Page 10 of Dark Reunion

CHAPTER 5

YASMINE

The compound had corners that breathed secrets.

In the first month, Yasmine had learned which alleys the guards leaned against to smoke, what time they did their switches, and if there were any gaps for an escape. She knew which stairwells carried sound too well and which courtyards were safe enough to walk the children without raising suspicion. Safety didn’t exist here, not really, but she’d found a way to live within the illusion of it.

Today, she carried Isabella on her hip and the boys walked by her side as they trailed behind a maid. She was taking them to the kitchens. Their excuse was simple, food. Bread, milk, cheese, fruit. She’d learned quickly that a mother asking for food wasn’t questioned. Carlos’s desire to make sure they remained healthy and growing gave her freedom to rooms that normally she wouldn’t have access to.

And walking to and from all these locations let her listen.

They passed through the eastern corridor, sunlight slanting across the tiles. Two men leaned near an archway, their voices low, but the hush made Yasmine’s ears perk up with interest.

“Did you hear that the Alvarez shipments are moving faster since the river route opened?” the one guy asked. “The Don is going to hate that.”

“Not for long. He already knows and says that when those military fucks get back he will use them to crush the new line,” the second guy answered.

Her breath caught.

What military guys?

She didn’t pause, she didn’t dare. Yasmine kept her eyes straight ahead, but her steps slowed just enough to catch more.

“What is he going to have them do?”

The second guy took a drag on a cigarette and adjusted the rifle slung over his shoulder before answering. “He says that he wants the new Alvarez warehouses to burn. Alvarez won’t recover quick from that blow.”

A tug on Yasmine’s skirt broke her focus on the conversation and whatever else they said was lost. Tate whimpered, tired of walking. She crouched, smoothing his dark hair.

“I know baby it’s been a long day, but once we get our snack we can head to the room for a rest.”

“Carry me?” he asked, lip pushed out.

She smiled. “I can’t baby, but you’re a big strong guy, just like your Daddy. I know you can walk a little more.”

At the mention of Dean, his chin lifted. Both the boys always acted like they needed to impress him or maybe be just like him. Either way it did the trick. Tate nodded, and Aiden grabbed his hand with a smile.

With that settled, she slowly stood. The act was getting much harder now that she was six months along.

The maid shot an annoyed look over her shoulder. It clearly said, hurry up.

Yasmine glanced back where the men had been, but they’d wandered off. Her mind raced.

Shipments. Alveraz. Warehouses.

It was something Dean could use.

Yasmine always felt eyes on her, no matter where she went, and the kitchen was no different. There was no way to tell who friend or foe was.

Dinner prep was well underway, and the kitchen smelled delicious. One of the servants had taking a liking to them and packed two baskets for the boys to carry.

“Make sure you hold those tight, I’m counting on you two,” she said to Tate and Aiden. They nodded taking their job very seriously as they marched out the door.

Yasmine, normally avoided walking through the halls to get to the bedroom, but it was the shorter route and with the boys exhausted, she wanted to prevent a meltdown.

The halls felt smothering with the extra guards’ presence, and with the increased likelihood of running into Carlos, Yasmine’s nerves were stretched taut.

When she stepped out into the villa’s main foyer, the air thickened. Carlos Ramírez. She froze and thought about turning around, but it was too late, he’d already spotted her. His lip curled up as if knowing she planned on sprinting the other direction.