by AJ Adams
Solitaire shrugged and let him poke and prod without comment. He’s very thorough, so I wasn’t surprised when he gave her a full physical. Bautista was educated in Mexico and Spain, but he gets lots of American clients looking to avoid being gouged by their doctors, so his English is excellent. I half listened as they talked and got on with my own thing.
I’d told the nurse to send in someone from the blood bank, because I’d promised Kyle to donate every time I visit. With the job being what it is, I’m there often, and I’m never sure what they’re taking – whole blood, plasma or whatever – so I stick out an arm and let them take what they think best.
Donating blood is not my thing, but as Bautista and his people saved Chloe’s life a few months ago, it’s a small thing to ask in return. As for the MRI machine, it’s already been useful to three of my people, so that’s as much a present to my own organisation as it is a public service.
Mind you, considering they charge their customers a fee for the free blood I give them, I make damn sure the bastards don’t charge me when I want to use the MRI clinic. I’m telling you, hospitals pose like the good guys, but they’re as crooked as the day is long.
Bautista was finishing up just as the nurse switched off the tap in my arm. “Except for some bruises you’re physically fine,” he said gently to Solitaire. “Tell me about the memory loss.”
“Lost the lot and got a bit back,” she shrugged. “I can live without it.”
Bautista tried to argue, but when she got him to admit that medical science had nothing to offer except for the advice to wait for it to come back, she cut him off.
“I know you mean well, but I’m not interested,” Solitaire explained. “I just want a prescription for my contraceptive. I’m on my last pack.”
“How about we book you into the clinic for a few days for observation?” Bautista said smoothly.
I could see she didn’t like the idea. “Why?” she frowned.
“You’ve been through a lot,” he replied surprised. “Don’t you want to talk to someone?”
He was looking at her meaningfully and glanced at me. It was not a loving look; Solitaire had two thin blue stripes on her butt, courtesy of my flogger, and Bautista had drawn his own conclusions. He probably thought I’d electrocuted her on purpose, too. Not surprising really; it’s not like I haven’t used a cattle prod on occasion.
It took Solitaire a second to see his implication. Then her eyes narrowed. “I think we’ll stick at the prescription. If I want to talk, I’ve got Arturo.”
“What?” Bautista said surprised.
Her voice was ice. “I said I’ll talk to the man who’s just donated blood. The same one you thanked so nicely for your MRI machine.”
Bautista was rocked, but after looking at her, he shrugged. “All right. If that’s what you want.”
Solitaire was quiet on the ride home, and as I had a string of incoming calls, we didn’t talk. The sun was going down as we went through the gates, and the house was drenched in red-gold light. I was planning to drag Solitaire off into the dungeon for a fuck, but then I spotted Kyle’s Blackbird in the drive. Chloe doesn’t like me, so Kyle usually comes alone, but this time he’d brought her with him.
When we walked onto the back terrace to say hello, Chloe jumped up, ran over, gave me an evil look, and took Solitaire by the hand. “Are you all right?” she asked. “Has he hurt you?”
Solitaire snatched back her hand. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she cried. “Of course he hasn’t!”
Then she turned to me. “First Luis, then Bautista and now this black-haired bint!” she snarled. “Seriously, Arturo, why do you put up with these arseholes who only think the worst of you?”
“Hey!” Chloe asked amazed. “You like Arturo?”
“He’s thoughtful, intelligent, fun, and he has a generous spirit,” Solitaire snapped. “What’s not to like?”
Chloe stood there with her mouth open, and I have to admit I was the same. A girl liking me for myself? It was a first.
Chapter Sixteen: Solitaire
On that first day it really pissed me off the way people acted around Arturo. His men were comfortable around him, and Luz liked him enormously, but everyone else acted like he was a cross between Caligula and Freddie Kruger. I mean, yes, he’s a cartel boss, but it was clear he wasn’t a maniac. Far from it.
I saw Arturo as an employer who paid his house and garden staff generous salaries complete with health benefits. The books showed extra payments for perks like school textbooks for their kids, and braces, too. From what Luz said, office staff got the same deal. He’d also funded an MRI clinic, and he donated blood. I mean seriously, who would have thought it?
What bugged me even more was that Arturo was hurt but didn’t show it. He acted cool, pretending not to see Luis’ fear, smiling ironically at Bautista’s suspicion that he had abused me, and just shrugging at Chloe’s accusation.
“We didn’t meet under good circumstances,” he explained.
We were in the bedroom, looking for something he’d bought in London for Chloe, for heaven’s sake. “What happened?” I asked him.
Arturo shrugged. “Oh, it’s all in the past. Come on, they’re waiting.”
He was hiding something, but I didn’t push it. There was no point, because I was certain Chloe would tell me. She didn’t like him, so she’d be happy to tell me something bad about Arturo. I knew it had to be bad, or he wouldn’t be trying to keep it from me.
I can be patient, so I smiled, covered the blue marks on my bum with a batik wrap that had cost a small fortune and followed him downstairs.
Kyle and Chloe were quite a strange couple, with him being silent and larger than life and her being a gabby, scrawny little thing. They were sitting on the back terrace, and by the way they’d made themselves at home, they were obviously regular visitors. Kyle waved at a box of wine. “We brought you some local sherry.”
“That’s really sweet. Thank you!”
“And I got you something in London,” Arturo said to Chloe.
When she opened the package we all looked on. Seeing we’d bought a gazillion accessories, I thought it would be a top or a scarf. What she got was a velvet collar with a bell and what looked like a dildo and three tubes of lube.
I thought Arturo would get a smack in the snoot, but Chloe was smiling. “A Kong with liver, beef and chicken spread? And a collar that matches his eyes? Raoul will love it. Thanks!”
So she was a cat person.
Kyle was grinning. “I thought it was a pocket rocket.”
Chloe poked him playfully in the ribs. “Right, with chicken flavoured lube!”
We had drinks and sat about making some awkward small talk. Really, torturous small talk. It was obvious Chloe and Arturo didn’t like each other, but they were being polite because of Kyle.
He watched them and then cut through the descriptions of the London shops. “Chloe and I are getting hitched.”
Arturo was smiling. “Congratulations! This deserves champagne!”
Chloe had been drinking coke, but at this point she switched and had some bubbles. She listened to Arturo tell Kyle he was a lucky man and then grinned. “You sound like you mean that, Arturo.”
“I do,” Arturo said surprised. “Kyle is crazy about you, and you’re crazy about him. What’s not to like?”
I saw he was telling the truth. He was happy for Kyle, but it also meant a change in their relationship. Although he and Kyle were tight, and I was certain that would never change, in a way Chloe would now be first. A wife trumps a brother. But Arturo is generous, and he was careful not to let it show. God knows how I knew, but I did.
“Ever since Raoul stayed with you, he’s become a gourmet,” Chloe said.
It sounded like a non sequitur, but Arturo smiled, a real smile this time. “He ate with me,” he explained.
“He refuses to eat cat food, not even that gourmet tuna with the gravy.”
“After we had barbecued tuna, h
e went off the cat version.”
“And I guess then it was you who taught him to eat his dinner on the table instead of on the floor?”
“Told you it wasn’t me,” Kyle teased.
“He was lonely,” Arturo explained. “He refused his dinner on the first night, so I gave him some of my fish on a side plate. After that, he saw it as a tradition.”
“I would have thought you’d be the perfect disciplinarian,” Chloe said. “Who would have guessed you’re such a pushover?”
“Raoul has his own way of making a point. When I took a call instead of refreshing his water glass, he pushed it off the table. I spent an hour picking shards out of the rug.”
“He trashes my dahlias,” Chloe giggled. “I can have roses, marguerites, and carnations but not dahlias.”
And then they were talking, really talking.
Kyle picked up the bottle and topped up my glass. “It’s amazing what a cat can do.” He was smiling. “I hear you had an interesting first day.”
“Just settling in.”
“And laying out not one but two of Oscar’s satellites.”
“Hmmm, listen, I need a self-defence teacher. Luz and the girls need classes. Can you recommend someone?” Something flared in my mind. “Someone who does Krav Maga.” That came out of nowhere.
Kyle was looking me over. I no longer thought he was the devil incarnate, but he did have an uncanny knack of knowing what I was thinking. “Another piece falling into place?”
“Hmmm.”
Kyle didn’t push it. “I can put something together that’s the same.”
“That will do. We’ve got a budget.”
“No way. We’ve got plenty of people with too little to do. I’ll set up a roster.”
Kyle’s phone buzzed and, by the way he upped and disappeared, I guessed it was business. I sat back and listened to Chloe and Arturo who were nose to nose, talking rather seriously now.
“I don’t have a soul except for Pepper,” Chloe was saying. “So basically it’s one chair for my side, and the rest is for Kyle’s friends and family.”
“I don’t want to depress you,” Arturo grinned, “but at the end of the ceremony, we’ll all be family.”
Chloe was laughing. “True, but that’s not really what I meant. I know that your family go in big for the American experience with the engagement party, cake tasting outings, rehearsal dinners and so on, but I’m not big on the idea.”
“So don’t do it. It’s your wedding, nobody else’s.”
“I don’t want to piss anyone off.”
“Nothing you do will piss anyone off,” Arturo assured her.
“No bridesmaids organising ten thousand breakfasts, lunches and dinners? No agonising over place settings and flowers? No hysterics about dresses? You really think Tina, Amelia and everyone else will let me get away with a simple come-as-you-are no-rehearsal no-fuss wedding?”
“I’ll talk to them.”
“Jesus, Arturo, how guilty do you feel?” Chloe exclaimed. “For God’s sake, forget it! I forgive you.”
First Arturo was really taken aback, and then he was smiling. “Really?”
“Seeing Raoul gives you four paws up, yes.”
Arturo picked up the champagne. “That deserves another drink.”
Chloe was glowing. “Yeah, maybe it will help you figure out a way to tell Loli I’m not having flower girls, either, so I won’t need Carmencita.”
Arturo winced. “No flower girls?”
“Nope.”
Arturo manned up. “She’ll get over it.”
I almost laughed out loud at seeing Arturo’s face, and Chloe was giggling. “Arturo, I’m teasing! There will be no pre-parties or fuss, but I’ll wear a dress and we’ll have flower girls.”
“Thank God!”
“But we’re not having it at the cathedral.” Seeing Arturo was seriously taken aback, Chloe rushed on. “You had to miss the last two weddings because of security, and Kyle wants you there. You’re his brother, and he needs you as his best man.”
“But Chloe, what about walking down the aisle? The archbishop’s blessing? It’s a package you only get once in your life and only if you go there.”
“Neither of us is religious,” Chloe shrugged. “And I’m not exactly the aisle-walking type. As far as I’m concerned, I’m Kyle’s girl already.” She gave him a sunny smile. “We can have it here.”
Arturo was speechless, and I couldn’t figure out if it was horror at being sicked with a nightmare function or surprise at Chloe’s unusual take on weddings.
Kyle came back, carrying a second bottle of champagne and a large carrier bag. “Seeing you’ve become friends, I thought we’d make a night of it.” He opened the carrier bag. “We picked up sausages at the market. Chorizo and morcilla.”
I was dying to hear the rest of the conversation, but I heard my cue. “I’ll make a salad.”
Arturo surfaced briefly from horrorland. “Sirena, Luz will do it.”
“She went early. She had things to do in town.”
“I’ll help,” Chloe got up and then turned to Arturo. “Oh, and I was teasing about having the wedding here. We’re having it at our place.”
Seeing Arturo look relieved, Kyle began laughing. “Chloe threatened you with hosting our wedding?”
“Couldn’t resist,” Chloe giggled.
We left Kyle and Arturo, and five minutes later Chloe was expertly putting together a salad while telling me how she’d met Arturo.
“So you see,” she concluded, “we’ve been a bit careful around each other.”
“Yes, I do see.”
Chloe was looking me over. “You’re a cool one. Most people think it’s pretty shitty.”
“He thought you’d been fucking with him. He can’t let people get away with that.”
“Jesus, you’re a hard one! And to think I was worried about you.”
I liked Chloe. She was a strange girl, but she had a lot of heart. “You would have forgiven Arturo even without Raoul’s endorsement.”
Chloe took away a purple onion I was slicing. “You’re making a mess of that. Leave it to me.” It looked like I was destined not to handle anything in the kitchen.
“I hated Arturo,” Chloe admitted. “But Kyle loves him. And you know, Arturo’s a complete and utter bastard on many levels, but if he likes you, then nothing’s too good for you. When I was in hospital a few months ago, he really was wonderful with Raoul.”
Chloe really knew her way around a chopping board. While she talked, she made a salad of lettuce leaves, cherry tomatoes, black olives and cucumber slices carved into rosettes. Then she whipped up a dressing of minced onion, herbs, lemon juice and olive oil. A few slices created cherry tomato roses and spring onion flowers that decorated the top and sides of the dish.
“Are you a chef?” I asked her.
“Not really,” Chloe said vaguely. She rummaged in the freezer, produced some frozen baguettes and began assembling some garlic butter. “So, you lost your memory?”
“It’s coming back.”
Chloe looked up and grinned at me. “Did I hear you say, ‘Fuck off and mind your own business?’”
I decided I liked her. “It’s just that you’re the tenth person today to ask.”
“Yeah, well, this place is gossip central. The pack are telling everyone about the English Xena who doesn’t know who she is but who slaps down anyone who crosses her, including the jefe.”
“Ah.”
“Kyle never said a word, but Quique and Chema were round this morning, and they can’t resist my pancakes. I heard about the copper who slapped you.”
“Hmmm.”
“And I heard about the debrief.”
Chloe had her eyes on the garlic press, but I heard the quaver in her voice. She must have known what sort of work Kyle did for his brother, but I could see she didn’t want to admit to it – even to herself.
Chloe was wearing jeans and a long sleeved blouse, which was rather odd in
this climate. Almost everyone, including the office staff, wore short sleeves. I’d spotted some red and white marks around Chloe’s wrists, and she had old burns on the back of her hands.
I had the feeling that Chloe had her own secrets, but I didn’t want to pry. She’d heard the gossip and had come running to help. As we were total strangers, I appreciated it. She’d also forgiven Arturo. This girl had a generous heart.
“Kyle was very sweet to me,” I said carefully. “Davis accused me of being a snitch, and Kyle not only cleared me, but he helped me get back some of my past.”
Chloe gave a small sigh of relief. “I’m glad,” she said simply. “Kyle never talks about work, but I know he was seething about the way you’ve been treated. And Chema and Quique were furious when they heard what Escamilla had done to you, and now they think Davis ought to be shot.”
It was good to hear. It would be nice to have some friends.
“They said you liked Arturo, but I didn’t believe them,” Chloe said apologetically. “I thought they were protecting me.”
It was an odd thing to say, but I’d seen those marks. “Because you’ve been through the mill yourself?”
Chloe’s eyes were fixed firmly on the butter again. “Hmmm.”
For a moment I blessed that frayed cable. The very little I remembered of Escamilla made me shiver; I hoped fervently the rest of those times were erased forever. By the tense way Chloe was beating the garlic into the butter, I knew she was expecting me to ask questions about a time she wanted to forget.
“Well, you’ve no reason to worry,” I said cheerfully. “I’m very happy to be here.”
Chloe looked up. “I’d say that was the shock talking, but I don’t want to be called a black-haired bint again.”
“Sorry about that.”
“I’ve been called worse.” Chloe was smiling. “Shall we rejoin the boys?”
“Sure.”
Arturo and Kyle were lighting a barbecue and had switched to beer. Unlike earlier, the conversation flowed well.
