Page 101 of Queen of Ruin

“You did go AWOL on their wedding day and lose their wedding rings. It’s kind of crazy that Ivy asked you to be maid of honor again after that.”

“Fuck you,” I snap lightly, elbowing Diego in the ribs. He dissolves into laughter and quickly slides his arm around my waist.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. In my opinion, your abandoning their wedding was the best thing that ever happened to me, so I’m not complaining. You have to know that.”

“I do.” With a dramatic sigh, I loop my arm around his. “Come on, I need to show you something.”

“We’re walking?” Diego asks as we head outside, but rather than leading him to the car, I turn down the steps toward the street.

“It’s not far.”

“Okay, but if anyone asks, you strong-armed me into this.”

Rolling my eyes, I settle into walking beside him while we stroll down the street, and for a moment it feels like we’re just an ordinary couple. Just two people who watched their friends get married. No stress. No Mafia. No obscene gangs or worse. Just two people in love.

“Do I get a hint?” Diego asks after we’ve walked two blocks, though from his tone, he is enjoying the walk just as much as I am.

“Hmm.” As I’m toying with the idea of a hint, we stroll past a new stand and Diego pauses briefly to read the headline. The front page article is the expose written about how the good cops of New York tracked down and dismantled a child trafficking ring led by rogue Armenians taking advantage of the criminal turmoil in the city.

“Is it weird?” Diego asks suddenly. “Seeing all your hard work be credited to someone else?”

“Not really. I know the truth and so do the people involved. But letting the good cops take the credit is the only option. After all, it was them taking the flak for those poor children going missing in the first place. You remember Bradley said it was all about balance? Give and take? We prevented a dark stain on the name of whichever Mafia family would have been tricked into taking the fall for that shit and we uprooted some dirty cops in the process. In this case, it’s only right that they get to display it all over the news and take a public win.”

“But those kids. All the ones rescued here and overseas. That was you guys. Criminals have done more for this city than the actual cops at this rate.”

“Because we can act outside of the law. Can you imagine how hard it would be for a cop to make the overseas contacts we have? We can ask drug dealers, gamblers, every strain of criminal you can think of because most have the moral compass to help kids. But if the cops are involved? It becomes an us versus them situation.”

“Makes sense.” Diego nods. “It’s just strange to see.” We resume walking and he tightens his grip on me, almost as if he’s trying to comfort me. “You save people’s lives every day.”

“Don’t make me sound like a hero,” I murmur softly. “We just do our bit. That’s all anyone can do. Hands down, those same people I help would see me behind bars for the lives I’ve taken or the crimes I’ve enabled. I’m only a good guy today. Tomorrow, I could be the villain.”

“A hot villain,” Diego remarks. “Speaking of, have you heard from Tabitha?”

“Oh, yes!” My heart lifts slightly. “She wants me to come and visit her before she leaves for France.”

“She’s leaving?”

I nod. “Her parents don’t feel safe in New York anymore, and I don’t blame them. They want a fresh start and think another county will be safer.”

“Is France safer?” he asks softly.

I shrug. “Everywhere is dangerous. But only New York lost their daughter. But I will go and see her. I want her to know that I’m doing everything I can for people like her. I’ve known for a while that I wanted to do something for victims, especially those caught up in someone else’s scheme. I haven’t decided if it should be a charity or… a fund or something, but I want to do something.”

“I’ll help,” Diego replies easily. “Surviving is tough for all walks of life.”

“Do you ever get the urge?” I glance up at him, then take his hand in mine as we walk down the next block. “After everything you went through, I was a little worried you would turn to drugs again.”

“You’re the only drug I need.” Diego smirks. “But in all seriousness… no. I never felt the urge. I was too caught up in everything else to even think about drugs. And the hole I was always trying to fill?” He leans in and kisses the top of my head. “I’ve filled that with you.”

I’d say more, but the next corner we turn brings us onto the street with his surprise, so I tighten my grip in his hand and walk a little faster until we stop in front of a currently closed bar with a dark oak wood sign above the door, old windows slightly warped with age, and a heavy door with colorful stained glass in the entranceway.

“What’s this?” Diego asks, slightly hesitant.

“Your surprise.” I smile warmly as a bubble of excitement rises in my chest. “Wanna look inside?”

Inside, a soft awe settles across Diego’s face as he wanders between the circular wooden tables, wooden chairs, juke box, and toward the ornate bar that takes up almost all of one wall. The air’s filled with the scents of pine, oil, and a subtle hint of smoke, and the colorful lights from the juke box cut across the darkness of the bar, leaving a comforting warmth in the air.

“Valentina…” Diego reaches the bar and places his hands on the smooth, polished wood. “What is this?”