“What about the weird guy?”
“I don’t know. He disappeared.”
Sighing, I had difficulty feeling my feet. “What does it matter anyway?”
“What does it matter? Jesus, Ms. Rivera. Miguel actually gives a shit about you and you continue to combat him in every step.”
“Yeah, well, have you ever been kidnapped before then told that it was because of a business arrangement gone bad? Then to find out that your father actually has no issues with it, perhaps was in on the planning of it?”
Sylvie sucked in her breath but continued moving. “That doesn’t mean you can go off halfcocked. Then I’ll have to be the one to clean up the mess.”
“I’d appreciate if you’d lay off the macho routine. You know, I might appear to be some fluffy princess who has been pampered her entire life, but I can hold my own against creeps and thugs. Now, you can take me back and dump me off because I know you have no desire to be hanging around with a girl like me.” Huffing, I managed to jerk out of her hold, even taking several steps ahead of her.
The gorgeous and very surreal turquoise ocean was merely a few paces away, the rolling water and the scent of the sea drawing me in, a reminder that I was only a few hundred miles from home. Home. As if that had ever been real. I was sick to my stomach, colors swirling in my mind’s eye.
“Look, I’m sorry, but Miguel asked me to protect you and that’s what I’m going to do,” Sylvie said as she flanked my side.
“Or he’ll punish you, even kill you?”
I could tell she was taken aback. “Miguel requires professionalism and loyalty. What I give him is respect.”
Her words simmered in my mind. I remained quiet, trying to ratchet down my frustration. She certainly wasn’t to blame. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be taking this out on you.”
“I know this must be difficult on you, but I do believe that Miguel cares about you.” Sylvie’s head never stopped moving as we worked out way down the sidewalk, no doubt headed for her Charger.
“I’m not certain about anything any longer. Who could that man have been?”
“Maybe nobody, just a tourist or a frustrated husband,” she said as we crossed a street, making a turn toward the parking garage.
“But you don’t believe that, do you?”
She shot me a look. “What I know is that there is someone hell bent on killing you and that’s just not going to happen on my watch.”
We walked in silence, finally reaching the car where she half pushed me inside, roaring the engine to life.
“You’re worried,” I said after watching her.
“Hell, yeah. There’s some shit going down that no one can figure out. You can almost feel a war is about to break out. Haven’t seen blood in the streets in a long time.”
“My father?”
She eased the car to a stop just before leaving the garage. “You’re going to have to discuss that with Miguel.”
“Of course. No one wants to tell me anything.” I studied the rolling waves as she drove, unable to get what my father had said out of my mind.
“You like him,” Sylvie said almost casually as she leaned back in her chair, giving me a wry smile.
“Who?”
“Don’t play coy with me.” She half laughed.
“How can I like a man I don’t know?”
“Hmmm… Miguel is a complicated man.”
“Sounds like you do know him very well,” I said, realizing that a hint of jealousy had crawled into my system.
Sylvie’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, the sound of the leather as she twisted her hand a distinct reminder of the bondage from before. I shuddered at the thought. “I know enough about Miguel Garcia to realize that very few people will ever truly understand the man inside.” She slowly turned her head, taking a deep breath.
“It sounds like you’ve been in love with him for years.”
“Love? Not a chance,” she retorted.
I lifted my eyebrows, believing her. “I’m no one to him, not really, Sylvie. The only reason I’m with him is revenge against my father. A deal made.”
“It may have started out that way,” she said in passing as she scanned the area, always on the lookout. “Don’t worry. You’re not taking him from me if that’s what you’re worried about. The truth is I’ve never seen Miguel with a woman for longer than an evening out. Even then, the situation wasn’t romantic. He’s a loner.”
“He tells me very little, has a Jekyll and Hyde personality.”
“You need to ask him why.”
“But you know. Don’t you?” I pushed.
“Look, I respect Miguel for the man he is, fair and caring. I admire his tenacity and business savvy. I appreciate the time he takes with those who work for him. I value his friendship especially since there wasn’t another one of his soldiers who didn’t have serious reservations about the fact I was promoted to one of his Capos. I’m not in love with him, Valencia, but I do care about his welfare. I would die for him without question. Anyone who attempted to betray either him or his family would have to come through me. I will also not betray his friendship or his trust.”
“I’m certain you’re a valuable asset. Did he save you from some horrible situation? Is that why you’re so loyal?”
She chuckled. “I have my reasons.”