“It’s not safe, Fallon. You know that as well as I do.”
“Safe. The word has little meaning any longer.”
Everything about his expression was typical, dark and foreboding, but there was also more emotion burning within his eyes. “I had my men go by your hotel, Fallon.”
“You did?”
“I did. Do you want to know what they found?”
Swallowing, it took a few seconds for me to nod.
His closeness was electrifying. “Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“No clothes. No toiletries. No evidence anyone had stayed there. They went to the front desk and asked and other than housekeeping, the room was still rented for another full day and night.”
A strangled exhale left me. “They removed all evidence I existed.”
“At least from Mexico.”
“Why?”
His laugh was strained. “Because they had full intentions of making you disappear with no questions asked. I will not allow that to happen.”
“So you’re going to insist we return with you to Spain?”
His frown was different than I was used to, the crinkle on the outside of both eyes a subtle reminder he was older than I was. “At this point, there’s no other choice. Spain is your home.”
“No, it’s not. No,” I repeated. “It’s not. Maybe it was when I was nine, a stupid little girl who believed in unicorns and fairies,but not as an adult woman who lost that life due to a turf war. But I’m no fool, Navarro. With my true identity exposed, I’m suddenly worth something. What would you call me, royalty? The old ways of joining two powerful organizations so the spillage of blood will cease. At least for some time.” I laughed because I was simply quoting what I’d read about the Cosa Nostra and the Bratva and from glitchy television shows and movies, documentaries and articles I’d read over the years.
Yet I’d obviously surprised Navarro with my frank approach.
“Don’t look so shocked,” I told him. “At least now I know why my father kept me a prisoner in my own home while I was growing up. He was fearful his dirty little secret would be discovered and used as a bargaining chip. Then again, maybe that’s what he was attempting to do by becoming involved with another cartel. Or this Farid Fassi person. Maybe he had plans to sell me off to the highest bidder. If I resisted, he’d hold my sister hostage until I agreed to some unholy matrimony.”
My laugh wasn’t planned nor was it offered with my usual dose of sarcasm. This morning it was flat, maybe defeated. Which was the way I was feeling. Yes, I was more than thankful Brooke was safe, but the clouds over the future remained as clear as anything else.
Navarro took a deep breath, briefly looking at my sister. He fisted his hands, finally lowering his gaze while he appeared to be contemplating life itself instead of needing to handle the ugly situation he’d found himself involved in.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Fallon, nor am I going to sugarcoat the circumstances. You deserve better. Yes, both you and your sister are coming with me to Barcelona. As soon as the doctor confirms it’s safe for Brooke to travel, we are leaving. There’stoo much at stake, too many obstacles and I can’t do my best protecting you when I’m away from all my resources.”
What was I supposed to say? He’d made up his mind. I’d all but demanded he take me with him. If he thought I’d simply bow down to him, then Navarro had a screw loose, but I couldn’t think of a coherent argument at this point. I was too exhausted and drained. The only thing I could do was agree until I developed a plan. Or we developed a plan. “Understood. You’ll keep us safe.”
“Absolutely. With my life.”
He returned his attention to me fully and completely. There was much more on his mind that he wasn’t prepared to say. “As far as what you said, your father knew the odds were against him and his family when he left his country and moved thousands of miles away. He was careful, as I would be as a father or husband. Whether or not he is responsible for what happened to Brooke or simply looked the other way is something you’ll need to discover. However, don’t blame him for attempting to keep you protected while providing you with a much better life.”
“How gallant of you, Navarro. You have every reason in the world to hate my father and to follow through with your vendetta, yet you tell me to provide him with sympathy.”
“Don’t read into what I’m saying to you.” Both corners of his lips upturned. “Your father will die by my hands, but that’s my cross to bear.” He took my arm into his hand, frowning as he rolled it from one side to the other. “You’re hurting yourself.”
The oozing blood had created a colorful display of art almost comparable to several of my earlier pictures. They’d depicted pure, raw, red-hot rage.
“Not on purpose.” Or maybe I was. Right now, I was so enraged and full of despair that thinking clearly was an impossibility.
When he stood, I tilted my head so I could continue studying him.
“You expect me to just stand by and watch you murder my father in retaliation?”
