Page 132 of Cartel Devil

I know how imposing yet ridiculous six men surrounding one woman looks, especially since she’s too short for most people to see. But my men have already grown to respect her. It’s their duty, but it’s also their privilege to be selected. They know and take pride in that. They won’t fail us.

It was a quiet car ride home since we had the guards and Pablo with us. We’re still staying at Tío Enrique’s and Tía Elle’s. Neither of them makes us feel unwanted or in the way, but Tre and I want our privacy. Fortunately, when we get home, they’re out at a lake rowing. We settle on the sofa glad to be alone for a while.

“Joaco, we can’t stay here forever.”

“I was just thinking that too. This is the first time we’ve been alone here in days.”

“And we can’t keep bringing more of our stuff here or shuffling it between our places and here.”

“Do you want to go home?”

She stares at me. The longer she’s silent, the more nervous I get. I want to suggest living together since we’ve done so well together already, but maybe being forced to share limited space has made us make it work. Maybe she’s wanted her own place the entire time. Maybe she’s not ready to even consider sharing a place permanently.

“Cuore mio, I don’t want to shuffle between your place and mine. It won’t be practical in six months. We’re in this together, so why would we want to double all the baby gear? We’d wind up just at one place or another, so one set would go to waste.”

She watches me as she speaks, and it feels like she’s offering a practical solution to make it easier for me to agree. Like she’s worried I might not be emotionally ready to live together, but I would agree if it seemed efficient.

“That’s true. I could take care of you better and wouldn’t worry as much if you were with me.”

She looks down as she nods.

Fuck. Now I made her think I only want her there for the baby’s sake.

I tuck my finger under her chin and lift it.

“Tre, I want us to live together because I want to come home to you every day. I want to take care of you no matter what. I want to stand in the kitchen and make dinner with you. Fall asleep next to you every night, wake up to you every morning. I want to hear about your plans for your day in the morning and how it went at night.”

She leans forward to brush her lips against mine. It’s the faintest kiss. She doesn’t pull away as she speaks.

“I want the same thing. We’re both practical people, so it makes sense. But I don’t want to be apart from you more than I have to. I enjoy your company, and I want to be near you.”

“Will you move in with me, chiquita?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Fuck, chica.”

I swoop in for a kiss that grows deeper. I lift her onto my lap because she’s not close enough just curled against my side. She straddles me, and I want to bury myself inside her. My left hand rests on her ass as my right hand rests on the slight curve of her belly. When we pull apart, she places her head on my chest. I run my hand up and down her back, and I know she’s listening to my heart. She’s told me how relaxing she finds it.

“I meant it about not having a second set of gear, but I didn’t want you to feel pressured.”

“I know. I was worried you didn’t want to live with me, so I took too long to speak up. I’m sorry if I made you think I needed convincing.”

“I understand.”

She sits back and smiles at me. I shoot her a lopsided grin that I know makes her giggle.

“I’d rather have a second set of everything at Mamá’s.”

“Ever practical, caro. My guess is she’ll need two sets of everything soon.”

Tre’s conspiratorial expression makes me laugh. I lean in to whisper as though we’re sharing a secret even though there’s no one else around.

“Who do you think it is?”

“I have my suspicions, but I don’t want to ruin it for you if I’m right, Joaco.”

I lean back against the sofa cushions, genuinely curious, my brow furrowed.