Page 13 of Cartel Viper (The Cartel Brotherhood #2)

Chapter Seven

Javier

I brace myself for impact as I unlock the door.

“Javier?”

“ Sí, Anna Maria, soy yo .” Yes, Anna Maria. It’s me.

For nearly six months, the promise of kinky sex excited me whenever I arrived, and my sub was already here. I’ve always let myself in, and that was part of the novelty. She didn’t know exactly when I’d show up, and I didn’t know exactly how I’d find her. But dread makes my gut churn now.

Anna Maria’s an attractive redhead, and I enjoyed every minute of being with her—at least when it involved tying her up and fucking her until we were both breathless.

But everything outside the bedroom, especially dealing with the apartment, became a chore.

That’s why I’ve been avoiding her. Believe it or not, my instinct is conflict avoidance.

Rather than just show up like I used to, I called ahead this time.

She knows we’re going to talk, but it doesn’t surprise me when she steps out of the bedroom in transparent lingerie.

It does nothing for me. It’s like looking at any of the dancers at the strip clubs my family owns in New Jersey.

The novelty of being around naked women wore off before I was even legally old enough to drink.

The only woman I want to see in lingerie—preferably naked—is Maddy.

“ Vestirse .” Get dressed.

It’s a command for sure, but it’s not in the tone I used to use. I want her to know I’m serious about talking. I don’t want her to think it’s a prelude to what we used to share.

“ Pero, Jav —” But, Jav?—

We continue in Spanish since she’s a Colombian girl from the block back in Jackson Heights. We’re in Staten Island because once upon a time, it kept the other syndicate eyes off me. Fucking Cormac O’Rourke. So much for privacy once he found out.

“No buts. Get dressed, Anna. Please. We need to talk, and it won’t be me giving you another order.”

She studies my expression before she drops her gaze and nods.

We’ll see how submissive she feels by the end of this conversation.

The red hair might not be natural, but her temper matches it.

I’ve known her since high school, so I’ve seen what she’s like when she unleashes.

I’m not in the mood for that and won’t tolerate it.

It only takes her a minute to toss on a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt before joining me in the living room. Before she can get too close, I point to an armchair. I take the spot in the middle of the sofa.

“Have you found a permanent place yet?”

“This is so convenient for you. I figured?—”

“You’ve known since I offered this place that it’s temporary. If you haven’t found one you prefer, then you can stay here. However, it’ll be as a tenant.”

She stares at me, and I know she’s fighting to master her shock then her anger.

“Paying you rent for you to come here and fuck me is fucked-up. Or are you a puto now?”

“Do you think calling me a prostitute is endearing? We both know you’ve been using me for the apartment to stay rent free.

You’ve made no effort to find a new one, which tells me you think you can use me.

I haven’t come to see you because I didn’t want to just toss you out.

But knowing I’m being used doesn’t exactly give me a hard-on. ”

“So, you want me out or to pay rent, so you can get it up again?”

“No. That part of our arrangement has been over for months, and you know that as well as I do. It’s why you haven’t texted me to ask where I am. You’ve been happy to come and go as you please without having to put out.”

I’m being a tremendous ass, and I know it. I didn’t mean to launch into the conversation and be a cabrón —asshole—but something in me just doesn’t have any patience for her anymore. It’s the way she looked at me. Sized me up as though she was guessing how much more she could get out of me.

“Just like that, you’re going to kick me out and end our relationship?”

“Contract, and no, I’m not kicking you out. I gave you a choice. You can pay rent like any tenant would, or you can find somewhere else.”

“You think I’d want you as a landlord after this?”

“Not particularly, but this a rent-controlled building, so you won’t find a better deal.”

“It’s fucking Staten Island!”

“That hasn’t bothered you yet.”

It hasn’t bothered her because free on Staten Island is better than any amount in another borough. La conchuda —a moocher. That’s what she is. She’ll take what she can for free. What’s worse is she believes the world owes it to her because she’s beautiful.

“Why’re you doing this, Javier? Why did you wait so long if you have a problem with me staying here?”

“I told you, I didn’t want to kick you out, but I also told you this was a temporary solution.”

“Do you want to move someone else in?”

I would never make that kind of arrangement with Maddy, even though I know she needs a place.

I wouldn’t bring her to a place I used to fuck my former sub.

I wouldn’t give her a temporary place without helping her find something more permanent.

And I wouldn’t want to set her up as a mistress.

I definitely don’t want her to be my sub.

“Yes. There’s a couple that’s been looking for an apartment in this neighborhood. An agent approached me, and I’m ready to rent it to them.”

That’s true. I just hadn’t said yes yet. I will on my way home since I know Anna Maria won’t agree to pay rent. I can already tell.

“You’re unbelievable, Javier. You’re going to screw me, and not the way we agreed.”

“Then sign the lease I have with me and put down the first and last month’s rent.” I reach into my suit coat pocket and retrieve papers I folded lengthwise to fit.

“You really intend to charge me rent.”

She’s flabbergasted I’m following through with what I said.

Why wouldn’t I? I gave her orgasms when I promised them, and I punished her when I promised to.

It sorely tempts me now to spank her and leave without pleasuring her.

But the temptation doesn’t outweigh my aversion to touching her. I won’t touch any woman but Maddy.

“Yes.”

“If I sign and agree to pay rent, will we go back to how things were? Will we be good again?”

“Anna, that’s run its course. We haven’t been together in nearly three months. We both know either of us could have suggested we see each other. Neither of us has.”

“Is there someone else?”

“I don’t have another sub waiting around.” Which is true.

I have a woman I hope will be my novia —girlfriend—and maybe something more.

I don’t want to rush into anything, even though I’ve decided what I want.

I need to be sure Maddy can adjust to life in my family because you can’t have us without the Cartel.

I have to be sure she can reconcile joining a family who generally loathes her in-laws.

I need to give her time to decide what she wants in life and in a partner.

I think she knows what she doesn’t want, but I don’t know if she’s convinced of what she deserves in one.

“Fine. At least I know you haven’t gone and fallen in love.”

I keep my expression neutral. Anna Maria doesn’t need to know just how easily that could happen now that Maddy’s back in my life.

I don’t need Anna Maria’s jealousy. I’ve seen it when we’d go to my club and do scenes there.

We did a couple threesomes early on, but she was a pain in the ass afterward, interrogating me about how much I enjoyed the other woman.

She was just as much a nuisance when we went and just scened together.

She wanted to know why I looked at another woman or what I’d do with another woman if she weren’t around.

I stopped taking her, and we just came here.

“Does that ‘fine’ mean you want to stay here and will sign the lease?”

Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.

“Fine means whatever. I’m over it. I’ll find a place not on Staten Island. Somewhere people actually want to live. I’ll be out by the end of the week.”

I look around the place. She’s definitely made herself comfortable, but the furniture is all mine. She doesn’t have that much to take.

“Three days. Go to your sister’s.”

“Fuck no!”

“Go to your dad’s.”

“Javier—”

“Go to Luz’s.” Her best friend.

“I can’t. Come on, Javier.”

“There are plenty of people you can stay with. You just don’t want to leave a place you have to yourself for free.”

“That’s not why I stayed. You know I care about you, and you care about me.”

I sit back and cross my arms, my sleeves straining across my biceps. I see her lust flare, and I regret my new position. She thinks she can seduce me back into letting her stay. I rise and step around her and the armchair.

“ Adios, Anna . Tú poder gorrear apagado alguien más .” Goodbye, Anna. You can mooch off someone else.

I walk to the door and open it before looking back.

“I’ll make sure Pablo knows you’re moving out.”

Her look of shock, then dismay isn’t surprising. It’s not as though my cousin has ice in his veins, but it’s definitely colder than tap water. He won’t hurt her, but neither will he put up with any bullshit because he doesn’t have any personal investment in this.

It won’t thrill him I’m passing the buck to him, but he’ll understand. I slip out the door and let it click closed behind me. She has those three days, then I’ll change the locks.

I’m at my condo in Manhattan with the live camera feed pulled up for the Brooklyn hotel. Nothing’s been going on since I arrived home. It’s not that I’m spying on Maddy so much as I don’t trust whoever she left behind not to find her.