The Vargas Cartel Trilogy (Vargas Cartel #1-3)(69)

She cleared her throat and planted her elbows on the edge of the table. “Do you want to talk about what happened?” She sucked her raspberry-stained lower lip into her mouth. “I’m fine either way. You can tell me everything, nothing, or a little bit in between.”

My stomach twisted. I missed Vera. She accepted me without judgment. I shouldn’t have waited so long to talk to her. I needed her, and I needed our friendship, particularly now. “How much do you know?”

“Not a lot. I called your dad the next afternoon when I realized you weren’t coming back.”

My eyes flared. “I can’t imagine that conversation went over very well.”

She shook her head. “No, it didn’t. He freaked. After that day, your dad called me twice. The first time he told me you’d been abducted, and the second time he told me they had successfully negotiated your release. He didn’t give me any details. Nobody knows anything. Evan hasn’t breathed a word to his friends either.”

“You asked them?”

She twisted a strand of her long red hair around her finger. “Of course.”

“I thought you hated them.”

“I did. I still do.” She took a sip of ice water. “They didn’t know anything except that you and Evan are back together.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is that true?”

I shifted in my seat. Then, I exhaled and held out my hand. Sunlight bounced off my engagement ring. “Actually, we’re engaged.”

Her eyes flickered to the two-carat square diamond ring glittering on my finger. “Oh, I didn’t realize. Nobody told me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t mention it earlier. I should have told you immediately.”

She shrugged her shoulders, but it looked robotic…forced. “This is the first time we’ve talked other than by text. I understand.” Her eyes darted around the restaurant as she fiddled with the prongs of her fork. “Can I help with the engagement party?”

“Evan’s parents hosted the engagement party two days ago. My mom handled the invitations.”

Carefully avoiding my eyes, she nodded, accepting my excuse without complaint. She knew my mom wouldn’t invite her, but it didn’t nullify my behavior. I’d been a bad friend, and I wanted to make it up to her.

“Tell me about it. Was it nice?” she asked, but I could tell she didn’t care about the answer. My inability to get my shit together hurt her. I’d alienated my only true friend.

I swallowed over the lump growing in my throat with alarming efficiency. “No,” I admitted. “I hated it. I hated the flowers. I hated the food. I don’t want to marry him.”

Her eyes snapped to mine. “Why? What are you saying?”

“Evan was waiting for me when they released me—”

“Wait,” she interrupted. “When who released you?”

I sucked in a weighted breath. “The Vargas Cartel. From what I pieced together, they abducted me as leverage to secure the release of Ignacio’s son from a U.S. prison.”

“Ignacio?”

“Ignacio is the head of the Vargas Cartel,” I clarified. “I guess they’d been watching me for a while. As the attorney general, my dad can influence the pardon process. That’s why they took me. They wanted to force the U.S. government to release Ignacio’s son.”

Vera’s mouth opened and closed at least three times before she spoke. “Did they hurt you?”

I didn’t know how to answer that question. People asked me that same question so many times in so many ways I’d lost count. She scanned my face looking for clues, or scars, or whatever people thought they could see.

My eyes dropped to my lap, and I brushed my hand over the faint pink scar on my neck. Ignacio had nicked my neck with a knife during a live video conference with Evan and his dad. Ignacio’s assault scared me, but my relationship with Ryker damaged me deep down where Ignacio never could. He made me want him. Crave him. Need him.

I smirked, but the action felt forced and unnatural. “I’m still alive. That’s all that matters.”

“Have you told anyone what happened?”

I shook my head, trying to erase the conflicting emotions, rising like a tidal wave from my gut. “No.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” She placed her hand on the base of her throat, her green eyes suspiciously glossy. “I won’t judge you or think differently of you. No matter what happened or what you did to survive, you’ll always be my best friend. I promise.”

“I know you wouldn’t judge me, but I’m not ready to talk about it.” I waved away the waitress as she approached our table. I needed to ask Vera something before I lost my nerve. “Right now I need something else from you.”

“What’s that?”

I cast a glance around the restaurant, making sure I didn’t know any of the other patrons. I selected a little-known restaurant, but my family and Evan’s family had a large circle of acquaintances. I needed to be careful. I didn’t want any of this to get back to Evan before I had a chance to talk to him. “Can I move into your apartment?”

“Of course,” she responded without hesitation. “You’re always welcome to stay with me. You’re my best friend.”