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“What do you want my phone for?”

“I want to install a tracking device. Only in case something happens and you go missing.”

After everything I’d heard about the danger level continuing to increase, for some reason what he said bothered me more than before. The technique wasn’t new nor was it illegal. Just a matter of doing business in a world where I’d heard of several kidnappings occurring over the years.

While I was still reluctant, I handed him my phone.

“Thank you. I’ll only access the account if I know you’re in danger. That much I can promise you.”

“Okay. With this I will trust you.” As I washed the mixing bowl, he installed the app, connecting it to his phone. I should feel as if the action was invasive, but I took comfort in it. Maybe his doing so would help protect Gabriel.

Almost as soon as he was finished, his phone rang.

I’d studied his expressions before. I knew when he was angry or annoyed, but the look on his face was entirely different.

“I need to take this,” he told me without glancing into my eyes as he usually did.

“Of course.” I watched as he walked from the kitchen, realizing he’d barely made it two feet from the entranceway before answering.

My instinct told me whoever was calling was about to rock our world. I’d never been one to follow every rule, at least those created in the regime I’d grown up in.

So I shifted around the backside of the island, taking careful steps to the door. While Alejandro attempted to keep the call hush-hush, I was able to hear one small aspect of the conversation.

“You weren’t supposed to call me on this fucking line.”

That meant he had a second phone.

“No, you fucking asshole. Unacceptable.”

He was even angrier than before. Who the hell was he talking to?

A slight fog rushed into my mind. Something was off.

I returned to where I was standing, washing the spatula and measuring cups.

When he returned, his face was filled with anger, but he attempted to hide behind his smile.

“I have a short meeting I need to oversee.” He walked closer, holding up his index finger. “Gio and Bronco will be right outside the door. If you need anything or you have a bad feeling, let them know. Otherwise, I’ll instruct them not to bother you. Fair enough?”

“I wish you didn’t have your meeting. I thought we were going to spend the afternoon together.”

“I won’t be long. I promise.”

He leaned forward, dropping his head so he could kiss my forehead. Even that was unusual, nothing like he would have done even that morning.

Something was very wrong.

I remained where I was, fighting another chill. I’d wanted to trust the man, to believe that there was some crazy chance we could actually become a family. Maybe I was still just as naïve as I’d allowed myself to be most of my life.

That would end here.

No longer would I be taken advantage of by anyone.

Including my husband.

I waited until he’d left, watching as he gave instructions to the two men still sitting in the dark SUV.

When Alejandro pulled the car down the driveway, I took a deep breath and headed into our bedroom to where the bags brought from the condo had been placed. Crouching down, I opened one, pulling out a makeshift medical bag I’d put together a couple of years before. I hadn’t needed to use the contents, but I’d prepared for almost any situation. Before I’d left White Plains, another side of the woman I’d become had taken over. I’d taken steps of my own to ensure my safety.