“And Jesse?”
I meet her gaze.Theconversation is about to happen. “I rarely see him around, why?”
“Just wondering. I know he’s also been busy since the merger happened.”
“What do you mean when you say the merger? I’ve heard it mentioned a couple times now, and I know it’s why Riley is away, and now you say it’s making Jesse busy, so what does it mean?”
“They didn’t tell you?”
I shrug and shake my head. “Why would they tell me?”
“You are a part of the family now.” Hensley pauses. “The merger that gave the Astors the power over Mexico.”
“When you say power, you mean drugs?” I whisper the last word like a curse. In my life, that’s all drugs have ever been, and I’ve never seen them not cause destruction.
She smiles. “That and everything else. What the Astors have accomplished here, in this city will extend past the southern border. Riley just became a kingpin.”
“That sounds dangerous for him.” Kingpins have targets on their backs. Everyone they care about do as well. Nerves cause my stomach to flip.
She stands, pacing the room. “Not any more dangerous than everything they’re into here. Plus, it’s different there. The cartel wanted a leader who has a shiny reputation to take over. They needed clean leadership so the feds would stop breathing down their backs. The government wants a reason to say they’ve fixed problems without dismantling the cartel. The Astors can’t fix the cartel, but they have the money and the means to hide what they do better. Everything illicit will disappear and the money will roll in in droves. It took a long time to make this merger happen. Years in the making.”
I squint, trying to comprehend the severity of what she’s saying. It’s hard to wrap my brain around an empire this large. Something remains unanswered. “How would this make Jesse busy?” My voice cracks, giving away my fear.
“He’s head of security of course. It changes how they go about business here, makes it a bit more challenging to prevent challengers from gaining headway here.” I think about how briskly he annihilated an entire apartment complex and the intruder the night Riley put me in the panic room.
“It is more dangerous for him,” I say, gaze aimed at my feet.
“It’s true then?” Hensley clears her throat, drawing my focus on her.
I exhale. “What’s true?”
“That you’re withbothAstors.”
I calculate the risks of telling her the truth, pausing briefly. You’re with Riley for the public, Jesse said. Of course, she catches the hesitation—her jaw shifting back and forward subtly. “Not in the way you’re probably thinking.”
“I was almost certain Riley’s last girlfriend was with Jesse too, I couldn’t prove it though. The way Jesse looked at you was unmistakable. He has feelings for you.”
Feelings aren’t what I’d call what Jesse has for me. I lick my lips. “I’m with Riley, Hensley, I was curious about Jesse because I think he might have feelings for me, and just wanted to get a read on him.” A big fat lie, but she buys it. I bluster on. “One night, Jesse and I spoke about our pasts, and he started acting that way after.” I shrug and grab my stuff. Hensley follows me out, gobbling up every single word.
“Does Riley know you have these suspicions?” she asks.
I nod, not wanting to start anything. “Well, I mean, I’ve mentioned it, but I’m just me, so I’d never insinuate anything about a family member.”
She narrows her eyes when the elevator pings open and our guards flank us on either side. “What do you mean, you’re just you?”
I exhale noisily. “Only that I’m nothing special and I’m sure he only spoke to me about personal matters because I was the only one there and he was drunk.” Another lie.
“Jesse doesn’t drink. He has an addictive personality, and you are the most beautiful woman in any room, Drew. Which is unfortunate because I’ll never be able to pull rank if we become close friends.” A smile lets me know she’s being coy. “You are everything special, and it’s a shame anyone in your past let you assume differently.” Before she steps into her waiting car, she says, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret. Even if I’m jealous as fuck.” A wink, a sigh, and she’s gone, with me staring after her bright red sports car. It’s being driven by security, but I’m sure it’s her car of choice. I want that, too. As these friendships grow, I find things in them that I want to be my own, and given the circumstances, there’s no reason I can’t adapt and transform.
My phone rings as Reggie drives me back to the apartment. “Hi,” I say, my stomach flipping the second his name appears on the screen. The background noise is nearly deafening, then he speaks and everything except the timbre of his voice falls away.
“I miss you, too, lamb. How much do you miss me?” At my nickname, my core clenches and I’m immediately wet. Wet for him. Wet for his words and his attention. My heart skips a beat. You’re going home to Jesse, I remind myself, slamming my eyes closed. Separate the two, you silly twit. It doesn’t matter how much I scold myself; I yearn for Riley.
I sigh, ready to unload everything onto him, but think better of it. Does he really want to hear how Jesse is being a jerk, and how PACHA is gossiping about our love lives? No. I’ll be intuitive now. What does Riley want from me? “I miss you more than I thought humanly possible. Missing you is like missing half of myself.” I groan. “I want to see you right now.”
Even though I can’t see him, I know he’s smiling. “I’m sending the jet for you. Can you be ready tomorrow?”
I want to be with Riley, but my stomach flips with unease at the thought of leaving Jesse. He senses my hesitation and must know why. “The art show tomorrow night has been canceled, Drew. Jesse will be heading to Mexico for work reasons as well.”