of my neck, big hand holding me possessively as we make our way down the aisle. Outside the church, Cristiano lifts me into one of the SUVs.
I think he’s coming with me, but I’m surprised when he calls Alec over.
“Make sure you post a guard outside my wife’s door,” he says, eyes on me. “No one goes in and she definitely doesn’t go out.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where’s my brother going?” I ask as he climbs into the same SUV as Lenore.
“Back to the island.”
“But—”
“But nothing. He was at the wedding, as promised. He didn’t walk you down the aisle because of your dress choice. I don’t ask much but what I ask, I expect to be obeyed.”
“You don’t ask much? Are you even being serious?”
“As a bullet—”
“I got it,” I cut him off, sit back and fold my arms across my chest.
With that, we’re gone before I can even ask where he’s going. Not that I care. I just want to know what’s going on. Where I’m going to be while Noah returns to the island.
We drive for an hour and by the time we arrive at the beachfront house, it’s completely dark and raining. The last mile or two were along a single lane road without any lamps. Guards were already stationed along the route.
I don’t see any other SUVs and when I ask where we are exactly, I’m just ignored.
The house itself is pretty, simple but well-guarded. Although it doesn’t feel like the fortress that is the island house. I’m escorted inside, taken through the living room and barely given a chance to look around before I’m led into what I guess is the master bedroom.
The room is large and decorated differently than the rest of the house. It has a decidedly softer style with fresh flowers everywhere, the king size bed scattered with rose petals which I promptly sweep off.
We’re not lovers. We’re not friends. We don’t even like each other.
I go into the bathroom and find a large, free-standing tub, and a separate shower with a small window at the far end. Too small to crawl out of. At the pedestal sink I wash my face and look down at my rings.
I’m married.
Married to Cristiano Grigori.
The sound of someone opening the bedroom door has me switching off the water and steeling my spine. But when I return, I find a woman laying a table for dinner. Just one place setting. The guard watches her as she does, and no one pays any attention to me.
Once she’s gone, I get to the table to find a plate of whole grilled fish, potatoes and roasted vegetables. There’s also a small carafe of white wine with barely a glass of liquid inside. A folded note is propped against it.
I pick it up, open it.
Just to be sure you’ll be up to feel every inch of me tonight.
“Jerk.” It’s because the first night I’d drunk myself to the point of passing out. I guess he’s not taking any chances.
I only mean to eat a few bites of the food because I haven’t eaten all day but end up finishing the plate and the tiny bit of wine.
Then, I wait.
30
Cristiano
I need to make one stop before going to my wife.
Jacob De La Cruz has just been discharged from the hospital. When I arrive at his home, he seems surprised. I don’t think he realized I knew where he lived but he’s quick to check his expression and invite me into the plain, uncared for house.
“You rent it furnished?” I ask although I already know.
“Easier,” he says. “Whiskey?” he seems chastened. At least a little. His arm is in a sling, but it’s not broken. He’s got a soft bandage around it.
“How is it?” I gesture to it.
“Hurts when I move anything. But I have good meds.”
He’s not taking them though. I can tell from how tightly his face is set.
I take the whiskey he offers and drink a sip only because he drinks from his first and it was poured from the same bottle.
“So. Rinaldi was in Mexico all along?” he asks.
I nod.
“Didn’t your uncle or someone in your organization have intelligence on him?”
“I’m not here to discuss my uncle or our organization, or even Rinaldi for that matter. I want you to arrange a meeting with Felix.”
“Felix? I can communicate on your behalf.”
“In person. Me and him. He’s running the show down there, isn’t that right?”
“We both are—”
“Except that they just shot you.”
“That was an accident.”
“Arrange a meeting.” I shift my glass