“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 saythank 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.
“Alright. Good.” I heard his breath of relief over the phone. “I’m happy you’re looking out for her. She’s more of a kid sister than Izzy, you know? And Izzy needs to be in jail long enough to realize the consequences of her actions.”
“Izzy’s probably just going through a rough time.” God, they gave her hell, and she took the beatings in stride because she wanted this mission to play out.
“You always had a soft spot for her, Dante. Probably too soft.”
“Fuck you,” I grumbled. Dom was way too protective of both his sisters, and I’d already gotten one fist to the face after taking Izzy on a date.
“We can’t keep giving her passes. She got Lilah locked up this time.” I heard him sigh, and the turmoil in his voice was palpable.
I ignored it, though. My job was to ignore the pain and trek forward at any cost. “Delilah’s fine.”
“How long you there for? I’m going to fly down in a few weeks. Mom and Dad are working on bail money for Izzy but are researching rehab facilities first. I think she needs time there.”
I winced at that, but it was what Izzy and I were banking on. She would build her name in prison, dig out more intel on the drugs being smuggled, and then we’d find enough evidence on the boats Cade was watching to hopefully bust a cruise ship or two.
“I’ll be here.”
“So, you and Lilah are good?” He asked the last question with a bit more caution. Izzy was one thing—I’d gotten a fist for that. I’d get him trying to kill me for Delilah.
With Delilah, no one was good enough.
“We’re fine, man.”
“Nothing going on there?” His voice was low like he wasn’t sure he should have asked the question.
“What the hell does that mean?” I didn’t have a right to be offended, but I still was.
“I got to ask. I know she’s like family to you too, but she’s still my little sister.”