Page 19 of Cartel Viper (The Cartel Brotherhood #2)

Chapter Ten

Maddy

I owe him an explanation. I owe him more than just a kiss in gratitude.

But if I reveal anything, I’m likely to reveal it all.

I’m not prepared to do that yet. There’s still shit I need to sort out in my head after that unexpected O.J.

Simpson-style car chase. I didn’t expect Mikey or Pauly to show up at my door.

I need to figure out how they found me. I need to figure out whether they had time to tell Drew not only where I was, but where I’m certain they guessed I headed and to whom.

I knew better than to let anybody know I was here. As glad as I was to see my family and to even be at Enrique’s wedding reception, I knew I should’ve remained hidden. The risk of exposure was too great, and now I’m paying the price for it.

Mikey and Pauly certainly did. They weren’t entirely bad guys in the grand scheme of things.

They were following Drew’s orders just like they always did.

But of all of Drew’s men, they were among the nicest to me.

It’s probably why my ex-boyfriend sent them after me.

He figured if anyone could convince me to give myself up and go back to Albany, it would be them.

Not a fine fucking chance in hell, but he wasn’t too far off.

Once I know how much Drew knows, then I can adjust my plans.

As much as I’m enjoying a moment’s respite here on Javi’s lap, tucked away in a locked office in a building his family not only owns but guards, this is temporary.

I won’t intentionally bring more danger to him and to his family than they already have on their own.

I also don’t need a syndicate war on my hands. As much as the O’Rourkes hate Drew’s family, they’re still honor-bound to support Drew as fellow mobsters and the head family on the East Coast.

And there’s no way Javi will let this go. He’ll not only go after Drew, once he finds out my full involvement, he’ll wipe out his entire family. It’ll be a war on two fronts. First in Albany, then down here.

Because my sister’s married to the bratva pakhan , they’ll get involved too. They’ll fight the O’Rourkes because they’re guilty by association. Then they’ll fight Javi’s family because there’s no way Javi will let them defend me alone.

Both sides will have their feelings hurt. The bratva won’t appreciate that I went to their rival for protection. The Cartel won’t appreciate the bratva getting involved because they’ll think it looks like they can’t take care of me on their own.

I need to defuse the situation, at least for now. At least I can tell myself that. Fat fucking chance that’s going to happen.

“Maddy, who were those men?”

I take a moment too long to answer.

“Don’t lie to me. I know I’ve given you time to come up with excuses, but don’t lie. Refuse to tell me, but don’t say something you can’t take back.”

“If you give me that out, then don’t ask me questions you don’t want to hear my answers to.”

“Oh, I want to hear your answers. I just want truthful ones. If you won’t tell me who they are, then at least tell me why you won’t admit that.”

“If I won’t tell you the former, how can you possibly think I would tell you the latter?”

“So, you admit you won’t tell me who they are?”

“I’m certain you’ll find out on your own within the next five minutes.”

If either of the men were carrying their legitimate IDs, it’ll be easy for Pablo to look that up.

If they weren’t, but they each used one of their known aliases, it’ll only take two minutes longer than it should.

If they were smart and didn’t carry any ID, then I might get lucky.

I don’t know if the Diazes have access to dental records.

I’m certain they won’t recognize the men as being ones from the city or even New Jersey, so that leaves Albany. It won’t take much of a guess to know these guys are from a syndicate. It won’t be difficult to narrow down which one. So, all this shit’s going to come to a head in the next few minutes.

My mind’s rapidly working through this devolving situation, and I’m realizing it’s getting worse by the moment.

“Maddy, I’m certain you know I’ll figure out who these men are. Do you really want me to learn the truth from Pablo, or would you rather I hear your side of the story first?”

I’d much rather he hears my side of the story, but he’ll ask more questions I can’t answer. Then I’ll just look awkward. That’ll make it worse.

No, worse is you being resistant. Be forthcoming, and perhaps there’s a chance to salvage whatever might have been between us.

I can’t fight the temptation to rub my forehead anymore.

My head’s pounding, and the closer I come to sharing any details, the more I want to vomit.

The bile’s burning the back of my throat, and tears sting the inside of my eyelids.

I feel my heart rate racing, and Javi must feel my increasing sense of foreboding or hear the death knell over my head.

“All right, Madeline?—”

“Don’t call me that.”

I try to get off his lap as he rejects me, but his hold only tightens.

“You’re not going anywhere until I’m certain you’re safe, and the safest place is in my arms.”

“You still believe that? You still want that?” My voice trembles with each of those questions.

“Of course I do. You’re the one who doesn’t seem to agree.”

“Is that why you used my full name?”

“Yes, you’re the one putting distance between us, but I’m not the one who wants to.”

“Using my full name says you want distance.”

“And you refusing to tell me any of the truth—give me even a clue what’s going on—screams far louder than what I said.

It’s obvious since the moment I walked into your hotel room, you’re hiding from someone.

I already figured out someone mistreated you.

I didn’t grill you on who, and I haven’t dug around even though I could.

I’ve wanted you to share this on your terms, but you’re not giving me much of a choice but to either demand you share what’s going on, or I pry into your life with or without your permission. ”

“Prying implies you’re not looking for permission, Javi.”

“True. So, decide now, Maddy, what’s it going to be? Do you tell me the truth about what’s going on, or do you leave it to my cousin to tell me, or for me to assume the worst before I dig?”

It would be so much better if I just told him the bits I can.

I’ve spent years keeping these secrets, cultivating stories to deflect.

I could tell him ones I’ve used before, but he’ll see through those lies.

He’s already told me not to tell him any.

He’d rather I refuse to answer, but that option’s no longer available.

I’ll start out slowly. Hopefully, feeding him a couple of bites will tide him over for now.

I’m kidding myself to think that, but it makes it a little easier for me to start.

“The guy I was seeing back home got into some shit he shouldn’t have.”

That makes it sound like it was a choice.

“It complicated things between us, and I discovered he has a temper. When things went wrong, he needed a scapegoat, or an outlet. That became me. I don’t know all the inner workings of what he was doing, but he was also very possessive. He didn’t want to let me go.”

That’s such a bland version of the truth, that if it were chicken, it’d be unseasoned and boiled.

Javi remains quiet, waiting for me to divulge more, but that’s what I’m ready to share.

“Little one, I won’t push you any further for now, but those men weren’t just petty criminals. It’s obvious they’re in a syndicate, and considering you lived in Albany, it makes it pretty damn easy for me to guess which one.”

Fuck my life.

“I’ll keep my word, and I won’t ask for more. Just know I’m already figuring things out. I’m waiting for you to confirm them.”

Hopefully, he thinks one of them was my ex-boyfriend, and that the guy I dated was pretty low-level.

“Maddy, we can stay here for as long as you like. Once you’re less scared, I can take you to Laura’s.”

“What? No. I don’t want to go to my sister’s.” It’s the last thing I want.

“Are you worried about bringing danger to the twins?”

“Of course, I’m worried about my niece and nephew. No, Javi, Laura will grill me until I’m burnt to ashes. I know she’ll defend me tooth and nail, and I know Maks and his family have all the resources needed to protect me, but that’s not who I want to be with.”

I glance toward the door when I hear a sound on the other side. He must be able to see more of my face than I thought.

“Do you want to go with Pablo?”

I jerk away and twist to look at him. “No. Why would I want to go with him?”

“You grew up practically as his little sister.”

“Practically. I’m not and never have been. You know our families aren’t close anymore. It’s been years since I’ve hung out with him. Whatever’s happened in that time has made him a man I don’t think I know anymore.”

Javi’s gaze shutters, and I know I’m right.

I’ve suspected for a long time Pablo deals with the worst of the worst his family faces here in the U.S. I don’t want to imagine the crazy, twisted, fucked-up shit Alejandro must deal with since I’ve heard he’s always going back and forth to Colombia.

I know Javi and his brothers’ reputation, but I also know they cultivated it to protect themselves as three teenagers who moved here not speaking the language and without a dad.

They feared it would be as dangerous for them here as it was in Bogotá.

I figured out why they did the things they did early on.

I tried dropping hints of that explanation to Maks a few years ago, but he didn’t believe me.

He said he knows them better than I ever could.

That’s because no one besides Javi knew our secret. I’m positive he never told his brothers.

“Then what do you want, Maddy?”

“Do you have something else you need to do? Is there somewhere else you need to be?”

“No. Did you think I was trying to pass you off?”

“Maybe.”