Page 85 of When Sinners Hate
“You know why I never defended you in front of your father that day yet?”
She looks back at the house. “Because you were trying to provoke me into action?”
“And?”
“Because I should have trusted you’d be there for me when I did attack.”
“I’m glad we’ve clarified that. Don’t ever forget it. Every damn time I'll be there.”
And then we both hear footsteps approaching.
She pushes off the car and walks straight for a guy coming down the steps. “Andreas,” she greets. He smiles and waits for her to get to him, before moving sideways and allowing her to lead the way in. So I follow with little else to say about anything at the moment. We haven’t discussed how any of this will work, or how we could meld the businesses so it functions as it could. For now, it’s just about her owning her new position in life. Within half an hour, it’ll be about me owning this Andreas she seems to trust.
Letting them talk, I wander the house. I end up looking at the view from the main lounge’s veranda rather than the floor to ceiling grandeur. Nothing but miles of sea looks back at me. I sit on one of the metal chairs, wondering how much money has been made around this table through the years. Much as I might despise drugs, it's a good business to be in. This place proves that.
A maid walks out halfway through my musings.
“Mr Cortez, could I get you a drink? An iced tea?” I nod and watch her walk away, then turn my gaze back to the sea. It doesn't take long before she’s back in front of me and placing a full jug and crystal glass down in front of me, so I pick it up and keep my rising temper in check. It’s nothing to do with where we’re at in life, it’s to do with a fucking asshole who chose to let that near-raping happen to my wife. Trust or not, Andreas needs a damn reminder about how to protect women of importance. I don’t care if he would’ve died by helping her. I care that he didn’t try. She would’ve had a chance then. She could have run.
Thankfully, they walk out to join me before I completely lose my cool. He offers his hand to me as Lexi introduces him. I don’t take it. I stare at him from where I’m sitting instead, letting my face scowl at his seemingly arrogant self.
“Sit the fuck down,” I snarl. He looks straight at her. “I’d keep your face directed at me, because I’m the one who chooses if you get to live or not.” He unbuttons his jacket and sits, as does Lexi without any interruption. “Talk to me about why I should let you live.” Seems that confuses him because he screws his face up and thinks about looking back at her again. “I wouldn’t. That’s not gonna help your cause in any way.”
“I’m here to help,” he says. “Alexia asked me to meet you both here. I thought this was about me running this side of the business for you and–”
“It is, but the fact is you let my wife get taken to a room when you knew what was going to happen to her.”
He looks at the floor. “I tried to tell her.”
“Little fucking late considering you had her number.”
“Yes.” I keep staring, waiting for something more to help me trust him with anything, let alone my wife’s safety or my business. To his credit, he lifts his gaze back up to me and holds firm.
“Abel, he’s apologised for that.” I look sideways at Lexi, as she puts her hand on my arm. “I’ve known Andreas a long time, and he’s always tried to warn me if he could. I trust him.”
My stare goes back to him. “I don’t.”
“I understand that,” he says. “I wouldn’t if I were you either, but I do have her best interests in mind. I’ve had to watch her endure a lot under her father. And he never allowed me to influence how he should do things, despite my repeated attempts. Miguel favoured some of the others for leadership.”
“And where are they?”
He shows me a snarl of his own. “Hiding out and wondering if someone’s coming for them, too. I will be, as soon as I’m given the instruction to.”
I look back at Lexi, watching as she nods at me. “I’m good with all of this. We’ve discussed it, and I was just about to run it by you before giving the order. I don’t want any of them in my business any longer.” My own smile broadens at her forthright tone, and I take a minute enjoying the fierce sentiment behind her words. She’ll no doubt be a bitch to work under, and I couldn’t be prouder of that if I tried. Anything Cortez needs that nature inside them. It’s where we thrive.
“Don’t fuck up again,” I mutter at him, as I stay square with my wife and let her relaxed aura around him guide me. “You won’t survive it. If she’s with you, you die to protect her, yes?” She smiles at me. Just a quiet smile. Gentle lips.
“Understood.”
“Time to make good on your words, Andreas. You’ve been instructed. Go get on with it,” she commands.
He leaves in silence, giving me a chance to keep staring at my wife’s beauty. So, I do. I keep staring and holding her gaze, perhaps thinking about bringing her down a step or two from her new position, until she starts looking a little shy about it. Her cheeks flush, bringing that pretty-ass blush with it.
She chuckles quietly. “Since when did my being domineering make you hot?”
“Thinking about fucking it out of you makes me hot.”
“Of course.” She chuckles some more and leans in, kissing me briefly before standing. “But I have work to do.”