Page 21 of Choices

I smile and nod at my brilliant woman. She lets herself into the stall, talking softly to the horse who seems just as interested in her. The horse stretches his neck out and rubs his muzzle across her belly. Fucking horse getting to touch her before I do.

Christ, am I jealous of a horse?

I nod my head towards the main house. Santiago nods.

"We've got some business to take care of with Diego, but take as long as you like down here. We'll come get you before we've got to get you back to get your kids."

The look she gives me wrenches my heart in two. It's full of so much gratitude and angst and relief and sadness. Her eyes start to water, but instead of answering us she bites her lower lip and nods, turning her face back to the horse.

I swallow stiffly before following Santiago back up the hill and to the main house.

"Et Tu, Brute?" I ask, clapping him on the shoulder with my hand.

He shrugs it loose and I laugh. Fucker's never been big on humor.

When we let ourselves in the back door of the kitchen, Diego and Rico's voices come from the study. We've been here enough times to know it well. It was supposed to be our primary home when Rico found someone to settle down with. But mostly we live out of the condo in the city.

He inherited parts of his empire from his father, and in the mafia world, would have to bear a son to take the reins eventually. But that would mean finding a woman and giving her the time of day.

Not sure he remembers how to anymore.

We follow the sound of voices to the study, where Diego sits behind the desk and Rico paces. The image is comical, because Diego's not really involved in any of the business, but he's sitting in a position of power.

Regardless, Rico respects his brother's thoughts and opinions.

"Whythatwarehouse?" Rico asks, in Spanish. My Spanish is mediocre but I can usually follow along and I'm not shy about asking for clarification, especially when their accents get thicker.

Diego shakes his head. "It's right next to the marina? They know they can't attack the marina directly because of all of the high profile clientele, but maybe they want to weaken our operations by attacking the warehouse?"

Rico pauses, considering. His right hand balls into a fist and he bumps his thumb against his thigh - his tell for being extremely stressed.

He nods. "That's plausible, but we have weaker points, places it would hurt a lot more if they hit us. The club, for example. I feel like the game is changing and I don't know how. I don't like it."

The Vitales run Landover and Upper Marlboro, the districts to the East of DC in Maryland. We run DC proper and Northern Virginia. But the Vitales have been making pot shots at us the last few months, and we're not exactly sure why. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or a reason behind it.

Diego and Rico volley ideas back and forth, but my mind and eyes drift to the window to Diego's left, where I can see the barn where my future bride is.

There's an uncomfortable silence that pulls my attention back to the room.

"Do you think it's a good idea, involving her?" Diego asks in English, his voice low and soft. "She's not a part of this life."

Rico waves off his brother's concern. "Just get to know her. She'll surprise you."

Diego looks like he wants to argue, but his older brother shoots him a glare that shuts him up.

Rico checks his Rolex. "Speaking of, we need to get back before she has to pick up her kids."

When we get back to the barn, Hannah's hardly out of the stall before she launches herself into Rico's arms, wrapping her legs around his waist in a koala hug. He catches her, wrapping his arms around her lower back and ass.

Jealousy flares hot in me, but when she pulls away, the look on her face douses the flames and calms me. She's so fucking happy. And Rico made that happen. Alright, so I'll let him live another day.

"Thank you. So much. You have no idea how gratefulI am. I feel like a part of my heart just got put back together. It's...you're..."

He squeezes her gently before letting her down. "It's really nothing, mami. Any time you want to visit you can. We'll add the biometric scan to your car and I'll give you Diego and Lauren's numbers so you can visit whenever you want."

A shiver runs through her at his words. Fuck, my baby loves horses. I wonder how many horses I could buy her. What was the best horse in the world? I'd have to find out so I could buy it for her.

She then turns and slowly walks up to Santiago, who stiffens. Slowly, as if she's afraid of spooking a wild animal, she wraps her arms around his neck as well, and pulls him close. He hesitates a moment, but gives in, wrapping his arms around her lower back and burying his face in her neck. Jesus he looks like he's making love to her.