He brought my hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. I took that as a show of gratitude.
“After you meet him, if you never want to see his face again you won’t.”
I looked towards the house and nodded. I wasn’t sure why after so many years I was meeting this guy, but it was better if I just got it over with. I had no moral obligations to him.
“I’m ready.”
Still holding my hand, Judas opened his door and began to get out, stopping when I asked him to wait.
“Shoes.” I pointed to my white-painted toes. “You can’t carry me here.”
“Actually, I can,” he replied as if this was a good idea.
“Judas, no. You’re not carrying me to meet…what’s this guy’s name?”
He flashed me a grin and let go of my hand to grab my heels from the front passenger seat. “His name is, Santiago Saldaña. You don’t call him that.”
“Why not?” I accepted my strappy heeled sandals. They were no longer dripping wet, but damp and a little warm.
“They’re warm?”
“Heated seats.
“Oh, that was smart. So, why can’t I call him that?” I slipped my shoes on.
“You’ll see.”
He helped me from the car, and I noticed the SUVs that followed behind Theo had joined us this time. I didn’t ask the obvious. They were here for security purposes.
Judas didn’t seem concerned about anything, though. A door on another SUV opened and Gavin slid out, a friendly smile on his face. He was dressed similarly to the way he’d been on the jet, weapons included. So, his role was to be a bodyguard too?
“You ready to meet your sperm donor?” he asked when he was within hearing distance.
“You know, I couldn’t understand how you two were friends before, but I think I’m beginning to get it.”
He laughed me off and greeted Theo.
Judas held my hand and we walked up the stairs leading to the large house with Theo and Gavin silently following. There was a slight summer breeze that felt good against the heat blazing down on us.
As we got closer to the top, three people approached. Two men and one woman. My attention stuck to the one on the far right. He was in a button-down and slacks, sporting a tie that had some kind of geometric pattern on it. Every feature I always wondered why neither Marcus nor Evie had—this man did.
I knew without question this was the who I’d come to meet—Santiago Saldaña. His eyes were trained on me, moving to my and Judas’ joined hands for no longer than a second. Nerves fluttered in my stomach as did a slow-to arrive bitterness. Judas imperceptibly squeezed my hand, giving me encouragement and strength.
We reached the top of the stairs and Santiago greeted everyone but me right away.
“Judas, always a pleasure.”
“That’s bullshit, Saint, but I’ll pretend you love me anyway.” He released my hand and shook Santiago’s.
The man laughed. “Yes, well I see your bulldogs are still alive and well, Gavin. Theo.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed,” Gavin jest.
I watched all of this more than a little confused. Did our actual families hate each other too? Okay, maybe hate was too strong of a word but there was definitely some underlying tension. When Santiago finally looked at me again, it was to introduce the people he was with and instruct us to follow him.
The darker man with dreads was Juan, he offered me a friendly nod and wave.
The woman who kept sneaking glances at Judas every few seconds was Charlie. She only stopped when she saw me watching her and made no effort to acknowledge me as Juan had. I would’ve laughed if it weren’t for the current situation or the desire to gouge her pretty blue eyes out.
I understood the allure. Judas was every delicious sin wrapped in a flawless suit. He emanated big dick energy, wealth, and powerful dominance.
Understanding and accepting though were two different things. Like me now getting why he wanted Joey wiped from the face of the earth despite the man not actually doing anything to me.
Santiago led us along a stone pathway to a terrace surrounded by a garden where a table had been set up with drinks and some type of fancy finger food. No one made a move to sit.
Judas summoned my attention with a light touch on my elbow. I peered up at him with a silent question.
“Do you remember what I told you?”
He’d told me lots of things, but for the sake of not looking like a fool or completely clueless, I nodded. I could tell right away he wanted to smile because I was full of shit. He kept my secret and affectionally touched my cheek before addressing Santiago directly.
“Theo stays with her,” he delivered the verdict in the firm, steely tone I was growing fond of.