It didn’t even bother him so much that they think he wasn’t good enough for Isabel. What bothered him the most is that they would think he could ever hurt her. He’d throw himself in front of a bus for Isabel before he’d hurt her.
He’d only been at Moreno’s for about twenty minutes venting to Sal about Isabel’s intervention when his phone rang. It was her.
“Please come home.” Her voice broke as she continued. “I made them all leave. I didn’t want to have to choose but if they’re gonna make me then I choose you. I love you.”
Romero stood up and waved at Sal, walking back toward the exit. “Baby, don’t cry. You don’t have to choose. I’ll just… I’ll just stay away when they’re around.”
“No, if they won’t accept you then they lose me, too. I told them that.”
Damn it. This wasn’t what he wanted. As big a pain as her family was, he knew Isabel would be miserable if they were out of her life. He’d seen how excited she was about seeing Art this weekend. “I’m on my way, babe. We’ll talk when I get there.”
***
After hearing Romero speak to both Pat and Isabel the way he had, her father told her the family would never turn their back on her but they’d also never accept Romero and that was final. More than just his language, he was convinced that he one day would get the tragic news that Romero had unloaded all that anger he seemed to be carrying, on her.
For the first time, he brought up the fact that Romero’s father being in jail must have a lot to do with it. He’d seen the vicious cycle time and time again. A father convicted of a violent crime more than likely would have children who followed in their footsteps.
Isabel insisted Romero’s father had not been convicted for anything violent, but it was futile. Her father had already taken it upon himself to look into Romero’s dad’s case and knew that he’d nearly killed a man with his bare hands while incarcerated. He’d given Romero the benefit of the doubt, but after seeing what he’d done to Michael he was convinced that it was just a matter of time before he became violent with her, too.
No one was more adamant about it than Pat, and she’d taken great offense to Romero insinuating her father needed to worry about Charles. Isabel wasn’t sure what that had been about but she could only assume he was looking for any way to offend her, though smearing someone who had nothing to do with it was probably not the smartest thing to do.
The only thing Jacob had said was that he would always be there for her if she ever needed an ear and for her not to hesitate to call him.
In the end, none of them were able to convince her that Romero could ever hurt her. Not once in all the times she’d seen him angry had she ever felt threatened. She was tired of them trying to demean him. If any of them would just take the time to get to know him they’d understand why she was so in love with him.
Romero tried to convince her Friday evening when he got back after they left that she should be there with her family on Sunday for Art’s announcement. He said he didn’t mind not being there, he’d use the time to work out, something he’d been neglecting lately. At first, she refused but he was able to convince her when he pointed out that Art had nothing to do with the intervention and he could probably use her support, since Pat would more than likely do or say something to sour his big announcement.
They’d made love for hours after that, with Isabel wanting to show him how little influence her family’s worries had on her. Even if they didn’t, she believed in him—in them—categorically.
Saturday, Romero told her he had to work most of the day. He’d cut down significantly on the weekends but she knew in his line of work, weekends had to be busy for him. She was a little disappointed she’d looked forward to spending the entire day with him since part of Sunday she’d be busy with Art’s brunch, but she didn’t complain. How could she?
On her way to meet Valerie at the mall for lunch she got a call from Jacob. She sighed, remembering the intervention and wondered if he had more to say.
“Hi, Jacob.”
“Hey, Bell. You busy?”
“I’m driving but I have my earpiece on. What’s up?”
“Listen I just wanted you to know, that yesterday I didn’t feel real comfortable about the whole intervention thing. Your sister sort of caught me off guard when she asked me to be part of it.” He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t want you to think for even a second that I don’t think you smart enough to come to your own conclusions, especially one as big as this one. Your family made a lot of good points yesterday but bottom line is the guy has a short fuse, and from what it sounds like, mostly when it comes to anyone coming between the two of you. Who could blame him right? So he blew up and he has, as your sister put it, a filthy mouth.” He chuckled a little, making Isabel smile. “Being in the Navy, I’m around a lot of guys like that. And I know it doesn’t mean they’re bad. I know you, Bell. If you feel it in your heart—you truly believe he would never hurt you. Then go with your gut. Forget what everybody else says. I wanted to say this last night but I had a feeling I’d be mauled by your family. So I just wanted you to know I wish you only the best, and I know you don’t need anyone helping you make these kinds of decision for you. Least of all me.”
Isabel’s felt her heart swell. Despite things not having worked out between her and Jacob, she remembered now why she’d been with him for such a long time. He was a good guy through and through with a heart to match. “Thank you, Jacob. That means a lot to me. I had a feeling my sister’s persuasiveness had more to do with you being there yesterday than you thinking you needed to convince me Romero was bad. Thanks for this. It’s nice to know someone has faith in my ability to make a judgment call.”
“I know you do. That’s why I wanted to make sure you didn’t think I didn’t.”
She wished him the very best as well before hanging up and felt even better about standing her ground against her family’s wishes.
*
Isabel reached across the table at lunch and squeezed Valerie’s hand. “I’m glad you’re better; the last couple of days have been so crazy for me I’d forgotten to call you.”
Valerie called Isabel Friday morning letting her know she was feeling better but wasn’t up to talking. With the stupid intervention waiting for her when she got home, she hadn’t had a chance to talk to her. But last night Valerie called her and invited her to lunch today. “I was feeling better last night. That’s why I called you, but I almost cancelled because I woke up feeling like total crap this morning again.”
Still eyeing her menu for anything that sounded good, Isabel didn’t look up. “What do you think it is?” The Crab Shack wasn’t one of Isabel’s favorites but Valerie really liked it.
“Hmm, I dunno.” It was odd to hear Valerie sound playful about being sick. “For the past few days I’ve been throwing up my guts every morning.”
Isabel lowered her menu to see Valerie smiling. “Oh my God. Are you…”
Valerie laughed. “I’m not sure yet but it’s a definite possibility. I’ve been off the pill for almost a month now. Only problem is my period’s been all screwy because of it.” She put her menu down and grinned. “The best part about it is Alex is totally clueless. He really thinks I have some kind of stomach virus. I wanna keep it that way so I can surprise him.”
Isabel couldn’t help but smile giddily then stopped. “You’re not upset about it are you? I know you said you wanted to wait a little longer.”
“I did but now that I might be, I’m actually getting excited about it. I just don’t wanna say anything to Alex until I know for sure. He’s been pushing for this for a while now. I’d hate for him to get his hopes up and then have it be a false alarm.”
“I won’t say anything to Romero until it’s a sure thing and Alex knows.” Isabel reached across the table and a squeezed Isabel’s hand. “I’m excited for you. I really am.”
Isabel filled Valerie in on everything that happened the last couple of days and everything she’d cleared up with Romero, i
ncluding his relationship with Cici and her son, Moe. Valerie nearly swooned when she saw the ring he’d bought her and said she didn’t care what anyone said. It was definitely an engagement ring.
They’d almost made it through their entire meal when Valerie had to leave the table suddenly, feeling sick. Isabel was about to get up and check on her when she saw a very pale looking Valerie walking back to the table. Isabel felt so bad for her.
“Maybe it is a virus. This is the first time it’s hit me in the afternoon.”
Isabel smiled, tilting her head. “It’s only called morning sickness but it can hit at any time of the day. I’m even more convinced now that you are pregnant. I’m only sorry you didn’t get to keep your lunch down. You were in there for a while. You probably threw it all up.”
“All of it.” Valerie made a face. “And just looking at the rest of this food makes my mouth water, but now in a good way.”
Isabel finished and Valerie paid. They walked out of the mall and hugged goodbye just outside the entrance. “Promise me you’ll call me as soon as you know something.”
“I will,” Valerie said, lifting her sunglasses and looking past Isabel’s shoulder. “Is that Romero?”
Isabel turned in time to see Romero pulling out of a parking space and turn toward the exit of the parking lot. “Yeah. Hmm. He said he was working today.”
When she turned back to Valerie, her expression matched what Isabel was feeling. She’d mentioned to Valerie Romero’s promise to not return to that jewelry store again or even the mall without her. Not that she’d taken him up on it but she hadn’t exactly turned the proposition down. What’s more, the entrance closest to where he had parked was the one closest to the jewelry store.
Valerie changed her expression quickly and shook her head. “Don’t jump to conclusions. Just ask him as soon as you get home, or better yet call him and tell him you saw him here. Ask him what he was doing.”
Isabel preferred to see his expression when she asked him. He hadn’t lied to her yet, and she had no reason to think he might start now. Not after everything they’d just gone through. She smiled trying to appear unfazed by it. “No, I’ll just ask him when I get home. He goes to MicroTech a lot for all his camera and computer stuff.”
That seemed a good enough reason for Valerie. They said good-bye again and Isabel headed home.
As much as she told herself it was probably nothing and to stop jumping to conclusions, Isabel gave in and called him on her way home. She may as well get the simple explanation now before she began to make herself crazy. He might not be home until later that evening and she’d be ready to throw him out with all the stories she was sure her imagination would come up with by then.
She stared at the beautiful diamond on her finger as she sat at the red light, waiting for Romero to pick up. “Hey, Izzy.”
His voice made her smile. “Hey, what are you up to?”
“Working. It’s been a busy day.”
“Oh, yeah. Where at?”
“I met a client over by the marina. Then had to install some telephone bugs at an office where some paranoid ass, thinks every one of his employees is out to get him. That took a while. I just got one more place I have to stop and take some pictures then I should be heading home.”
Isabel held her breath waiting for him to mention the mall. “Hmm. I had lunch with Valerie at the Crab Shack at the mall.” She hoped that would elicit him mentioning his own stop at the mall.
“God that sounds good. I haven’t even had a chance to eat.”
Now she was mad. “So you were no where else today? Except for the places you mentioned.”
He was quiet for a moment and she knew her tone had taken him by surprise. “Yes.”
“I saw you, Romero. Just now—at the mall. Why are you lying to me?”
She heard him exhale. “Babe, we gotta talk.”
She had no idea what he could possibly have to tell her now but it was enough to garner an incredibly annoying lump in her throat. “You’re damn right we do.”
He must’ve heard the strain in her voice. “I know what you’re thinking, babe but…you know what? Fuck the pictures, I’m going straight home. Meet me there. There’s something I gotta tell you.”
Even after she’d hung with him, the lump remained in her throat. She’d been through too much this week. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
CHAPTER 26
BIG mistake
This was not how Romero planned on breaking the news to Isabel about Charles. He didn’t even have all the facts yet. It had started out of sheer curiosity. He’d come to realize through his line of work, that there were two types of people when it came to cheating spouses. The ones who demanded to know the truth and would end things accordingly when they got it, and those who chose to look the other way, living blissfully in ignorance as long as their perfect lives remained unscathed on the surface.
He figured she was so unlike Isabel, Pat most likely preferred blissful ignorance. In that case, there was no point in trying to enlighten her with the truth. She probably already knew or at the very least suspected. But things were beginning to take an unsettling turn.
At first, he’d done this for his own personal guilty pleasure. It’d be nice to have one up on stupid Pat, knowing her life wasn’t as perfect as she liked everyone to think. The very reason why he hadn’t planned on telling Isabel. But now he wouldn’t feel right keeping what he knew to himself. He just wished he could’ve waited until he knew everything before having to tell Isabel.
He got to the apartment before she did. He was just putting his wallet and keys on the counter when the door opened behind me.
“Okay, just tell me. Why were you at the mall? Why did you lie to me?”
Romero turned and walked to her, surprised that she looked ready to cry. “Babe, relax. I wasn’t there to see Cici. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Then why were you there?”
He took her by the hand and led her to the sofa in the front room. “I was there to see a friend who works security at the mall.”
He backed up and told her about seeing Charles with another woman at the birthday party, then about the bank accounts. “My friend at the mall and I go way back to when we were both working bouncer gigs at clubs. He’s now head of security at the mall. But he does some stuff on the side.” He hesitated to tell her the next part because he knew her family must’ve fed plenty of shit to her about the kind of person he must be. “He used to hack into computers back in the day, and though he doesn’t do it so much anymore, I can still count on him to do things for me here and there.” Isabel stared at him, her eyes wide, but at least she didn’t look upset anymore—not at him anyway.
“If I’m right, Charles is having an affair, babe. It’s with a woman in Miami. And he’s been embezzling money from your dad’s campaign and transferring it to her account.”
Both of Isabel’s hands were over her mouth now. “You know this for sure?”
“I know for sure he’s been taking money from the campaign account and putting it into hers. And I know he stays with her whenever he’s in Miami. What I don’t know is what he’s planning on doing with all that money and if she’s actually someone he’s having an affair with or just an accomplice, but it looks bad. I don’t know if your sister knows about this either.”
“Of course she doesn’t.”
“Well.” Romero didn’t want to sound condescending but it was hard to believe she was completely clueless. Charles hadn’t exactly covered his tracks too well. “You never know, but his other girl knows about Pat. She’s been giving him a hard time lately, which is the reason why I think he may be considering making some kind of move. I’m just not sure what, but I think that’s what the money is for.”
Isabel started to get up. “I have to tell her.”
Romero reached for her hand. “No, Izzy, not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s still not clear-cut what t
his relationship with this girl is. It looks likes she might also be married, but there’s something weird about it. I’m still checking things out. Although that doesn’t mean anything. She could be having an affair herself. But he could still say she’s just be an assistant. He has several. And the whole transferring money to her account he could probably come up with something relating back to the campaign and just deny the whole damn thing.”
“But—”
He squeezed her hand gently. “What do you think your family is gonna say when you tell them I’m the one making these accusations? Without proof whose word do you think they’ll take?”
She stared at him, taking a deep breath.
“Just wait. I should know this coming week. My friend at the mall is gonna… look into his computer and see if he can get some personal stuff between Charles and this woman. And I’ve made a few other calls. I should be hearing from them soon, too.”
Isabel shook her head. “How am I supposed to face this lying bastard tomorrow without slapping him?”
Romero laughed. “Just think of what your sister will do to him when she finds out. He’ll get what’s coming to him. Don’t worry.”
Isabel leaned in slowly. “I’m sorry I was thinking the worst about you.”
Romero lay back pulling her onto him. “No. I’m sorry I kept anything from you. I just wanted to have everything down before I told you.” He kissed her. “I told you, you have nothing to worry about. But I get why you might’ve jumped the gun this time. I probably would’ve myself.” He chuckled. “Only I wouldn’t have handled it quite as calmly as you did.”
“No, you handled hearing about me going to see Michael just fine. I was proud of you.”
Romero Page 26
