For all the doubts she’d had and the reasons she’d wondered if she was wrong about him, deep down, Luca was a good guy. He cared about people. She didn’t believe there were any underlying motives to Luca’s words or his actions.
Really, it was her own fear that kept her from trusting him.
“Dr. Torres requested you,” Francisco said. “Once the Marshals provided him with a list of available doctors, he took only minutes to assess the names and declare that he wanted you to assist him.”
Kira lifted her gaze to Torres, a guy who talked only about his work and took everything very seriously.
“My work requires expert assistance.” Torres didn’t seem in the least bit flustered to be pointed out. “There can be no mistakes.”
“It’s a remarkable procedure.” Kira needed him to know she was impressed, but not in order to butter him up. “You’ve done some incredible work over the years, and to participate will be a unique experience for me.”
“One that you won’t be able to divulge to anyone.”
Kira nodded. “I understand. Just participating and assisting will be enough.”
“Markedly different from some of your other work. Hopefully the slower pace won’t be a source of frustration.”
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
Francisco said, “And the chance for us to get to know each other better.”
She looked at Francisco and saw the gleam in his eyes. This wasn’t a guy she worried would try to hit on her. At least, not other than just for fun. “I’m sure that will happen, considering we’ll be spending a lot of time together. However, I’m here in a professional capacity first and foremost.”
“A woman who lives behind a polite mask. How intriguing.”
Kira smiled at him. Luca might be a guy who liked solving puzzles, but Francisco was the kind who lived for a conquest, even if it was about ruffling her feathers.
“That means you have plenty of secrets yet to be discovered.” His eyes gleamed.
“When I come by later, I’ll bring a deck of cards. We can find out what secrets you have that are yet to be discovered.”
Francisco tipped his head back and laughed, causing him to gasp for breath.
Dr. Torres frowned.
“Sorry, Doctor,” Kira said.
Francisco patted her hand. “Don’t apologize, remember?”
She wondered if that was his philosophy concerning all the horrible things he’d done. A quick web search before she came here had yielded plenty of news articles and social media posts. Lengthy descriptions of friends or loved ones who had been caught in the web of his sins, innocent lives destroyed by the cartel.
This man, the charmer, could’ve fooled her if she hadn’t known who he was. But she also shouldn’t forget what he was capable of. He was able to turn vicious in a split second and was only here to get his treatment. If he had to tell the Marshals everything, then it was only for a ticket to better health or for the protection the Marshals offered from the current head of the cartel.
A man like this, in a position where he was vulnerable? He wouldn’t want anyone to know that he was scared the procedure might not be successful. She shouldn’t take anything he said at face value.
In short, he was everything she tried not to be—and hoped Luca wasn’t. She wasn’t anything like him, even if she was responsible for a terrible thing happening. Francisco wasn’t anything like her father either.
It was a good reminder that she shouldn’t judge herself too harshly. But giving in a little would lead to trusting Luca, maybe more than she should.
“There are some serious thoughts happening in that pretty head of yours,” Francisco said.
She smiled politely. “It’s been a long day so far. I should get some rest at home so that I’m alert when I come back.”
“Too much time spent with a powerful man?” Francisco motioned to the door.
Kira said, “We met a long time ago and reconnected recently.”
Francisco touched a hand to his shirtfront. “I’m heartbroken.”