by AJ Adams
“Because the one thing those cowboys will buy are fancy boots. And there’s always a market for a clean shirt!”
You know, I got so into it that I forgot who I was talking to. Luckily, the jefe loved it.
“We’ll talk next week, but I want you to get this going. Work with Rafa and Chumillo. They’re younger, but this is their field, so learn from them.”
“Sí jefe!” It was a relief. Those two are the best, college graduates both of them, and I’d die if I had to do this myself. “It’ll be a pleasure.”
“You’ll need to talk to Kyle about delegating some of your security work,” the jefe went on. “We’ll restructure your responsibilities and compensation to reflect your promotion next month, okay?”
Promotion. And I thought I couldn’t go higher. “Sí jefe.”
“You’ll still rank under Kyle but you’ll get a percentage of the new project.”
Holy fucking Christ! A percentage of thirty million? I was suddenly a business tycoon? “Sí jefe.”
I sat there, wondering at this amazing turn of events and blessing the bruja. Without her, I wouldn’t be here, making this fucking fantastic new venture.
“Quique,” the jefe was looking serious, “about the other thing.”
First rule: never let friends beg for favours.
“Antonio,” I said, “and Tina.”
Actually, that didn’t bother me anymore. All the rage had burned out of me. Also, Tina had kept her mouth shut, and now I was climbing even higher, she’d not dare speak. Antonio would have to shut his yap, too. If he didn’t, he’d be questioning the jefe’s trust in me. That would get him iced dead quick, second cousin or not. There are limits, you know?
“Jefe, I’m divorcing Tina. As long as Antonio looks after her properly, I’ll forgive him.”
The jefe let out a sigh of relief. “And Tina? Do you forgive her?”
I just looked at him. “Jefe, come on! I fucked around, too.”
That got me a hug. “Quique, you’re a man after my own heart! It takes real huevos to see it that way.”
When we walked out to the party, everyone was waiting and wondering what we’d been up to.
Natalia was sitting with Solitaire, Chloe and Juanita, all of them giggling, having a good time. My bruja was fitting in as she always did.
I was savouring my success privately, but the jefe was determined to bring about a peace.
“Everyone, I want to make a short announcement! We’re starting a new project, revitalising the town. It’s inspired by Quique, and so he’ll be managing it.”
There was a dead silence, and then everyone was roaring with congratulations.
“Quique, love!” Natalia was hugging me. “You’re going to be brilliant, I know it.”
I wanted to tell her I loved her, but then I caught a glimpse of Antonio and Tina. They were standing by the pool, a little away from everyone. Antonio was white with shock, which was immensely satisfying. I’d won, and he knew it. His own cousin was sending the message that it was game over. It was so public that Antonio could only do one thing: roll over and give in.
Tina looking horrified, however, hurt me.
Natalia looked into my eyes, checked over her shoulder, spotted Tina and gave me a nudge. “Go fix it, love,” she whispered. “Do what’s in your heart.”
I’m a complete pendejo, really I am. It didn’t sink in what Natalia meant. I just went over and spoke to Tina. “Hey, I wasn’t expecting to see you.” I kissed her in a distant, friendly way. “You look beautiful as always.”
Antonio was standing next to her, devastated, dying to kill me and knowing he couldn’t.
I nodded at him. “Hey.”
“Congratulations.” He was growling, almost visibly gnashing his teeth.
“Thanks, I need to talk to Tina a minute.”
He had no choice but to march off. I looked at Tina, seeing the sulkiness in her eyes. She’d give him hell later for not standing up to me. All her life in the cartel, and she still didn’t know how things worked. It made me sad for her.
“Tina, sign the papers tomorrow.”
“Maybe.”
“Not maybe. Do it. And then take Antonio for a long holiday.”
“Why? Can’t face having him around?”
“Chica, it’s his balls being squeezed, not mine. Didn’t you hear the jefe?”
“Yeah. You’re going to do some business. A shopping centre.”
“It’s a thirty million dollar deal.”
I saw the knowledge dawn in her eyes.
“That’s why he thinks I’ll leave him,” she whispered. “Ohmigod, poor Antonio!”
Funny that. I could see she loved the dumbass, and it didn’t bother me. “Tina, go be with him. Be happy.”
She was astonished. “You mean that?”
“Of course I want you to be happy.” I meant it, too. “But are you sure he’s the right man?”
“He’s not clever like you.” Tina said quietly, “but he thinks I’m perfect just as I am.”
What can you say, right?
“He just wants me to be who I am!” Tina burst out. “He doesn’t mind that I don’t work, and he loves doing nothing or going shopping. He just wants to have a good time!”
Antonio sounded like a lazy waste of space, but it was clear Tina had found her soulmate. “Well, just make sure he looks after you.”
Tina looked up at me and gasped, “Yes, okay.”
I could see Natalia get up and help the jefe barbecue. The two of them were nose to nose, tasting and mixing a glaze. Another hour, and they’d be best of friends.
“Cousin Arturo said you might kill Antonio if he didn’t shut up.” Tina whispered. “It was just like you said, Quique. He said you were an important asset but I had no idea—thirty million, ohmigod.” She swallowed nervously. “I said things I didn’t mean.”
I saw the anxious eyes and the twisting hands, and it finally dawned on me that Tina was scared of me. Of me, for God’s sake! It went straight to my heart. “We both fucked up.”
“Antonio gets so jealous of you!” Tina burst out. “He thinks I want to go back to you, and it makes him say crazy things. Please, Quique, don’t kill him! Tell me what to do.”
Poor Tina. “Go on holiday. Start fresh when you get back.”
“We want to live in Miami, but Antonio can’t get it done!”
It was a heaven-sent cry for help. “Don't worry, guapa. I’ll arrange it.”
“Really?” Tina was weeping with relief. “If I can get him away from here, I know we’ll be okay. We don’t need much. Any job will do! And I swear we’ll never come back, Quique. And we’ll sing your praises, honest to God!”
I’d won. Tina had seen her own cousin turn from her to me, and it had scared her silly. She’d never talk about us, not ever. Better still, I’d send Antonio to Miami, the boss would do it in a heartbeat, and everyone would be relieved. I had my life back, and my rep was better than ever.
“I’ll send you to Miami,” I told Tina. “I start arranging it the second you sign those divorce papers.”
“I’ll do it first thing!” Tina was hugging me. “Thank you so much! I’m sorry for being a bitch!”
I looked over at the barbecue. Chloe was joining Natalia and the jefe, the three of them stirring and adding pinches of spice, three chefs having a gourmet blast.
Tina was blabbing with relief. “And for the things I said. I didn’t mean it, really I didn’t. I shamed you out of guilt. I don’t know what got into me.”
While Tina was going on and on, I could see Natalia look in our direction. It was just a glance, and then she looked away. I suddenly remembered what she’d said and realised she might be thinking I wanted Tina. If so, me standing here with Tina hanging onto me—I realised I had to go.
“So you see,” Tina was still talking, “I just said the meanest thing I could think of. Just to hurt you. I’m so sorry, Quique! I guess I was just crazy from guilt.”
Yes, people
were looking our way. They were thinking Tina and I were making up, like we had so often before. My poor Natalia was pretending she didn’t care, but I saw her shoulders were stiff with tension. She had told me to follow my heart, the silly generous woman that she was, and she was totally prepared to be publicly ditched. I had to get back to her.
“Please!” Tina was saying. “Say you forgive me? Please?”
I took her by the hand. “Of course I do! We’re divorcing. It doesn’t mean we hate each other.” I spotted Antonio at the beer bar, downing a Dos Equis with savage gulps, and I knew what to do. “Come on, Tina.”
I walked her over, and as everyone was watching, I made it good. I counted to three, and when the fucker started to sweat, certain I was taking her back, I pushed Tina into his arms, saying loudly, “Antonio, you bastard, look after Tina, or I’ll kick your ass!”
There was a second’s silence, and then the jefe was roaring, “Well done! We’re a family again!”
Everyone cheered, and I was the man of the hour.
“Well done,” the boss was smiling. “Very nice, Quique. Good job on all fronts.”
“Boss, I need to find a job for Antonio in Miami. One he can’t fuck up.”
“Miami, can do, but I’m not sure if we have anything that’s idiot-proof.” The grey eyes were warm. “Fuck me, but I’ll be happy to see the back of him!”
The jefe was happy, too. He was standing with an arm around Natalia, doing miraculous things to steak. “I’m just telling your bruja that we should set up a catering company. We’ve not got anyone really good here. We've got christenings, birthdays and anniversary parties galore, and there's practically no local service. It would go over big with golf and corporate parties, too.”
“It sounds perfect!” Natalia is a winner all by herself, but with the jefe on her side, she was well on her way to making her fortune. I gave her a hug, exclaiming, “I want two per cent off the top—payable in food!”
I was just joshing, but with everything working out, everyone was laughing and the party really took off. We ate, we drank and then we danced under the stars. With everyone wanting to congratulate me, and with catching up on gossip with the people I hadn't seen yet, it was a while before I could steal away.
I found Natalia sitting with Chloe, the boss’ girl. “We’re having a home wedding,” Chloe said sagely. “The thing is, Nats, the caterer had to leave town suddenly.”
“Ah, wandering hands?”
“Yes, the crazy fuck got his arse kicked, which is as it should be,” Chloe looks fragile with her big blue eyes and little bones, but she’s as tough as the boss, “but it means we’re tying the knot a month from now, and all I have is chips and dip.”
"What are you looking for? Chicken à la King and salmon?"
"Well, if you like, but I'm not much for fancy food."
“I can make you a slap-up English buffet.”
“Sausage rolls, pork pie and bubble and squeak? Yes!” Chloe cried.
So when I took Natalia to dance, she was floating. “I like these people,” she murmured. “I feel like I belong.”
“You do. They love you.”
The warm rich breasts and hips were pressed against mine. She smelled of honey and herbs, rich and sweet.
“Are you okay with Tina?”
My girl is always thinking of others.
“Yes, I’m finally free.”
I spoke at random, but the second I said it, I realised how it sounded. I came off like a man who was happy to be a bachelor—permanently. For a moment I was paralysed, and then I knew it was the best thing. I couldn’t give Natalia the life she wanted. It would be selfish to ask her to marry me.
“I’ve found someone to rent my flat, and I’ll be starting a business,” Natalia was speaking calmly, sensibly. “I should be standing on my own feet soon.”
“I’m happy for you, corazon.”
The words came automatically. I daren’t look in her eyes in case I broke down.
“And I’m happy for you.”
She spoke just as distantly as I had. She didn’t look me in the eyes, either.
It was hell, but it was the best thing, I told myself. So we danced on, and I learned the truth of the old adage: without love, success tastes like ashes.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Natalia
“I’m free,” Quique said with a big grin, and while I was elated for him, knowing he didn’t want me broke my heart. Of course, I didn’t let him know. I went on with my work and focused on building a new life.
One thing that made it easier was that Quique disappeared the day after the party.
“Corazon, I need to go to Tijuana and then to LA. Business. I’ll be four days, maybe five.”
I wanted to throw myself around his neck, crying, “Don’t leave me!” but I smiled and said, “I have a pile of work thanks to your jefa and Chloe.”
Quique knew what I was feeling anyway. “I shouldn’t leave you,” he said. “You’re still down, bruja.”
“Pooh! Go get started on that thirty million dollar deal.”
He couldn’t help it; he was grinning, totally pumped at the thought of the job to come, but as always, his protective streak was kicking in big time.
“We talk every day,” he said. “Every morning and every evening.”
“You’ll be busy, love.”
“Never too busy for you.”
He meant it, and hardening my heart just wasn’t an option. I was melting in his arms.
“Don’t do anything drastic,” Quique said seriously. “We need to talk, right? To sort something out? Don’t disappear, and don’t make any big decisions till I get back. Promise!”
“Of course not.” I got a hug, and the feel of those warm, strong muscles wrapped comfortingly around me almost made me watery-eyed. “I’ll be sensible, Quique.”
And sensible I was. But also heartbroken. I understood that Quique was feeling relieved after getting out of a bad marriage and that he didn’t want to jump straight into another one, but it hurt. I’d found the perfect man at a very imperfect time.
I was so miserable that I wept the second he went off, that night in bed alone and the next morning, but by the time Beatrice arrived, I had it under control. At least my collywobbles stopped. Actually, I felt better physically than I had in a fortnight. It was small mercies compared to the pain in my heart, but I sweated through that by working.
I cooked for Solitaire’s picky film crew, caught up with the two Marias who came to collect it, and then Chloe arrived to talk about a menu for her wedding.
“How about sausage rolls, steak and kidney pie and quiche for the buffet?” I asked. “For the rest, we can do steak and salmon to order on the grill.”
“Awesome,” Chloe grinned. “Any vegetables or are we canivoring it?”
I must say, she was the most relaxed bride I’d ever seen. Beyond demanding sausage rolls and pork pie, she’d agreed to everything I suggested, saying, “All I care about is Kyle, and all he wants is a steak. The pack will eat whatever you give them.”
“Quique,” even saying his name made me wince, “says he knows a man who will do a roast goat, traditional style.”
“Sounds good,” Chloe said easily. “Look, don’t take this wrong, but you know he loves you, right?”
“Sure.” It was like being punched in the gut. “Of course he does.”
“Then make your move.”
“You don’t understand. Quique’s not even out of his marriage yet. It takes time, you know.”
“Quique’s marriage fell apart two years ago. He’s well over it. Also, Kyle says his paperwork will be approved by the end of today.”
I ignored Chloe, but that evening Juanita came round for a drink.
“Don’t disappear,” she urged me. “Quique needs you.”
Chucho popped by to collect her and managed to sneak in, “Quique has never been happier or more relaxed.”
Estrella, visiting the next day for coffee: “We’re all so happy he
found you.”
Rosa, mid-morning, begged to learn to make lasagne. “I’ve never seen him more comfortable and smiling.”
Then Gordo came by—“just to make sure you’re okay”—and instantly launched into a speech, saying, “Quique’s got a bug up his ass about something, but he’ll figure it out. He loves you, though, never doubt it.”
None of them were divorced, so I ignored their advice. But their support did make me feel good. The Zetas were sweet, and if things in London went permanently pear-shaped, I could be happy in Mexico. Despite everything, that was a relief.
I worked hard, cooking till late and getting up at the crack of dawn, and on the fourth day, I had filled two freezers with food. It would cover the film crew for a fortnight, and so I had time to prepare for Chloe's wedding.
I was considering taking a break when the phone rang.
“Nats!” It was Millie, crying.
For a second my heart dropped through my stomach. “Oh no! Oh, Millie!”
“Bobby’s awake! And making sense!”
“Oh thank God and all the saints in heaven!” Then I was weeping, too, and going totally weak at the knees. “Oh, Millie, who did it? Who hit him?”
“He doesn’t remember,” Millie was laughing, “but he told Smith that it was a black man in a hoodie. So you’re in the clear!”
I pretended to be pleased. I didn’t want to ruin the first happy moment she’d had in weeks, but I was secretly gutted. Bobby's lie fixed some legal issues, but this way I’d never clear my name. A shadow would always follow me. “He’ll remember later, right?”
“The doctor says probably not,” Millie confided, “but he’s so much better, he can come home already!”
I congratulated her, and two seconds later my phone was flooded with messages.
Come home, from Roger.
Stay away till Smith cancels the arrest warrant—that was sensible Suzie.
We’re having a party, from Delicia. Come back, please, Nats?
I’m on my way to tell Frank, from Scott.
Quique was on the line before I could reply to any of them. “Natalia,” oh that loving growly voice, “I heard, and I’m on my way back.”
“But your meetings! You’re not done!”
