Page 72 of Cartel Devil

¡Qué mierda de vida!

“Mom, you can’t let Dad get too angry. Not here.”

“When are they moving you up to a room? I assume they’re keeping you for observation.”

“They are, and I don’t know.”

“Tre, I can check on that. Let you have some time with your mom.”

I’m certain they only suggested keeping her for observation because they recognized her last name, and I might be hovering a little excessively. They likely don’t want to take any risk that Tre leaves and winds up miscarrying or right back here. I think the average woman would be sent home within a few hours.

“No. That’s what a call button is for. Stay. Please.”

She softens her tone at the end. I don’t know if she fears being alone with her mother, the rest of her family showing up, or me running for the hills.

“If that’s what you want, but I really think you should talk to your mom in private.”

“I’ll just tell you everything later.”

I don’t mind either of them seeing me cringe. It’s the only reaction that’ll keep Kathleen from killing me. The last thing I need is for her to think I’ve already coerced Tre into sharing things.

“How about some ice chips?”

“Joaco, if you really want to go…”

“I don’t, chiquita, but it’s the right thing to do.” I lean over and kiss her forehead. “I’ll just be on the other side of the curtain.”

“As an open target? No!”

“No one’s going to shoot or stab me here, Tre.”

“Yes, they would. It’s the easiest place to dispose of a body.”

“Mo chuisle, you have a morbid sense of humor.”

“I get that from you, Mom, and I wasn’t joking.”

I observe Tre, and I can tell all of this is overwhelming her. As though everything so far hasn’t been horrific enough. I lift the chair from my side of the bed and carry it around for Kathleen. She barely cracks a smile and doesn’t get off the bed, but she nods. It’s enough acknowledgment to reassure me she won’t let Frank kill me. She won’t kill me.

At least, not right now.

I move back to my side of the bed and interlace my fingers with Tre’s, careful not to touch her IV lines. Tre squeezes my hand but keeps her focus on her mom as Kathleen speaks.

“How far along are you?”

“Seven weeks. Well, nine technically.”

Kathleen’s quiet for a moment, and I can tell she’s doing the math. “Vittoria and Alejandro’s wedding?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t mention you were dating Joaquin when you said you would be a bridesmaid.”

Fuchsia turns to magenta.

“We weren’t.”

“Paola and Cesare all over again.”