Blood & Loyalties

“You’re leaving,” she choked out in a whisper.

“I am. I have things I have to do.”

She tried to give a small smile, but it fell short. The tears welling up in the corner of her eyes were crushing my heart.

“I know.” Her voice was so soft I could barely hear her.

I broke. “We aren’t finished, Catarina.” I brushed her hair away from her face. “Tell me that you feel this. Tell me that I’m not alone in this.” I felt like a damn pussy, but I had to put myself out there. I had to know she felt the same way.

Her eyes widened and a small gasp left her luscious lips. A tear spilled from the corner of her eye and I brushed it away with the pad of my thumb. “I don’t want you to go.” She whispered and I felt crushed.

“Come with me.” The words spilled from my lips before I thought of any of the repercussions of the declaration.

Her hands clutched me tight. “I can’t, my life is here. My family, my job. I can’t just pick up and leave.”

I knew that and it was stupid of me to even say the words, but I didn’t know how long I’d be gone. Hell, I could be fifty and just getting back to her and that ate at me. I couldn’t imagine not waking up to this every morning and falling asleep with her wrapped in my arms. Fuck me.

“I know.” I said softly, brushing my lips against hers. “I’m coming back for you,” I promised.

She silently nodded. Her arms wrapped around my body, pulling me to her like she was silently begging me not to leave her. We lay like that until a slight tap came at the door.

“Yeah,” I answered, covering up Catarina’s body.

Brett opened the door. “It’s time, boss. The plane’s ready.”

I gave a chin lift, dismissing him, and then turned back to the woman in my arms.

“Be safe,” she whispered.

“I’m coming back for you,” I promised again.

She didn’t answer; instead, she kissed me hard and deep, sucking the breath out of me. I could feel her heart breaking with the kiss before she pulled away.

“I mean it. I’m coming back.”

She nodded this time, but no words came from her gorgeous lips.

Reluctantly, I rose from the bed and dressed. Catarina went to get up, but I halted her, holding up my hand. I needed my last vision of her to be in bed.

Opening the door, I chanced one last look at the woman who had captured my heart in such a short time. The misery was written all over her face, and I ached to make it go away.

“I’m coming back,” I tried to reassure her once more. To reassure myself.

A lone tear rolled down her face, and my heart shattered as I walked out the door.

Chapter 10

Nine Months Later

PULLING INTO THE driveway at my estate, I saw a small black car waiting, and my stomach plummeted. Fucking Maria. I did not want to deal with her shit today. Hell, I didn’t want to deal with her shit any day.

After I got out of the car, she followed suit. She was blonde and beautiful, but there was nothing between her ears and more dicks had been between her legs than humanly possible.

“Hey, baby, it’s been a long time. I missed you,” she purred, making me want to retch.

“I didn’t. What do you want?” I walked right past her to the front door. She wasn’t getting in, so she had better make this fast.

“Can I come in and talk?” Even her most seductive voice fell flat with me.

“No. Talk or go.” I turned, crossing my arms over my chest, ready to be done with this shit.

She sighed dramatically, like it would buy her some time with me. Nope.

“I need money.”

Anger rose. “I give you fucking money every damn month. Way more than I need to, by the way.”

“I need more. I got into some trouble with Mickey. It’s just a bit, and I promise I’ll pay it back.” Mickey was a loan shark who had ungodly rates. There was no reason she even needed to go to him with the cash I gave her every month to leave me the fuck alone.

I scoffed. “You won’t pay shit back. I’m the only money you have. What did you do this time?”

“I needed some new things and didn’t have the money, so he helped me out.”

My eyes turned cold. “Was that before or after you sucked his dick and fucked him?” I hated her, and I was getting damn tired of her shit. Her train was about to run the fuck out of track.

Her face turned red with anger. I didn’t care. “That is none of your business. I’ll make it up to you.” She approached me like a hyena ready to pounce on an antelope. Her fingernails came up, scraping my arm in a seductive dance meant to entice. It didn’t.

“Get your fucking hand off me.” She complied quickly at my tone. “How much?”

Her shoulders drooped in defeat. “Ten K.” Her eyes met mine, wincing. She was ready for the anger, but it didn’t come. I was done. This was it.

“I’ll take care of it, and then I’m done. No more money. No more coming by. No protection. I’m wiping myself clean.”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened just a hair to allow the gasp to escape as she stumbled back a bit. Good, I was glad I’d finally shocked her.

“You can’t do that. How will I live?” Her protests fell on deaf ears, and the screeching was giving me a headache. I had too much to do.

“Told you I’d handle it. From now on, you’re on your own. Divorce was final a long time ago. I helped you out for years so you’d get on your feet, but you can’t. Not my problem anymore. I’m done.” I turned to the door, unlocking it with my finger print, some technology the techie guy had installed for additional security.

An arm latched onto me, and I spun around. Before I could say a word, Maria dropped to her knees and hurriedly tried to unbuckle my pants. I jerked away.

“What the fuck are you doing?” The sound bounced through the night sky as she fell forward on her hands and knees in front of me.

“I’m sorry. I won’t screw up again. Please give me another chance.” Her pleas did nothing for her case except make her sound even more pathetic. Tears began streaming down her face, and once upon a time, I might have fallen for it. Not this time.

“Get up and leave, or Dan will make you. You are to stay away from everything I am a part of. If you come near me again, it will be the end.” I quickly walked through the door, locking it behind me. Dan could come in after he got rid of her.

***

I watched as Vi

The building was right outside of town with enough acreage around it to hide all the screams this asshole was dishing out. Rats and spiders infested the place. Not that we had been on the ground, but having those huge-ass fuckers run across my feet wasn’t happening. After I’d shot four of the nasty things, they’d learned to move away and stay away.

The rain had torn part of the roof away before giving way to the sunlight shining on one of Zan’s enforcers who was kneeling on the ground. I didn’t even give a shit about his name. It was pointless. Either he had information on the whereabouts of Zan, or he was dead. Who was I kidding? He was dead either way.

Diego, my right hand, stood next me. His arms crossed over his body, watching Vi

That in itself pissed me off, and each day I was here in California and didn’t find that fucking piece of shit made me angrier. I took it out on my enforcers more than I should, but they should have found him by now. Even Vino and Sal couldn’t get a track on him, making the amount of time we had spent working on this astronomical. It was like he was a ghost, moving without a trace. I had even hired some top notch guys, ex-military, to help recently. They had been on the case a day and brought me the fucker now at my feet. Apparently, he was one of the last people to have seen my uncle before Zan had left.