Page 34 of Dark Reunion

Dean nodded once. “I’m just trying to figure out your motive. You didn’t seem to ever want me to leave so…what is this?”

Carlos sighed. “I need to start showing you trust if I expect it in return. Isn’t that how this works?”

“Fine, I’ll go.” He slid his phone into his pocket and walked out, with a pace calibrated to telegraph mild annoyance and nothing else. He stopped at the door, looking back at his father for any sign that he was about to get stabbed in the back. But his father was a master of always looking psychotic, so it was hard to know.

Only when Dean rounded the corridor and the cameras dropped out in the brief dead zone between arches did he let his eyes close for one heartbeat. Dean marched to the bedroom, finding Yasmine sitting on the floor with Isabella in her lap, Tate and Aiden sat across from her counting coins, and Ava was holding Andrés in her arms.

“Dad!” The boys jumped up and ran to him, and instantly his heart warmed.

Their suite smelled like baby powder and crayons which was a little slice of normal.

“We’re going on a field trip,” he said, pitching his voice like this was the best news. “Town. Dinner and then…ice cream.”

“Yay,” Tate and Aiden cheered, as Yasmine slowly stood, worry in her eyes that matched Dean’s own.

“Go get changed,” he said, and the twins took off to put on something more suitable for outside of this room. Dean looked at Ava as she slowly stood. “Why don’t you go get dressed as well, we could use the extra hands.”

Ava’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Sir.” She bowed her head as Dean took Andrés from her arms.

“Is this for real?” Yasmine asked. They walked into the portion of the room that was their bedroom and she sat Isabella on the large bed.

“Yes, seems to be.”

“Are you worried?”

“Always when it comes to my father,” Dean stated, and smiled as Andrés reached for his face. Dean pretended to nip at the little fingers making him giggle.

“Guard count?”

“Unknown. We will see once we get to the courtyard.” He let his gaze flick to the door as if an afterthought. “But honestly as much as we have our issues, I don’t think Carlos would purposely try to hurt all of us.”

Yasmine gave him a skeptical look. “Maybe. Who knows with him.”

“True, but it will be nice to get out for awhile.”

“Always.”

Yasmine disappeared behind the accordion wall and reemerged in a pretty summer dress, fluffing out her long hair. Dean could only stare. She made his heart race.

“You ready boys?” Yasmine called out.

“Yeah mom,” Aiden replied with snark.

Dean turned and stared at Aiden. Aiden swallowed. “I mean yes mom,” he corrected, without the attitude

Great, it was starting already, what were they going to be like at sixteen?

They moved with practiced speed, gathering shoes, spare jackets, and Isabella’s little sunhat with the ridiculous brim that always made Yasmine smile. A bag with diapers, wipes, bottles, water, and a change of clothes for the baby. It was like they had children and turned into pack mules whenever they had to go somewhere. It was mind boggling how much stuff was needed. Finally, they gathered the kids and met Ava in the hallway before heading out.

The courtyard heat swallowed them even at five in the evening. Four SUVs waited. Engines idled, black paint shimmering, and doors open like jaws. The escort Carlos promised sat ready. Dean shook his head. Like this wasn’t going to draw attention.

“This is a lot of men,” Dean stated to Matteo, as if he didn’t know him.

“El Don wants you and your family to be kept safe, Señor,” Matteo replied, not missing a beat.

Dean’s gaze passed over the drivers, all with mirrored shades, standing ready to take them wherever they wanted to go. Well…almost wherever. With Ricco the count was exactly twelve guards, four drivers, his family and Ava.

Above the courtyard, a balcony door yawned open. Carlos stood there, no smile, one hand in his pocket, the other resting lightly on the iron rail, a pirate captain staring down at the ships he owned.