Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
My breath hitches at his question. I frown. “What do you mean?”
“How do you know him?”
I shrug off the question. “I don’t know him, not really, Papa. Our paths crossed when I was in Costa Rica looking for the gun runners. While I waited, we had a drink and a light flirtation. Nothing more.” At least nothing a girl needs to share with her father.
He stares for a long time as if he doesn’t believe me, and suddenly, I feel like the wild teenager I used to be, lying about staying out late and missing curfew.
“This will not be a short visit, Valentina.”
Good news for my libido. “Okay.”
He sighs, and his gaze meets mine with a serious expression. “We need to make sure the bikers can be trusted. That will take some time, so while we are here, I need you to be cautious and diligent, aware of your surroundings. Can you promise to do that?”
“Of course, Papa,” I say. “I always am because I was taught by the best.” I try to sound confident.
His smile tells me I’ve said the right thing.
“You were a very good student, but I wonder, have you been keeping up with your self-defense techniques?”
“I have. Just ask Emiliano.” I giggle.
Papa holds up his hands. “And stop evading your security details. Santiago is here to protect you.”
“Me?” I put my hand to my chest. “I would never, Papa. You have bad intel.”
He laughs again and shakes his head. “Just be safe, mi corazón.”
“I will, Papa.” I push off the bed and wrap my arms around my father the way I did as a little girl. “Te amo, Papa.”
He pats my hand. “Love you too, hija.” He pulls back and stares at the pile of clothes on my bed. “Until I am sure we can trust the bikers, we will stay in California. I need to focus on that right now, not you.”
I know what he’s saying. “Is this a real business deal,” I ask, “or are you just getting close to the bikers to kill them for killing Alejandro?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “You really are too smart for your own good, Valentina. Unfortunately, without the Iron Kings, we need them. So, for now, they live.”
Papa pats my cheek and leaves me alone in my suite to choose the perfect set of lingerie to light Jake on fire.
I pick through my lacy underthings, wondering if I should warn Jake that this deal isn’t what he or his club thinks it is.
My mind races with the consequences, but I know I have to protect myself and my father at all costs.
And now I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll need to protect Jake from him as well.
CHAPTER NINE
Dix
I pull up, once again, to the over-the-top monstrosity where Aria lives with her father and our future business partner. I stare at it for a long damn time. Does Valentina live in a home like this? I’ve never had much interaction with cartels, but I imagine Arturo lives in an expansive Pablo Escobar-style villa with peacocks and elephants roaming the grounds.
Lucky opens the door and gives me an amused look.
I throw out my arms and bust his balls a little. “Look who’s moving up in the world. She let you inside the big house?”
Lucky shrugs and rolls his eyes. “Yeah. I guess I have you to thank for that.”
"What’s her mood today?"
I ask because Aria is as mercurial as that fucking yapping mutt of hers. Lucky shrugs and closes the door. “She’s fine with me. Other than a little bit of rich chick disdain, she’s cool. It’s you she seems to hate.”
“Apparently, my charms don’t work on princess types.” At least this particular princess, anyway.
“She’s on the back terrace.” He nods toward the back of the mansion. “Good luck.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I take my time wandering through the giant living room. Won’t hurt Aria to make her wait a minute or two. I wonder if rich folks call it a salon or a sitting room? The furniture looks brand new and old as fuck at the same time, like it's straight out of those PBS shows my granny used to watch.
The kitchen is more modern with stainless steel and granite everywhere and a big ass platter of fruit on the counter. I pluck a strawberry from the tray and head out the French doors.
I find Aria relaxing in a tiny hot pink bikini. Sunglasses cover her face, but she doesn’t acknowledge me, so I eat the juicy strawberry.
“Ugh, can you chew any louder?”
I smile. “I could, but I only took one strawberry.”
She looks up at the sound of my voice and pushes the glasses on top of her head. “Dix. What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too, Aria. I’m fine, thank you for asking.”
She rolls her eyes. “I didn’t ask because I don’t care.”