Fractured Freedom(34)

Well, no. There was that too. I knew she was making calls to Dante’s associate, Cade, and to Dante. She didn’t think to call me to apologize, though. “I don’t think she gets much call time, Mom.”

“Well, she barely calls me anyways. I don’t know where we went wrong with her.”

That should have been the moment I told her. Speaking up was the right thing to do.

Yet, the government thought it wasn’t.

I sighed. “She’ll get better, Ma.”

“You were always better about understanding her.”

“She is my twin.” I shrugged and tried to chase away the frustration by rubbing my eyes.

“Well, please make sure Dante stays with you for a few days, if possible. I think I’ll call his mother.”

My gut reaction was to tell her no. It would help with our story, though.

So instead, I appeased her. “I’m sure he’ll be working around here for a while, Mom. I’ll keep in touch with him. No need to worry, okay?”

“Of course I’ll worry. Your father and brother are mumbling that they miss you. Come visit soon, okay?”

I got off the phone with her a minute after and went to shower. The water pressure deserved a massage award compared to where I had been staying. I tried to relax into it and not think about a thing for all of ten minutes.





10





Lie to Your Best Friend





Dante





We’d only been near one another for a few days, yet already the smell of her was fucking with my head.

I rubbed a temple as I got two guys stationed on staircases of the hotel that very next morning just in case.

I’d left her alone all night, which was more than enough leniency. In my mind, she should have been in witness protection. I wasn’t putting Delilah in any unnecessary danger. I called Cade to watch the security cameras so no threat would go under the radar. “Make sure no one suspicious is down our hallway.”

“I’m not watching a fucking camera for hours, man,” he said it like it was above him.

“You watch a damn screen all day while you fiddle on computers. What’s the difference?”

“Fuck off.” He knew he didn't have to dignify my question with an answer. “I’m waiting on this cruise ship to set sail so I can see what guys leave on it. I got other shit to do. Call someone else.”

“I don’t trust anyone else,” I griped into the phone as I heated some water on the stove.

“Man, unless this girl is your girl, I’m not spending this much damn time on her. She’s not Izzy. There’s barely a threat—”

“Any threat is a problem.” I wouldn’t have Delilah exposed to anything I did, ever.

“Why? Izzy’s threatened daily.”

“Izzy signed up for this job, dumbass. She’s trained. I’m not working unless I know she’s safe.”

“So, she’s your girl, then?”

“Fuck off. She’s my best friend’s kid sister.”

“She’s a hot piece of ass, isn’t she? She hotter than Izzy?”

“Say it again and I won’t be working on torturing anyone but you.”

He laughed like he enjoyed all this. Cade hid behind the screens and coding. He didn’t let many people into his world, and most who knew him just a little thought he was a bit off. Yet, I knew he’d gone to great measures to make sure his now sister-in-law and brother ended up together. There was a soft spot for love in the man that he didn’t want anyone to see.

“I’m going to enjoy seeing you get pussy-whipped, man,” he said.

I didn't have time to argue with him, because my cell lit up with Dom’s name flashing on the screen.

“Shit,” I grumbled. Delilah was up. I’d heard her moving around and then talking with someone. It meant my best friend knew I was here, and I was going to have a hell of a time explaining why to him. “Do as I say, Cade. I’ll talk to you later.”

I switched over and didn’t even start with a hello. “Before you say a word, you know I’m special ops here and your mom told my mom. It didn’t take much else.” I poured some of the hot water from the stove into the manual pour over coffee maker I’d bought. It was only right to drink Hacienda San Pedro coffee that way. It was some of the best in Puerto Rico. After the hurricanes there, I was happy to be able to find some.

“Before I say a word? What the hell do you think I’m going to say?”

That I was fucking around with his baby sister.

We sat in silence because I wasn’t admitting that. Ever.

Then he sighed. “I’m calling to say thank you.” He emphasized the word, and it made me feel like a pile of shit right away. “I heard Ma talking to Lilah. Jesus, I almost flew down there today to try to work something out.”

“We got it under control.”

“She okay? She look shaken up or anything?”

“Nah. She’ll be fine. I’m going to be here for a while, so I’ll be able to check in on her.” I didn’t tell them I’d moved her right next to my hotel room. I wasn’t even sure Delilah knew there was just a wall separating us.

Which was probably for the best.