His words were possessive.

  The look on his face was carnal.

  And I was immediately pulled into the usual vacuum when I was around him, yet I did my best to shake it off.

  His touch always created warmth in my stomach, but his words had more of an effect on me than any touch had before.

  Seconds later, he left us in the waiting room, bypassing the receptionist and heading down a long hallway.

  I was still nervous, but my natural curiosity was winning the battle of nerves and excitement.

  The girl eyed the two of us curiously, but I noticed out of the corner of my eye she’d pulled out a lollypop. When she noticed I was watching, she lifted her eyebrows and grinned.

  “Will it be alright?” Her accent was delightful, the romantic sound matching her sultry attire.

  “Why not. Maverick. This nice lady has something for you.”

  He gasped when she held it over the desk, allowing me to nod my okay before giving him such a treat.

  “You just made him a happy little boy.”

  “He’s adorable. I’m trying for my third.” She rubbed her stomach and from the looks of her incredible body, I had no clue how she’d had two children.

  “One is enough for me. He’s a handful.”

  “I’m hoping for seven or eight. Which is why I’m so thankful they have a daycare here.”

  “Wait,” I said, almost having a heart attack when Maverick decided to run with the lollypop in his hand. “You have a daycare here?” I moved quickly, grabbing his shoulder and giving him the mommy look, the one that could be shifted into the venomous snake eyes when Kruz irritated me.

  “We do. The president insisted we have one.”

  “Then I’d like to meet him.”

  “Sexist and surprising coming from a woman who managed to catch Kruz’s eye. And from what I’ve heard, one capable of tearing the man apart if she so wanted.”

  The voice was seductive yet commanding in nature, the lilt also Spanish. There was a slight edge in her tone and when I turned toward her, I was equally surprised as it seemed she’d been with my comment.

  She was a vision of power dressed in a black pantsuit, dark hair swept into a tight ponytail. Her eyes were as mesmerizing as her attire and attitude. I suddenly felt woefully underdressed even wearing the new casual suit purchased for me.

  Her laugh was as sultry as her demeanor and the swagger in her step as she approached came close to terrifying me. She threw out her hand, her smile lighting up her face.

  “You must be Christine Callahan. I’m Genevieve Morales-Torres. Don’t tell my husband I refuse to use only his last name. He’s a bit prickly having a woman as president of our company.”

  It was impossible not to like her even if her presence swirled with danger and ruthlessness.

  “I’ve heard nothing about you other than you tamed a savage beast,” I said as I shook her hand.

  Kruz was hovering like an eagle, his face more pinched than I was used to seeing. Perhaps he suddenly feared his chicklet would find herself mixed up in trouble. Maybe I would. My stomach was suddenly a rolling mess, but I felt a strange sense of camaraderie that I hadn’t experienced with a woman before.

  Her laugh was indelible, just another extension of her sultry personality.

  Genevieve hunkered down as Maverick stood there with an awestruck look on his little face.

  “And you must be Maverick.”

  The little man dutifully held out his hand for her to shake.

  “Such manners.” She shook his small hand while looking up at me with respect. When she finally stood, she glanced at Kruz. “I think you can leave us alone now. Jago happens to be in the office today and asked that you stop by. Besides, your fiancée and I have many things to discuss.”

  I lifted my head, glowering at him. “You told everyone.”

  “I told no one. But you just did.” Kruz was miffed and that brought a smile to my face.

  Genevieve was my kind of woman, someone I might be able to call a friend.

  Especially since Kruz didn’t like it one bit. Not one bit at all.

  CHAPTER 22

  Kruz

  “I hate this shit,” I stated as I walked into Jago’s office on the thirtieth story of a sky-rise in the heart of the financial district.

  “This shit? Do you mean our billion-dollar business that’s increasing exponentially every month? That shit?”

  “We’re sitting on a powder keg and trust me, it’s ready to blow.”

  “What the hell crawled up your ass this morning?” Jago huffed as he poured another cup of coffee, glaring down at the mug as he always did when he popped into the office.

  I thumped down in the seat opposite his desk, although the cleaning crew spent more time in his office than he did. He was only here because I’d mentioned I was bringing Christine in to meet Genevieve. “Nothing.”

  “You’re a damn bad liar, Kruz. Christ. Let me guess. You have a guest who doesn’t take to following your rules.”

  Now he was grinning.

  Huffing, I looked away.

  “Or is it the fact Genevieve might be a tiny bit like her?”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Said like a man worried he’ll be emasculated.”

  “Like I said. Fuck you.”

  His laugh continued. “Have some coffee. It’s obvious you need caffeine.”

  “Maybe I need a drink.”

  “It’s nine-thirty in the morning. You’re late.”

  “I had a long night. And a kid in the house.”

  He sat down in his chair, leaning back and kicking his feet up on the edge of the desk. “I just bet you had a long night and I do find it difficult to think about you with a child anywhere close. How are things in domestic bliss?”

  “Christine wants to be an equal partner.”

  “In the marriage? Most women do. We’re no longer living in the caveman days.”

  “In the business. All of it.”

  He’d just started to take a sip of his coffee and coughed. But when he lifted his head, the damn grin he had returned. “You do have your hands full.”

  “What are you doing here anyway? Don’t you have orders to fill, people to kill?”

  “Very funny. I just wanted to drop by and make certain everything is still in working order. You know how Genevieve can be. Bossy bitch.”

  “You said it. Not me.”

  “Keep that in mind,” he growled.

  I hated when he was in a good mood. He was unusually annoying and that was the last thing I needed today. Fifty percent. “She doesn’t even know what we do.”

  “From what you’ve told me, my guess is she’s highly intelligent and can figure it out on her own. Do you think she’s serious?”

  My thoughts drifted briefly. “I do.”

  “Then you have a decision or five to make. The work together can be fascinating, but only if she understands that her life will be in constant danger.”

  “As if it already isn’t.”

  “You asked her to marry you. Right? I knew that’s what you were going to do.”

  “I merely suggested an arrangement would be beneficial in keeping her safe.”

  He tilted his head, one eyebrow lifting. “Like I said. A fucking bad liar. I can’t wait to meet this girl.” He acted as if he was going to stand.

  “I wouldn’t do that. Your wife made it perfectly clear she wanted time alone with Christine.”

  “Ouch. Just look out. By the end of the afternoon, Christine might be vice president. Then you’ll be in trouble.”

  He could laugh easily and that surprised me given we had Fassi breathing down our necks. “Did you have the planted information dropped off with Gio?”

  His smile faded. “I did. Let’s hope Navarro is right. We’ll need to play this carefully, which could mean a trip to New York. We’ll play it by ear. Besides, we have other problems.’

  “Which are?”

  “The shipment from Mexico was detained.”

  “By whom?” I bristled.

  “The fucking federal police.”

  “I thought your goddamn cousin had a tight hold on those bastards.” Eduardo Gonzalez used to be tight with Jago, almost brothers when they were growing up. Jago had spent a couple of years with his uncle training to become the killer he’d become. The man was smarmy, but trustworthy, his Mexican Cartel complete savages. That had garnered him complete respect and had created a secure passage for importing some of the best cocaine on the streets.

  “He’s had some unexpected issues, including some traitorous activity. Someone snitched to an undercover. The shipment was seized and Eduardo was almost arrested. There was gunfire, people dying. I was told it had been messy, but he has it mostly under control.”

  “And the goddamn shipment?”

  He took a sip of coffee then threw a look over at the bar. He was more stressed than he wanted to let on. “Held as evidence for now.”

  “That’s fucking crazy.”

  “And damning for our reputation. We’re going to have a long Zoom meeting with my cousin. We need to know the details.”

  “You think Fassi had something to do with it. Don’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him. If he was promised Christine as some payment as you suspect, by now he knows she suddenly disappeared. It won’t take him long to put two and two together. Since you slaughtered his men, he’ll have another ax to grind.”

  My teeth involuntarily gritted together. I’d called him near midnight, telling him what I’d managed to piece together. “He’ll want to retaliate.”

  “He will, but he’s not so stupid to head to Spain unless he wants a bloodbath. We have some time, but we need to develop our plan with the diamonds.”

  “Where’s Navarro?”

  “Putting out fires with the clients awaiting the ship of party favors.”

  “You sent Navarro?” Navarro wasn’t known for his soft handling of customer issues.

  “I knew you had other things on your mind and the clients in question won’t grant an audience with anyone but the three of us.”

  We sold to the elite of society. They were wealthy, powerful, and as corrupt as they came. While we were very careful who we sold our merchandise to, the clients anticipating this particular shipment wouldn’t take kindly to a delay.

  “We need to watch our backs.”

  He chuckled. “Always on edge. That’s what I like about you.”

  “What the hell is Genevieve offering Christine? Do you know?”

  When he lifted his eyebrows again, I shot forward in my seat.

  “You are shitting me,” I growled.

  “As I said. You might have a vice president on your hands.”

  “And you’re going to allow that?”

  “Not for me to decide. It makes sense. Imagine how the industry will take two powerful women at the helm of what could be a hot player in town. Once she heard about Christine’s father and what your guest said to you about the industry, Genevieve was completely on board with making this a go.”

  “I fuckin’ shouldn’t have told you. She’s been planning this for weeks.”

  Jago laughed. “Yes, you should have. It’s a goldmine actually. Or maybe I should say a diamond mine.”

  “You’re hilarious today.”

  “And you’re a pain in the ass. We should utilize Christine’s knowledge. Unless you think that will push her over the edge.”

  “She has knowledge, but no expertise.”

  His look made me roll my eyes. “For God’s sake, Kruz. We own half the government. We have access to professionals who forge credentials. Don’t you think we can embellish Christine’s resume enough to make her hiring plausible to idiots from the New York Diamond Club and beyond?”

  My teeth were firmly gritted. “People are smarter than you give them credit for.”

  “Maybe so, but we don’t need to play the game but for so long. We create credentials in her married name. We secure an audience in the Diamond Club. We determine a way to corner Fassi. We take him out. It’s that simple.”

  He waited for my reaction. I merely glared at him.

  Meanwhile, his smile remained.

  “Fassi is hungry. He wants retaliation. That means he’ll act on his emotions and not the evidence right there in his face. Besides, he’s aware she has knowledge. You know that. And what’s he going to do, tattle on the fact she’s not exactly who she purports herself to be? That would be shooting himself in the foot.”

  He was right and I hated him for it. “Then we do it carefully.”

  “Maybe we do need a drink. You care about this woman.”

  “She’s… different.”

  “Then we use her talents. We eliminate the dangers and move on. We’ll pay her well and you can enjoy her… attributes.”

  A few seconds ticked by and he stared at me for a beat.

  I rubbed my jaw. “She wants revenge on her father. She’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

  “Including marrying the likes of you,” he teased.

  My middle finger was in the air so fast he acted hurt. “I want her protected at all times.”

  His grin widened to an actual smile. “And she will be. Let’s find out what Eduardo has to say.” He leaned forward toward his laptop, stopping short a few seconds later. “You know. I’ve never known you to worry to this degree. Trust in the system. This is perfect. I believe you’ve found your match, Kruz. A beautiful woman you can tame in bed while allowing her to be a wildcat in the dangerous world in which we live. Welcome to the club.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “So you’re telling me you of all people allowed several of your men, not just one but several, to betray you,” Jago accused.

  I sat back, studying Eduardo’s reaction. He was slightly older, the wear and tear of brutal battles over the years taking a significant toll. I’d never been a fan of the man. But he was considered family and over the years, we’d successfully moved thousands of pounds of cocaine from Mexico into various countries without issue.

  Until now.

  Eduardo appeared even more haggard than normal, the lines crisscrossing his face a marker of things to come.

  Including his overthrow.

  That had been a concern for years as well, smaller and even more savage cartels making threats and destroying the man’s products on numerous occasions. I was surprised he was still standing.

  “Don’t act like that can’t happen to you, cuz,” Eduardo said in response. “Or should I remind you that you were almost overthrown by a woman.”

  Jago bristled and I grabbed the man’s attention briefly by shaking my head. Jago sighed in response.

  “Maybe so, but our profits have increased by thirty-five percent over the last nine months. How about yours?” Of course we knew the answer. Eduardo was hurting, in need of capital, and the quickest way to provide assistance was by continuing to run product through him.

  “Fine, Jago. What would you like me to do?” Eduardo asked, leaning forward in his leather chair.

  “Have a nice long chat with the authorities in your beautiful country,” Jago mused. He had an evil grin on his face, which meant he was manipulating his own cousin.

  “There are stricter laws, my friend,” Eduardo said in response, finally turning his attention toward me. We’d never gotten along, which was why Navarro had dealt with the man, making several trips into Mexico over the last few years. I’d just as soon beat the man to death as to do business with him.

  But that wasn’t possible.

  Eduardo shifted forward again in his seat. “I might need some assistance in ensuring this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”

  He was staring me directly in the eyes. “What do you want, Eduardo, someone to hold your hand or additional troops?” I asked, my tone indicating my annoyance.

  Huffing, his smile grew wide. “Maybe we need more of a marketing touch. Such as what you would provide, Kruz.”

  The fucker had played me.

  “Not going to happen,” I snapped.

  Jago was drumming his fingers on the table.

  “Think about it,” Eduardo continued. “Your reputation is widely known here in my beautiful country. You could do well to come and stand by my side. A show of force. You can speak to people. You can be seen. You have more finesse than I do.”

  Now the fucker was stroking my ego.

  “Nice try.” My distaste was evident.

  “Now, hold on,” Jago interjected. “Eduardo has a point. Sometimes the greatest power lies in being seen and nothing else. It’s been a while since we’ve made our presence known. Word would get back to our… enemies.” He used particular phrasing. I knew how Jago thought and what he believed.

  Even though Eduardo was family, there was no trust. He would sell his children off to the highest bidder if he thought he could earn more money.

  Jago had another point and I hated it. But I wasn’t going to argue at this point. Jago and I needed to discuss a few things.

  “Yes,” Jago continued. “I think the idea has merit. However,” he told his cousin, “I need to ensure some business we’re in the middle of won’t be hurt by Kruz’s loss. He is vital to every operation.”

  Now I gave the drug lord a nasty glare. Somewhere along the way, my friend had learned diplomacy. What had happened to the good old days of nothing but commands, violence, and bloodshed? I longed for them.

  “Understandable. Let’s discuss this further in a couple days.”

  Jago nodded. “Will do. Make certain you and your men keep an eye on our product. I don’t mind telling you how angry I’ll become if it suddenly disappears.”

  “Don’t worry, cuz. Under watchful eye.” Eduardo ended the call and I threw my head back, staring at the ceiling.

  “That’s bullshit and you know it,” I told Jago.

  The deep breath Jago took was telling. “Yeah, I know, but we have millions of dollars tied up. Short of a coup, we need to handle this carefully. You are the only man capable of doing that.”

  Laughing was easy.

  For him.