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Landing a heavy boot to her stomach, Manuel flipped her onto her back then jerked her to her feet. “Get up. We’ve got a party waiting for you downstairs.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Money, darling. Valentin Carrera has it; I want it. You think I spent six years studying with my nose in a book at the University of Guadalajara to be stuck in an office somewhere?” My high-pitched laugh bounced off the walls. “Hell, no. What this cartel has lacked since my father’s death has been intelligent direction. No offense, dear brother.”
Manuel shrugged and raised a quick eyebrow in my direction before snapping Eden’s arm toward a closed door.
“The Muñoz Cartel could never overtake Alejandro Carrera because the men in my family lacked strategic planning and intricate follow-through—something that required the long-term patience of a woman. You understand, right, Eden?”
“Sure,” she replied, rolling her eyes in the dark.
“The men in my family have always lacked patience for anything. They want everything now, now, now. But I told them, ‘bide your time and watch Carrera. He’s not as inhuman as you think. Eventually, we’ll find his weakness. When we do, take it. Carrera will come to us.’ You’re his weakness, Eden. We women are powerful creatures. In our lifetime, there will always be one man who will die for us.” I stared at her and ran a painted red nail down her tangled hair. “No man is immune to our power—even the almighty El Muerte. Congratulations on being the woman who brought down the giant.”
* * *
Present Day
The memory seemed like a lifetime ago. In some ways, it was. The woman who took pleasure in inflicting pain didn’t exist anymore. Marisol Muñoz was dead, but I wasn’t sure anything I said or did would convince her.
“We’ve all made mistakes,” I said, blotting away the memory.
“And some of us have yet to pay for them.”
“You’ve misjudged my intentions.”
“And you’ve clearly underestimated mine.” Her words coiled around the tension in her body. “So let me be clear, I told you to stay away from my son, and I meant it. My only purpose in life is to protect my family from any and all threats.”
I steeled my jaw at her insinuation. “And that’s me.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Is it? You gave the order to have my brother killed in front of me. If you think I’m letting you get anywhere near my son, you’ve misjudged my intentions. Family is the most important thing to Val, and he desperately wants to believe you. He spent his life believing you were dead, and now all he wants is a chance to have his sister by his side. I hope for his sake that you’re being truthful with him because believe me when I tell you, Adriana, Marisol...whatever you’re calling yourself these days…” Eden crowded into me, the corner of her mouth curling up, “if I find out otherwise, I’ll show you what kind of puta I really am.”
Stalking toward the crib, she scooped Santiago in her arms and stormed out of the nursery.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Brody
It was too late for la comida, so we all sat around the table for la cena which was like appetizers on steroids and felt as comfortable as jumping into a lion’s den wearing a ribeye tied around my neck. Eden stared at Adriana. Adriana stared at her plate. I stared at Adriana, then stared at Leighton because she kept staring at me staring at Adriana. Mateo stared at Val, and Val…well, Val fucking stared at everybody.
There was so much staring going on, no one talked. Thank God for scotch because booze was the only thing that kept me from flipping the table and walking away. I needed to either get Adriana alone and fuck this tension out of my system or get Val alone and talk it out. At this point, I didn’t care which one, but something had to give.
My choice was made for me when Leighton stood, hoisting my sauce drenched niece onto her hip. “If you’ll excuse me, this one needs to be hosed down.”
Adriana jumped up so fast, the silverware rattled. “I’ll help.”
My sister cast a suspicious eye between us. “Are you sure?”
By the time she nodded, Adriana was already halfway up the stairs. “Definitely. Let’s go.”
Val leaned back into his chair, watching with a strained curiosity while rubbing the dark hair on his chin.
Mateo just smirked, raising an eyebrow at his boss. “Want me to stay?”
Val waved his hand. “It’s messy upstairs.”
Mateo’s smirk widened. “It’s about to get messier down here.”
Gold flecks ignited in familiar dark eyes settled hard on the Carrera underboss. “Mateo.”
