by Piper Stone
“You’re one scary man, Santiago.”
I knew my friend was giving me a compliment.
After turning over the engine, I took one last look at the building. While I couldn’t care less about whatever notations Carlos had dared to keep on my father as well as other wealthy clients, the last thing I wanted was to have a member of law enforcement asking questions. However, what was about to occur could send a message to Perez.
I’d driven just a few blocks when I was able to see flames already erupting from the roof. At least I’d accomplished one goal since my arrival.
I could tell by the look on Samuel’s face that he didn’t approve of my plans. He would need to get used to them. “Just say what’s on your mind, Samuel.” I gave him a hard look after making the statement.
“I don’t like that you’re considering this, Santiago. Not only do you have almost no chance of success, but you’re not a killer,” he insisted before refilling his drink then walking to his office window. “Perez is very powerful, more so than you have any idea about. He’s had dozens of men killed over the last few years just for pissing him off. You’re riding on thin ice as it is by returning home.”
“I don’t scare that easily and you of all people should realize I know exactly what he’s capable of. Remember that I was the one who found my father and brother that night. I was the one who was threatened by Perez himself, the bastard laughing in my face as he gloated over what he’d ordered his men to do.” I sucked in my breath, trying to control my anger.
A few seconds passed, the tension in the room overwhelming.
“Maybe you should be afraid of the fact he will make good on the threat he issued that horrible night. Did you ever think about that? Don’t be hardheaded like your father. He was stupid, irresponsible in his actions after…” He turned away, shaking his head.
“You mean after my mother was murdered. You’re right. My father was hurting, Samuel. Isn’t that something you remember or care about?” I’d raised my voice, anger altering the tone. Huffing, I looked away, but not before catching a glimpse of the man’s face out of the corner of my eye.
I could tell how much stress he was under, which surprised me. The man had always maintained a frosty persona, never allowing anyone to know when he was bothered. At least from what he’d told me over the years, Perez hadn’t bothered him. Maybe there were some things he hadn’t shared with me.
“Of course I cared about your father. He was my best friend, for God’s sake. He was my only son’s godfather. And your mother… God, that woman was one special lady. I knew exactly how much losing her hurt him. I spent hours with him in an attempt to keep him from shoving the barrel of a gun in his mouth. Don’t you dare tell me that I don’t care. Ever.”
The tension remained thick. “Then have some respect.”
“I could say the exact same thing about you. Your father worked his entire life to make certain you didn’t have to live in his world. He wanted you to thrive, never to be burdened by the business that was his decision to enter into. The burden was placed on your brother. I just don’t understand.” He muttered under his breath as he looked away.
“My father never asked what I wanted.”
He closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. “Because your mother asked him to leave you out of the business. Did you know that?”
Another pang of sorrow sliced through me like a sharp knife. “No, I didn’t know that.”
“Well, she made it clear to your father that you were too… special.”
Special. I was a kid longing for my father’s attention.
“As I mentioned to you earlier, Samuel, this is important to me.”
“It’s a fucking piece of jewelry,” he huffed as he shot me a look. I knew he could tell instantly that he was pushing the boundaries between us.
“As I said. It’s important.” I didn’t want to argue with him any further. There was no point.
Diego appeared uncomfortable, nursing his drink as he waited for the meeting to be over with.
“All right. You do so at your own peril.” Samuel waved his hand as if dismissing me. “All I can do is pray to God that you don’t get yourself killed. I don’t want that. I would never want that for you. You meant the world to your parents.”
I’d never seen Samuel this emotional before. While surprised, I couldn’t allow it to bother me.
“I will ask you this. Are you still dragging the girl into your scheme? That is what you’re doing, right?” His tone continued to be one of admonishment.
“She’s being well paid for her services. I will do everything in my power to protect her.”
“What if that’s not good enough? Did you ever stop to think about what could happen to her? She could wind up dead or in prison. There’s no possible chance the outcome will be a good one. Is that something you want on your conscience?”
“While I appreciate your concern, she will never be in any danger.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I think you know better. I also believe you need to reevaluate your thoughts on that. Unless you were frank with her, she has no idea what she’ll be required to get in the middle of. That’s not worth any amount of money. At least be honest with her.”
“Duly noted and I’ll consider it.” I took a sip of my drink, shifting my attention to the television that had been playing the entire time since our arrival. When the Breaking News Bulletin flashed across the screen, I walked closer, giving Diego a nod. After he flanked my side, he turned up the volume.
Samuel walked closer seconds later, staring at the screen. “That’s Carlos Ramirez. I’m certain you remember him. Bastard. The man betrayed your father like the others. He completely sold his soul to Perez. Some considered Carlos almost as powerful. Rot in hell, you pig.”
I actually appreciated his hatred for the man.
“Yes, I remember very clearly. He got exactly what was coming to him. And hell is far too good for him.” I shifted away from the television, Samuel trailing close behind.
Samuel smacked his hand around my arm, lifting his head as he darted his eyes back and forth across mine. “What did you do?”
Smirking, I took a deep breath before answering, “What needed to be done.” When I tried to pull away, he tightened his grip.
“What’s happened to you, son? You were a mischievous young man, but you were just full of imagination and intelligence. You were exactly like your mother, so sweet and caring. That’s what your father would talk about almost every time we had a drink together. He’d talk about your antics or something you’d done at school. Hell, he was even proud of the time you almost burned the house down because you loved playing with matches.”
I remained quiet, allowing him to go down memory lane, but this would be the last time. There was no way of getting back what I’d lost.
He laughed, letting me go and taking a step away. “Did you know that your dad realized what you were doing with those matches?”
Sighing, I cocked my head, still remaining silent.
“He made certain that one of the employees would stay outside of the bathroom in case you hurt yourself. The only day you slipped away, that’s when you started the fire, almost burning the bathroom to a crisp. He told me that story for almost two years.” When he took another sip of his drink, I could tell his hand was shaking.
“I’d forgotten about that,” I managed, uncertain where the hell this was going. However, I’d never known my father had any idea of what had gone on in my life, or my mother’s life for that matter. He certainly hadn’t acted as if he’d cared.
He nodded several times, his expression wistful. “Do you remember that knife you begged him for, the one that allowed you to strike a flint? That was your favorite gift that your father ever gave you. God, I wonder what happened to it?”
“I’m not certain, Samuel. That was a long time ago. Things have changed over the years, including what interests me.”
“That’s fine, Santiago. Live your li
fe the way you need to. Just keep in mind that Perez is formidable in every way. He has a vast number of soldiers, spies located almost everywhere. He will learn sooner versus later that you have arrived. Once he does, he will make good on his threat.”
“He can try, Samuel. Meanwhile, I’m going to attend his lavish upcoming masquerade party. Then I’ll know more about what I’m dealing with.”
He immediately walked closer, his eyes narrowing. “Are you out of your mind?”
I gave him a nod of respect before polishing off the drink. “I know what I’m doing, Samuel. I suggest you learn not to underestimate my abilities.”
“My God, Santiago. Maybe I was wrong. You are more savage than your father. Don’t forget that Antonio De Leon’s greed was the ultimate reason for his death.”
Hissing, I took long strides in his direction, resisting reacting violently. “And don’t you forget that my father helped pay for your son’s tuition to college and medical school.”
He sucked in his breath, blinking several times. “That’s not something I could forget.”
“I suggest you also remember who you’re currently working for.” I backed away, slamming my glass down on the man’s desk then heading toward the door. By the time I got outside, I could barely control my anger.
Diego moved beside me facing the opposite direction. He remained quiet for a full minute, but I heard the ragged sound of his breathing.
“Just say it, Diego. Fucking say it.”
“Fine. I think I will. You need to get your head out of your ass. What you want to do is far too risky. Don’t give me bullshit about the crest. I know you better than that. You want nothing more than to piss Perez off before you put a bullet in his brain. That’s called grandstanding. Revenge is one thing, stupidity another. Now you have a woman involved and from the look on your face when I asked about her, you give a damn about her. Don’t try and tell me you don’t. You’re not a good liar, my friend.”
“Drop it, Diego. I’m not on the mood.”
“Yeah? Do you want to throw a punch at me too? Will that make you feel any better?”
When he got in my face, daring to shove me back two feet, I almost allowed my anger to interfere. I knew exactly what he was trying to do. He’d never seen me happy, only always on edge. The second he did it again, I couldn’t stop my reaction, swinging.
For the first time since I could remember, the big man refused to take any crap from me, smashing his hand around my fist.
“Is this something you really want to do?” he asked through clenched teeth.
I refused to back down, glaring him in the eyes. “Back off.”
He shook his head several times, keeping his stance. Then he moved away, holding up his hands before turning around and walking toward the street.
“Where are you going?”
“I’d prefer to walk,” he barked. “I think I need a real drink or five.”
I stared after him, suddenly uncertain of what the hell I was doing. As a laugh bubbled to the surface, I smacked my hands on the car. One thing was certain; I needed to touch her, to feel her.
To hold her.
To fuck her.
And she wouldn’t be allowed to refuse me.
By the time I made it back to the house, it was almost dark. I was more exhausted than I should be, but perhaps jet lag was finally settling in. At least Samuel had been able to provide significant details regarding Perez’s method of operation as well as his usual habits. Very little had changed with regards to the man’s estate, including where he kept the crest. He’d portioned off a section of the estate for business purposes only, preferring to keep his family life away from his dirty work.
The crest was no exception, still housed in the small library that was almost never used. However, just as I’d mentioned to Devon, it was heavily guarded. Maybe my idea was too grandiose; however, my grandfather had nearly died in order to save the jeweled piece from a fire. It had been the only thing belonging to the man my father had kept.
As I walked inside, the warm glow of lights was more comforting than the night before. I nodded to several of the employees before moving toward the grand living room, flexing my hand. I hadn’t punched anyone in a hell of a long time. An ache had already developed, reminding me that I’d lived a soft life for far too long. That would need to change.
I thought about visiting my father’s office, but that remained far too painful.
As I studied the array of liquors, I realized my head was pounding as well. My thoughts drifted to information I’d heard on the news. It would seem Carlos had built quite a tarnished reputation for himself since my departure, developing a long list of enemies. Given I’d been right about the fire, the police would have dozens of speculations but little to go on during their investigation.
I would never forget the look on Samuel’s face, his eyes more haunted than I’d ever seen them. I would also never be able to get his words or Diego’s out of my mind. Both men were right, but I’d come too far to drop my plans now.
With Devon’s help, the crest would be in my hands in a matter of days.
Exhaling, as I wrapped my hand around the glass, I realized that the last thing I wanted was to see her get hurt in any way. Maybe I was far too callous in my judgment of how this would work. Maybe I simply had no way of caring about anyone else.
I sensed her presence and not just from the lovely fragrance she wore wafting into the room. Every time she was close, electricity sparked between us. I tensed as she walked closer, realizing that no matter my desires, I had no business being near her in the foul mood I was in.
“Would it be all right if I have a drink with you?”
Her question seemed more demure than I was used to. “Of course. What would you like?”
“Whatever you’re having is fine.”
I chuckled; she always had a way of making me smile. I added ice, taking my time before turning around to face her. The look on her face was pensive, as if she didn’t know what to expect from me. Perhaps that was the reason she’d selected a dress that I knew Samuel had provided for her. She looked exquisite, the beautiful black dress highlighting her voluptuous curves perfectly. She’d even styled her hair, the long ringlets adding to her sensuality. My cock was immediately at full attention, fueled by the kind of sadistic desire I’d felt the night before.
It was almost impossible to take my eyes off her. Even the luscious red lipstick she’d selected drew me in, my hunger spiking.
Her face reddened almost instantly, and she darted her eyes away, dragging just the tip of her tongue across her painted lips. “I wasn’t certain about dinner. When you left, you certainly didn’t provide me with any instructions.”
I inched closer until I stood over her. For the first time, I noticed an apprehensive tic in the corner of her mouth. “Do I make you nervous, sweet Devon?”
“You know what? I hate the way you say my name. But that’s not the only thing. You make me infuriated. You drive me insane because you supply answers that are more like riddles for me to solve. You make me want to scream as well as claw your eyes out. I know you value honesty, so there you have it. Is this attire acceptable or would you prefer me to change?”
There wasn’t a muscle in my body that hadn’t twitched, my shaft aching all over again. Losing control with her again wasn’t in my best interest, but the woman had a way of igniting every ember. “Nothing so formal tonight, Devon. In fact, why don’t you talk with the chef about preparing something for you alone? I have business to attend to.”
“You won’t eat?”
“Today was an arduous day.”
She laughed, allowing her gaze to fall to my feet. “Well, unless it’s off limits, I’m certain I can wrangle up a sandwich on my own.” As her eyes slid upward, they locked on a portion of my shirt.
I glanced down, clenching my jaw. I hadn’t noticed the drops of blood. That must have occurred when I’d punched Carlos.
Shaking her head, she finally loc
ked eyes with mine once again. “I can see you’ve had a busy day.”
“Business. That’s what I do, Devon.”
“Beat people? Kill people? I can only imagine what your line of work truly entails.” She tried to back away, but I grabbed her wrist, yanking with enough force she was pulled against my chest. She immediately slammed one hand against me, struggling as she hissed.
“I do what’s necessary. My world is entirely different than yours. I suggest you remember your place.”
“My place. Thank you for constantly reminding me of that, Sir Santiago. Is it possible to take a swim, or do you need armed guards to ensure I don’t run away? Maybe you’d like to chain me to a chair or something.”
The woman pulled out every stop to push my freaking limits. A huge portion of me wanted nothing more than to drag her over my lap, providing another round of harsh discipline. Another part of me wanted to crush my mouth over hers, tasting her sweet nirvana all over again.
Instead, I brushed the tip of my index finger across her cheek, surprised she didn’t recoil. “You are welcome to enjoy the pleasures of anything within the grounds.”
She gripped my hand, turning it until she was able to look directly at my knuckles. “I wonder what the other guy looks like.”
She managed to rile me enough I was the one who jerked my hand away, disgusted with myself. “Go and enjoy the night, Devon. We have a full day of training ahead of us.”
“Training,” she repeated. “That should be fascinating. A swim it is. I would much rather be alone than with a monster.” She abruptly turned, taking quick steps out of the room after placing the untouched drink on the coffee table.
We were oil and water.
Fire and ice.
I folded my fingers, fisting my hand. The monster inside of me wanted to race after her. However, I’d attempt to give her some space.
The drink in my hand seemed heavier than normal. After swirling it continuously for a full minute, I swallowed the majority, realizing my anger had yet to abate. The gnawing in my gut had refused to subside. There were too many questions from years before that had yet to be answered. I also had a nagging feeling another player had been involved in the murders. If I was right, perhaps my open playbook should be changed.
