Willow shakes my hand, her fingers trembling, her face even, her tone level. “Willow Allegra,” she says. “Nice to meet you.”
I see the fear in her eyes. The confusion. Thedesperation.
My brothers and I did our due diligence when we received an offer of employment from Becerra shortly before Christmas. It was an easy enough task to dig up all sorts of information on him. We knew of his history, of his criminal ties. Maybe Knox was right to question bringing him on as a client. The only reason Heath and I voted on taking the contract was because we were told we’d only be protecting Becerra’s wife—far from any kind of criminal activity. I just didn’t expect Becerra’s wife to be…
“I’m going to be out of the country for a few months for work,” Esteban explains, interrupting my train of thought. “I’ll be taking most of my guards with me to deal with a little…problemdown in Mexico.”
Willow gives him a pointed glare. “You’re leaving me with them?”
He lays a hand on her shoulder, squeezes harder than necessary, and nods. I grind my teeth. My blood boils at the sight. He’s being way too fucking rough.
“Yes,mi amor,” he replies, barely giving her a glance.
“I don’t need bodyguards,” she mutters under her breath.
“That’s not up to you.”
I clench my jaw so hard my molars squeak. This man is insufferable.
“No, after your adventures, shall we call them,” he says condescendingly, “I’m afraid I can only trust the best of the best to keep an eye on you.”
“So they’re my jailers,” she snaps.
“Jailers… Protectors… You can call them whatever you’d like,mi amor. Either way, they’ll be with you around the clock.”
Willow presses her lips into a thin line. Every fiber of my being burns to go to her, wrap her in my arms. I can’t believe she’s here. I’m equal parts relieved to see her again and infuriated that it had to be here of all places.
Esteban dips down to kiss Willow’s cheek. I don’t miss the way she cringes. “Go back upstairs, sweetheart. I need to show your bodyguards around the compound.”
Willow nods, casting her eyes to the floor. She’s doing a very good job of pretending not to know us. Probably for the best.
Esteban walks forward with a chuckle, clapping me on the shoulder. “Was the drive okay? I know traffic in LA can be a real bitch.”
“The drive was fine,” Knox says flatly. I can hear the tension in his voice. He probably realizes the predicament we’re in.
“Shall I show you around? The pool and gardens are spectacular,” Esteban continues with a wolfish grin. He walks off without waiting for our reply. It’s clear he’s the kind of man who does what he wants, when he wants.
I already have a general sense of the house thanks to the blueprints provided by Esteban’s people. It’s a part of our due diligence to make sure we understand every nook and cranny of our principle’s primary residence. We need to know the location of every window, every door, and every corner to provide the best protection detail we have to offer.
But this isn’t just a house.
It’s a damn fortress.
Hundreds of rooms, half as many baths, and several recreational areas sprinkled about. I take note of all the security cameras, the armed guards, and the barbed wire fences around the perimeter of the property. There’s even a team of oscillating patrolmen with guard dogs at the end of their leashes doing rounds around the clock.
From a security standpoint, there’s no way in hell anyone can force their way in.
But there’s also no way to force their way out, either.
“Beautiful room, yes?” Esteban says with pride as we walk into a massive atrium. The swimming pool spans several lanes, a hot tub just off to the side. The ceiling is actually one massive skylight, the daytime rays shining in and warming the chlorine-heavy air. “My wife-to-be will probably ask to go swimming, but you must be firm and tell her no.”
Beside me, Heath frowns. “Why’s that?”
“She’s tried drowning herself more than once,” Esteban says carelessly.
I clench my fists. “Is that true?”
Esteban glances at me, dead eyes staring at me. “Willow’sloca, makes poor decisions. A flight risk, to be honest. I need the three of you watching her at all times until I get back from Mexico. Once I’m finished with business, we’ll hold the wedding. Again.”