Page 15 of Choices

Something about it just seems so right.

"Everything the government does but makes illegal for everyone else."

Hannah's gaze snapsto Rico in shock. He sets his weapon down and meets her gaze.

"We print and launder money, just like the Fed prints money and buys bonds. We move and sell drugs, just like pharmaceutical companies. We move and sell weapons just like the military. We provide private protection to businesses that are at risk, just like the police or the National Guard. We also have a handful of legitimate businesses we run that give us a cover for these operations."

Hannah simply stares at him, slack-jawed. I can't help but smile at her shock. I bet no one's explained it like that to her.

She swallows and nods, her attention going back to her planner.

"Did he deserve it?" She asks quietly.

"He sold weed laced with fentanyl in my territory that ended up killing a kid."

Hannah's entire body winces.

"Your weed doesn't have fentanyl?"

Now I wince.

Rico, however, just shakes his head. "No. My sister died from buying laced shit. I make sure all of our supplies are clean."

Hannah places her hand on top of his, stalling his motion. "I'm so sorry to hear about your sister."

Rico's face softens at her, and he twists his hand so he can lace his fingers through hers, giving her a squeeze. His Adam's apple bobs with suppressed emotion.

They fall into easy conversation after that, like two best friends catching up after some time apart. Hannah makes sure to always include me in the conversations as well, asking me questions about my role in our organization, how long we've been together, and whereI live. I appreciate her consideration and kindness, but it's the unlikely friendship developing that sticks with me the rest of the week.

Chapter five

Hannah

Life marches on, but I can't get Rico and Santiago out of my mind. It's easier when the kids are home because I can stay present and busy with them, but at night I can't stop my mind racing.

Rico bringing me home, the touch of his gun against my thigh, him lounging by the pool as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Santiago's intense eyes, the tattoos snaking up one side of his neck and onto his scalp. He's tall and muscular, his bulging biceps and the veins on the back of his hands. Since when did I find veins sexy?

The way my body had reacted to them both - it was as if I was being introduced to a man for the first time in my life.

And maybe I was. The men I grew up around worked in offices and boardrooms, golf courses, and country clubs. They wore pressed suits and the most dangerous thing they ever encountered was a pencil sharpener.

Rico and Santiago, though? They're muscular, tatted, reeking of danger and strength. Both of them are warriors, capable of violence. Maybe that's what I'm missing.

I'm just serving the kids lasagna, garlic bread and salad when the front door springs open.

"Honey, I'm home!" Alan yells, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Internally, I groan, but I don't want to let on that anything's wrong to the kids. I guess this is the one day this week Alan will grace us with his presence.

I walk to the front door as Alan's shrugging off his suit coat and give him an air kiss near his cheek. "Welcome home, sweetheart, how was your work trip?"

There was never any work trip, but it's a white lie I've told many times to protect my kids from the truth.

My stomach rolls at the clawing smell of his mistress's perfume, and I can't stand being that close to him. My skin feels tight and itchy. I've been making active choices, active changes to try and find my authentic self again, but pretending to be in a happy marriage goes against everything I believe in. I just haven't figured out what to do about it yet.

Divorce is always messy. I have zero income. Alan could demand to keep the house. He could move his mistress in. Where would I live? Would the kids resent me for ruining their home? Their lives? How could I provide for them when I'd never really done anything with my business degree? We got pregnant so soon after college, I never even really entered the workforce.