“But that’s exactly my point. Why didn’t he take you to her right away? Why has he been keeping you here in secret?” She speared me with a significant stare. “What is it that he wants from you?”
My cheeks flamed, and I cut my gaze to the floor. “It’s not what you think. I want him, too. I did want to get back to Carmen when he first brought me here, but I was just scared. He’s proven to me that he won’t abuse me. But after a few days passed and I settled in with him, it was too late to go back and tell Carmen that he’d lied to her.”
Strength flooded my body in a sudden burst, and a sense of peace settled over my soul. “I’m with Raúl willingly. I care about him, and I care about Carmen. I don’t want them to fight because of me. If that means letting a little more time pass until things stabilize with the cartel, then I agree with Raúl’s decision to keep me a secret.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “I really do appreciate that you want to help me. You thought you were putting yourself at considerable risk to even offer it. But I promise you, Raúl won’t follow through on whatever threats he made. I’m sorry that he scared you, but you have nothing to fear from him. I swear.”
When she still appeared skeptical, I powered on, determined to defend Raúl and to put her mind at ease. “Ever since the moment he met me, Raúl has protected me. He’s done so much to keep me safe.”
I launched into my story, telling her how Raúl had protected me while I was the cartel’s hostage and how he’d saved me in Juárez before bringing me home with him. I told her about how I’d trusted him enough to open up to him about my past: how Gehovany had turned my world into a nightmare; how I’d fled from my home to spare my family; how Carmen’s associate had bought me from the coyote and dragged me into hell.
“After all that, Raúl has saved me. I’m choosing to stay with him.” I spoke the last with particular clarity, willing her to understand. Surely now, she’d have to accept that Raúl was good to me. She’d have to acknowledge that he was only lying to Carmen to avoid a conflict that could turn bloody.
Isabel remained silent for several long seconds before finally offering me a slow nod. “Thank you for sharing all that with me. I had no idea what you’d been through.” Her eyes were wide and earnest on mine. “I really am happy to hear that you feel safe here. I’m happy that you’re not suffering anymore.”
I grasped one of her hands in both of mine, trying to convey the depth of my gratitude. “Thank you. And thank you for agreeing to meet me, especially when you were scared of Raúl. It’s wonderful to have female company again.”
I blinked rapidly, clearing the sudden sting from the corners of my eyes. “But I’ve been talking for what feels like hours. I’d like to get to know you. So, you live here in Mexico City? What’s it like? I haven’t been able to spend any time exploring yet.”
I made sure to add the yet, a firm indication that I wasn’t Raúl’s prisoner. I would eventually be able to leave his house.
She spoke haltingly at first, clearly still a bit uncomfortable with the entire situation. But by the time she started telling me about her favorite secret clubs and late-night cantinas, she became much more animated. Her sparkly pink nail polish flashed as she gesticulated excitedly, sharing her love of the best clubs for salsa dancing.
I peppered her with questions, catching her infectious exuberance. By the time Raúl stepped into the lounge, Isabel and I had made half a dozen plans about places we would explore together soon.
When he cleared his throat to announce his presence, she stopped speaking on a frightened squeak. I offered her a reassuring smile, silently willing her to believe what I’d said about Raúl’s good nature.
“It’s time for dinner,” he announced, a clear dismissal of my guest.
I dropped my gaze to the floor just in time to prevent myself from rolling my eyes at his surliness. I could tease him about it later, but I wouldn’t do anything in front of Isabel that might damage his fierce reputation. While I didn’t want her to fear him, I also knew that the softer side of himself he showed me was intensely private. Allowing someone else to witness it would be a deep betrayal of his trust in me.
I made a show of glancing at the setting sun through the lounge windows. “I really should start cooking.” I turned a warm smile on Isabel. “Thanks again for coming over. It’s been so wonderful getting to know you. I’ll see you again soon?”
She shot an uneasy peek at Raúl before her attention darted back to me. “Definitely,” she agreed. “I’ll get in touch in a day or two, and we’ll plan something. Sound good?”
“I’d love that.”
I walked her to the door and waited until her car disappeared down the curve in the driveway before finally going back inside. Raúl was waiting for me, his brawny arms spread wide. I stepped into them without a second thought, eager to be enfolded in his strong embrace.
Chapter 20
Raúl
I sat back on my heels, no longer bothering to pretend I was doing anything useful in the garden. Instead, I indulged myself in my new, obsessive pastime: watching Marisol. The full pout of her rosebud lips was the most exquisite thing I’d ever seen, and the bead of sweat that rolled down her chest to disappear between her breasts was shockingly erotic.
My unquenchable, savage desire for her was balanced by the quiet calm that I found in simply observing her, seeing her safe and content.
All because of me; because I provided for her. I protected her.
My little lamb wasn’t lost anymore. She was right where she belonged. Against all odds, she seemed truly content to be with me.
An irritating ding from my phone distracted me, and I pulled it from my pocket with a scowl. When the security notification appeared on my screen, a block of ice dropped in my gut.
“Go inside,” I barked, already making my way towards the front of the house.
“What?”
I rounded on her, not sparing her from my fearsome glower. She shrank back, but I couldn’t find the calm to reassure her. Rage clawed through my chest, ripping all the more cruelly because it was edged with panic.
“Get inside, and stay inside. No matter what. Now, Marisol!” I bellowed when she didn’t move fast enough.
Her wide eyes and fearful gasp knifed through my heart, but I didn’t stop to muster up comforting words when she fled to follow my ferocious order. The presence of the men at my gates dragged at my attention, taking up too much space in my brain for me to have any reserves left for gentleness with Marisol.
It’s good if she’s afraid, I reasoned as I ran straight for the garage. She won’t try to leave the house if she’s scared of what’s out here.
My own stomach flipped with fear; a sickening sensation I hadn’t felt in years.
But my fear of them was too deeply ingrained to ever eradicate, even if they hadn’t dared to bother me since I’d joined Stefano’s cartel.
The police were at my house. Waiting at my gate. Trying to take me from my home and lock me away.
I reached the garage and threw myself into my nearest SUV. The garage doors took an eternity to open, and a low growl sounded in the back of my throat. By the time I finally slammed down on the gas, my knuckles were white from my death grip on the steering wheel.