Page 65 of Cartel Rose (Jorge)

I head out to the living room to say goodbye. Liesel’s already back with them. Friedrich came back, but I don’t see Bastian. She rises and walks over to me. She glances at the door again. I feel the tension radiating off her as though it’s my overcharged emotion.

“Don’t worry, Anne. I’ll make sure he has men with him. They’ll be discreet. He won’t know they’re following him, but they’ll be there if he needs them.”

“Are you sure you can spare the men for that?”

“Yes.”

I don’t hesitate, but I know she’s already getting to know me well enough to recognize my various expressions. She doesn’tbelieve I really do, but I’m willing to. Not for Bastian’s sake, but hers.

She glances in Gretel, Heidi, and Friedrich’s direction before she keeps her voice barely above a whisper. “Please stop calling me Anne. He’s not here anymore.”

“And your mother and sister? Friedrich?”

“I don’t care. It’s comforting when you call me Liesel. I need that more than I need their approval.”

“What else do you want, Liesel?”

A flush rises along her neck and into her cheeks. She shifts uncomfortably, and I have my answer. I wait for her to admit it. Will she?

“Jorge, I—you know—you. I want you.”

“Then you have me.”

“Can it really be that simple?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

She assesses me for a moment, and she comes to a decision. “You really are practical by nature, aren’t you? You’ll make this happen, won’t you?”

“Yes to both. If this is what you want, then you are mine.”

“I have been all along, haven’t I?”

“Since the moment we met.” I want nothing more than to devour her to prove it.

We fall silent as Gretel approaches us. Neither of us is prepared for what she says, but I count it as a blessing.

“Jorge, take care of Anne. It’s obvious to everyone. That’s why Bastian was so angry. He knows he can’t live up to what you offer Anne already. Sometimes it takes months, years to know when you’ve met the right person. Sometimes it takes only minutes. I don’t know how things were when you met, but it’s clear how they are now. Anne’s never relied on anyone the way I see she relies on you. She’s stubborn, so I warn you about that. But she’ll listen to you because it’s obvious you have herbest interests at heart. You’re doing far more than you have to. You’re doing it for her. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking care of her, even if you couldn’t come out and say it. Because you’re protecting her, you’re helping my entire family. Thank you. Be good to her. I don’t know what your life is like in America, but I can guess. Protect her there just like you do here.”

I’m stunned when she not only gives us her blessing, but she also acknowledges Liesel will likely come to the U.S. with me. I shift my focus to Liesel to see her reaction. She’s just as taken aback as I am. She stares at her mother like the woman’s sprouted a second head. Then she steps forward, and Gretel wraps her arms around her daughter. Liesel rests her head on her mother’s shoulder, and it reminds me of when I do the same withMamá. The world is set back on its axis, and all is right again when she hugs me.

“Mutti, I need to speak to Jorge alone.”

Gretel nods. She glances at me, and I’m certain she knows part of the conversation won’t include words. Liesel and I turn toward the bedrooms, but Heidi steps in front of us.

“I can only guess how things’ll stand once this crisis is over. Maybe you’ll both realize this isn’t right. But I’m certain this is better than life would’ve been with Bastian. Even if you wind up alone, it’ll still be better.”

Liesel’s lips twitch at the way only a younger sibling could say the last bit. It sounds like me with my older brothers.

“Thanks.”

It’s bliss when I slip my hand into hers as we walk to the bedroom. Bastian’s arrival ratcheted my anxiety nearly through the roof, leaving me worried that Liesel might agree with him. My mind’s inclination toward catastrophizing pictured her leaving with him, being injured, or killed. It pictured her rejecting me, both my help and me as a man. I’ve learned to control these obsessive thoughts that the worst-case scenariowill be reality. My mind no longer runs away from me like it did when I was younger, but I still have my moments where my anxiety nearly paralyzes me. I’ve just learned to hide it. The Academy owes me an Oscar.

I ease the door closed before pulling Liesel back toward me. I press her against the wall beside the door. I rest my hand on her throat, not squeezing, but the possessiveness is clear.

“You earned another spanking,chiquita. Do you know why?”

“Yes. I walked in front of the window.”