James said nothing.
But I knew he understood.
How could he not?
“Are you ever going to tell me their real names?” I once again felt his eyes on me instead of on the road where they should’ve been. “Or do you want me to guess?”
I fidgeted, bouncing my legs in place. “Whenever they’re ready, they can tell you themselves.”
“Fair enough.”
Dread slithered up my spine as my guy slowed the truck and pulled into a familiar alleyway—one in which I’d gotten both beaten and high in more than once—before parking and killing the ignition.
Unlatching his seatbelt, he turned. With his whiskey-colored gaze locked on mine, he leaned back against the driver’s side door, his handsome face the picture of sorrow.
My chin trembled at the sight.
“Please don’t cry,” he whispered, voice rock-steady per usual. “If you do, I’m going to start the truck, back out of this alley, and drive you straight to my house, where you should already be.”
Choking back tears, I shook my head. “You can’t. Not until they can come too.” I promised Jade that I’d never leave neither her nor Ashley behind. I meant it. “But when that glorious day comes, I’ll go wherever you want me to.”
Pure mush.
That’s what was rolling out of my mouth.
Yet, it couldn’t be helped.
When it came to James, I melted.
And in my heart, I knew I always would.
Blowing out a ragged breath, my guy leaned across the seat and popped open the dash. Pulling out a white envelope filled with cash, followed by a black cell phone, he sat straight once more.
“These,” he said, holding up both items, “are for you.”
My lips thinned. Though I didn’t want to accept it, the cash-filled envelope wasn’t surprising. Monetarily speaking, he did what he could to help take care of me. But a phone? If El Diablo caught me with such a thing, it would be my demise.
Not missing the confusion flitting across my face, he placed both items on the seat between us and slid them my way. “I know you’ll have to hide it,” he said, reading my thoughts. “But I want you to have it for when you need it. My number is already pre-programmed, along with a few others. If the shot we’re waiting for arises, or if you need help for any other reason, you start making calls without thinking twice, yeah?”
I said nothing as I picked up the cell and scrolled through the contacts, all of which were accessible with just a few clicks. Guapo, Hendrix, Maddie, Tuck, Crazy Old Biddy, Fire Station, they read.
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “Crazy Old Biddy?”
He chuckled, warming my fluttering heart. “You get into trouble and can’t get ahold of me, you call her and she’ll come running, guns blazing.”
I laughed at such an image.
“You think I’m kidding,” my guy continued, shaking his head. “But trust me, beautiful girl, she is not someone to mess with.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.”
“Then how come she hasn’t shot you yet?” I smacked my lips closed, hoping he’d realize I was only teasing.
Thankfully, he did.
“Hell, she’s tried. Luckily for me, when she did, she’d already taken off her glasses and was using her pistol instead of her shotgun.” Stomach clenching, I leaned forward, boisterous laughter spilling free. “It was not funny. Damned bullet missed my ass by mere inches and dinged my front porch. All these years later and it’s still buried in the railing.”
“Dios mío”—I couldn’t stop laughing—“why did she try to shoot you to begin with?”
“Because of my son, that’s why.” Chuckling, he shook his head. “When he was around sixteen, she caught sight of him sneaking Maddie out her bedroom window in the middle of the night and took it out on me.” He grunted. “Looney-ass woman could’ve killed me.”
I couldn’t wait to meet such a colorful character.
And I told James as much.
“Yeah, well,” he replied. “She’s going to love you, that’s for sure.” Readjusting the ball cap he’d put on after waking up, he licked his lower lip. “But no matter how hard she falls for you—and she’s going to fall hard—her feelings for you will always pale in comparison to mine. Remember that.”
A familiar blush stained my cheeks.
Dipping my face, I fidgeted in my seat. “Want to know a secret?” I stole a peek at him just in time to see him nod. “I think you may be a more talented thief than I.”
Confused, his brows rose. “What do you—”
“I mean,” I finished for him, already knowing what he intended to say. “That I never stood a chance against you.” Gripping the phone I still held tight, I paused. “You’ve stolen my heart—one that I’ve kept locked away and guarded for many years without me even realizing what was happening.”
“Carmen…”
“Si?”
“Get your pretty little ass over here.”
Moving quickly, I crawled across the seat and straddled my guy’s strong thighs. Chest to chest, I curled my fingers around his solid triceps as he wound his arms around my back, anchoring me in place.
“I need you to promise me something.”
Noses brushing against one another, I lifted one hand, palming his stubble-covered cheek. “Anything.” Thumb caressing the corner of his lips, I waited for him to speak. “All you have to do is ask.”
Fingers stroking my lower back, he brushed his lips against mine—once, then twice—before pulling back the slightest bit. Glossed over eyes locked with my own watery ones, he inhaled my exhale. “Promise me that you’ll come back to me.”
A tear slipped from my eye and dropped onto his cheek, mixing with one of his own. “I promise, Guapo,” I whispered in return, eager lips resting just above his. “No matter what happens, I will always find my way back to you.”
It was a vow I made with my entire heart.
And one I’d always try my hardest to keep.
Twenty-Nine
James
Keep your temper in check…
The mantra echoed through my pounding head as I slammed through the station’s door, my
