Page 22 of Cartel Viper (The Cartel Brotherhood #2)

It’s on a private island with woods that meet the water.

There are plenty of places to hide in the house, and no one approaches without the occupants knowing.

It’s where we all go now when we want people to believe we’re vacationing together in the Med or South Pacific.

Sometimes we really go to those places, but if most of the family is traveling together, it’s not abroad.

That’s too predictable. Too easy a target.

My announcement shocks Pablo. He says nothing as his gaze darts to Maddy. He looks back at me, and his expression hasn’t changed. At least, not in a way Maddy could tell. I can, though. He’ll have plenty to say about me taking anyone—especially a woman—extra especially Maddy—to our family haven.

I don’t give a shit.

“ ?Lo sabe? ” Does he know?

Pablo doesn’t want to say uncle or Enrique because Maddy will know who we’re talking about.

I don’t know if her Spanish is better than it was in high school, which was mediocre on a good day.

She studied French instead because she wanted to do a semester abroad once she got to college.

Damn. I haven’t thought about that in over a decade. It surprises me I remember.

“ Todavía no. ?Vas a chismear o me vas a dar tiempo para explicar? ” Not yet. Are you going to tattle or give me time to explain?

That was an asshole thing to say.

“ No actúes como un culo. Yo iba a encargarme de ello por ti, para que puedas concentrarte en ella. ” Don’t act like an ass. I was going to handle it for you, so you can focus on her.

“ Gracias. Ya te imaginarás por qué estoy un poco tenso ahora mismo. Quiero llevarla al lugar más seguro que tengamos, aparte de la bodega. ” Thank you. You can imagine why I’m a little tense right now. I want to get her to the safest place we have short of the bodega.

The bodega is the place our family uses to handle our most unsavory business, so I’m definitely not taking Maddy there.

We may sterilize the place after every time we use it, but I swear the place is fucking haunted.

Lord knows there’ve been enough dead bodies in there to fill a cemetery.

I refuse to go on Dia de los Muertos . Day of the Dead.

We all avoid the place on November first and second.

Pablo nods, and we continue our conversation in Spanish. But I want us to hurry because we’re being rude to Maddy, and I want to get her out of here before it gets dark.

“Don’t worry. I’ll explain what’s going on and where you’re taking her. He’ll agree since it’s her.”

Tío Enrique’s still extremely protective of Maddy and Laura, even if Laura doesn’t believe it.

There’s a shit ton that’s happened behind the scenes to thwart crap aimed at the bratva simply so Laura doesn’t have to worry about Maks’s safety.

We don’t need to brag, but we’re prepared to call in a favor if we need to. Nothing in life is free.

“I’m taking her to her hotel to grab her stuff, then we’ll head out. She doesn’t know where we’re going.”

“Will you blindfold her?”

I stare at Pablo, incredulous that he asked that.

“What? It’s safer if she doesn’t know how to get there. No one can force her to take them there, and we keep our privacy.”

“Who’s being an ass now? She’s my girlfriend, not my prisoner.”

There. I said it. As far as I’m concerned, Maddy’s my girlfriend even if we haven’t defined our relationship down to that term. It’s what we mean. At least, I assume that’s what she means because that’s how I see it.

I glance at her, and our gazes meet. We spoke quickly, so she may not have understood everything, but I’m sure she knows “ novia ” means girlfriend. She confirms it when she dips her chin in agreement. Pablo’s expression hardens when I focus on him again.

“And she was like my little sister from the day she was born. Whatever you have going on between you isn’t my business but making sure she’s safe sure as fuck still is.”

“Then explain everything to anyone who needs to know and keep your phone on. I’ll let you know once we’re there.”

I offer Maddy my hand, and she slips hers into mine. She offers Pablo a smile that’s far warmer than when we arrived. Maybe she followed our entire conversation after all.

“Pablo, I don’t know what’s going on, but I know your distinct tones. I trust Javi just like I always trusted you. Whatever he thinks we should do, I’m going to listen to him before anyone else. I’m sorry for the trouble I already caused, and thank you for cleaning up the mess.”

Pablo watches her as she speaks, and I know he’s trying to read between the lines both about what’s going on between Maddy and me and why those men chased her.

Before I stormed into her hotel room, I would’ve said Pablo understands her better than I do because of their lifelong friendship.

But I don’t think that’s the case anymore because when he looks at me, I know he has more questions than answers.

“Always, Madeline.”

“If you’re allowed to let anyone besides Enrique know where Javi’s taking me, tell your mom and dad hi for me, please.”

Pablo merely nods.

“We’re taking a car from the fleet.”

I don’t want anyone who’s figured out what Maddy’s driving to follow us, and the car I have with me today is far too flashy. If I’d known what I was getting myself into when I raced out of my place, I would’ve driven my mid-size BMW. It’s far less conspicuous than the Porsche.

“I’ll have a guy pull an SUV around.”

It won’t be a large one we use on missions.

Those damn things are veritable tanks. Pablo knows I want something reinforced and sturdy, but nothing that’ll stand out.

He hesitates a moment before stepping forward and kissing Maddy on the cheek.

She wraps her arms around him, and I know she relaxes.

But I also know it’s not the same as when I hug her.

“Is your number still the same, Pablo?”

“Yeah. Call it if you need anything at all. Listen to Javier. He’ll do whatever he needs to, to keep you safe from whatever’s going on.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“We’ll be down in a couple minutes.” I want Pablo to leave us alone before Maddy and I head down to the garage.

He says nothing before he leaves, just a last look at me and a nod. I turn to Maddy, and she accepts my offered hand. She’d held it when she got off the desk but had to let go to hug Pablo. Now we lace our fingers.

“How much of that did you understand?”

“Bits and pieces. You usually don’t speak that fast.”

“True, but Pablo and I weren’t just chatting. I’m taking you somewhere only my family knows. No one outside the family and our most trusted guards go there, so it’s the safest place in the U.S. I can take you.”

“That’s why he suggested you blindfold me.”

I guess she understood plenty.

“Yes. We can stay there as long as we like. We have everything we need to last there a couple months, not that I think it’ll come to that.”

“A luxury fallout shelter?”

My expression turns grim, and she merely nods. I turn toward the door, but she puts her free hand on my forearm.

“Javi, is this going to make life harder on everyone else? Will they have to do your work for you?”

“There’s nothing coming up that’ll be a burden to anyone else.”

“But you’re your family’s lawyer. Do you have court?”

“No. My calendar is clear for the next three weeks. I can still work from there since we have secure internet. And if anything comes up, Tío Enrique and Tío Luis are both attorneys too. They may not openly practice, but they’re still licensed in New York and New Jersey. I’m replaceable.”

Nails on both of her hands dig into my hand and arm. “Never, ever say that. No, you are not.”

“Shh, chica . I’m not going anywhere. Bets on how fast I annoy you because I’m up your ass.”

“If you’re offering, then how about three hours? Is that long enough for us to get wherever we’re going?”

I stare for a moment before I grin. My free arm wraps around her hips, and I squeeze her ass. I lean in to whisper to her, even though there’s no one to overhear me.

“I’m going to fuck your pretty little mouth, your tight little cunt, and your perfect little ass tonight. Then I’ll do it again in the morning, then the afternoon, then tomorrow night. I’ll do any and all of that whenever I want. Do you know why?”

“Because I belong to you?”

“You are mine to pleasure, Maddy. I want to watch you come while you forget about everything besides us. I want to make you happy.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“Let’s get on the road. We need to get your stuff from the hotel, and I want to set off well before it gets dark.

I told you I wouldn’t push you for more information, and I won’t.

But you have the time we take to get to the estate to come up with more of the truth because you won’t enjoy the consequences if you don’t. ”