Page 80 of Cartel Devil

A knock on the door tells us it isn’t hospital staff. Frank reaches for his gun while I slide my hand back into my pocket, and Kathleen unzips her purse. An attacker isn’t likely to announce themselves, but we take nothing for granted.

“Come in.” I don’t like how weak Tre’s voice sounds, but it’s loud enough for the person to push open the door.

“Capitán, disculpe la molestia. Le traje ropa limpia.” Captain, sorry to disturb you. I brought you some fresh clothes.

It’s one of my guys. I’m glad to have them and to get out of these scrubs. It’s hard to appear intimidating when you look like you’re in pajamas. I made sure I hid my weapons under my clothes when they gave me a bag for my belongings and a hospital gown. I slipped the knives into my pockets when I got the scrubs. The gun’s nearby, still wrapped in my ripped trousers.

“I’ll be right back, Tre.”

I grab the stuff, thank my guard, and slip into the bathroom. I’m in and out in a couple minutes despite how excruciating it is to rush when I have road rash and stitches. I wanted to grimace with every move while the Vizzinis were here. I’m struggling to hide it from Frank and Kathleen since I wish I could sleep too. It’s reassuring to have my gun at my lower back again. Kinda like a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or pacifier for a baby.

“Mom and Dad, are you staying too?”

Tre sounds less enthusiastic about that than when she asked me.

“Do you want us to?”

“If you want.”

She hedges when her father asks her a question that she doesn’t want to answer honestly.

“We’ll have dinner with Tristano and fill him in. We’ll come back first thing. Call us if you need us back sooner.”

Kathleen leans forward to kiss Tre’s forehead. I’m certain she’s hoping Tre will call, so they can rush back and kick me out. Not happening. Frank hesitates when I offer him my hand, but we shake, and it isn’t the pissing match it was the first time. He accepts the olive branch I didn’t offer his brother or their chief advisor.

“Tre?” I wait until the door shuts behind her parents.

“Che vita di merda.”

Chapter Eighteen

Tre

The conversation wasn’t as horrible as I expected, but I could’ve lived without it. Even if Joaquin hadn’t voiced his suspicions, Uncle Tommaso did. I believe the only reason he’s considering I spoke the truth was because Joaquin called him out about it. I’m certain he did it as a preemptive move. He wanted to judge their reactions before leaving me alone with them.

Mom said the only thing he has going for him is his protectiveness. It was never in doubt, but I know she appreciated seeing it. He’ll never temper it, not even when I’m with people I know will protect me with their life.

“What happened? I don’t need to speak Italian to understand that. It’s close enough to Spanish to know what it means.”

I close my eyes. Not to debate whether to tell him what’s going on. Not even to debate how much I tell him. I’ll tell him selective truths. It’s to build up the gumption to tell him what I’ve decided to reveal.

“Neither Toria nor Elle were ever the direct targets.”

I get that out of the way immediately. I was never sent to harm them, even if I was supposed to use them.

Joaquin watches me, his expression entirely emotionless. It’s disconcerting just how blank it is. He’s done this to me before, but I’m still not used to it. I can usually read—make an educated guess—about the men in my family. But even as Joaquin and I get to know each other, I don’t think I’ll ever know anything he doesn’t want me to. It’s fucking unnerving.

I knew the moment I fell for him that I’d have to give more than he can. But as he waits for me to speak, I battle a swell of resentment. It’s not that I want to know his secrets. It’s that he gets to keep his. I don’t resent him so much as I resent the situation we were born into. I could’ve left it. Or at least put it to the side, but I had to go and fall for not only a syndicate man, but one in a ruling family.

Fucking glutton for punishment.

At least being with Steven warmed me up.

And that brings me back to Elle.

“My uncles want to know how things stand with the war in Italy. They wanted me to learn from Sera and Toria. I swore I would never betray them, and I haven’t. When I refused, they pointed me toward Elle. I warned them I would never learn anything from her. She’s far too shrewd to ever let something slip. They still insisted I try.”

That’s fifty percent of the truth.