon us, Carlos right behind her. Louisa’s face is streaked with tears, but her eyes shine with profound gratitude as she looks at Alexis.
“Thank you,” she breathes, clutching the toddler tightly to her chest, not caring about the rapidly growing wet spot on her expensive gown. “Thank you for saving my baby.” She steps forward and throws her arms around Alexis, holding her close for a lingering moment before pulling back.
Carlos places a hand on Louisa’s back, his eyes finding Alexis’s. “What’s your name?”
I hold my breath, hoping against hope that Alexis sticks to her cover. For the love of fucking God, do this goddamn right.
There’s the slightest pause before Alexis replies, her voice admirably steady. “Maria. I’m Don Iacopelli’s cousin.”
I could fucking collapse right now, and from the looks on Nat and Edo’s faces, they are two seconds away from doing the same.
Carlos extends a hand, taking Alexis’s in his and pressing his lips to her knuckles in an old-world gesture.
“Maria, we owe you a debt that can never be repaid.” His voice is thick with emotion. “You saved my son’s life. Anything you need, it’s yours.”
I can barely believe what’s unfolding before me. The Santiagos—the most powerful fucking crime family in Milwaukee and the goddamn Midwest—have rebuffed my attempts at an alliance for years.
And now, because of Alexis’s quick thinking, that’s changed. Carlos Santiago is known for getting his uncle to change his mind on decisions.
I stare at Alexis with a newfound admiration as Carlos and Louisa continue lavishing praise upon her. I quickly usher her away before any of the other guests can approach with prying questions about the mysterious “Maria”.
As we retreat inside, I spy Nat deep in conversation with Alfonso Santiago, the current Don of the family. I wonder what’s being said, but my focus remains squarely on a shivering, coughing Alexis. Steering her to a side room, I drape a fresh towel over her shoulders as her teeth chatter. I begin to gently towel off her dripping hair, pins falling to the floor, my movements almost tender.
Moments later, Nat enters the room with Edo in tow. There’s an expression of shock on Nat’s face.
“Alfonso just told me…” she begins, then trails off with a disbelieving shake of her head. “After ‘Maria’ rescued little Emilio, he says anything we want—within reason—will be granted by his Family, including an alliance.”
I still, the towel slipping from my fingers as the weight of Nat’s words sinks in.
“He wants to meet with you soon,” she continues, a smile spreading across her face. “To hash things out properly.”
A slow grin spreads across my face. I turn to Alexis, giving her shoulders an affectionate squeeze as elation blooms in my chest.
“You hear that?” I ask, my voice slightly awed. “You just handed us the keys to the kingdom on a silver fucking platter.”
The plane ride back to Chicago is a silent one, but my thoughts are anything but quiet. My mind keeps drifting back to Alexis—the way her soaked dress had clung to her curves as she emerged from the pool, the fierce determination blazing in her eyes as she hissed that she’d saved a child’s life.
She’ll be a tremendous asset, I muse. If only I can fucking figure out a way to get The Brotherhood off her trail for good.
As soon as we arrive home and settle back in, I seek Alexis out. Pushing open her door, I stop short when I see her in a bathrobe, toweling off her damp hair. The sight sends an unexpected jolt through me.
I clear my throat, and Alexis jumps, her eyes growing wide as she turns to face me, a hand on her heart.
“Jesus, Damian,” she whispers as she relaxes. “You scared the shit out of me.”
I wink at her. “Best to keep you on your toes that way.” I clear my throat again. Goddamn, why am I so nervous?
“How would you feel about going on a date with me tonight?”
Her entire face seems to brighten at my words, and I pointedly ignore how my heart stutters in my chest.
