“She’s not your wife,” he answers.
“Maybe not yet, but she will be.” I smirk.
There is no way I’m not making that woman mine again. She’s always been mine, but now that she’s back, I’m keeping her. To hell with the consequences. I will find a way to protect her, make sure my world doesn’t touch her. It can’t be that fucking hard. My father has managed to keep my mother safe.
Chapter Eleven
When I manage to wrangle Emilio and convince him to come up to my apartment, no one is there. The first aid kit sits on the counter, but Tío E and Uncle Louie are gone. So is Jacob.
Shit. I knew I shouldn’t have left him alone with those two.
“Call your father and find out where he is,” I tell Emilio.
He is Tío E’s fourth child and probably the most troublesome one out of the five. But I blame that on my aunt and uncle for having too many kids. How can anyone keep tabs on five kids and know what each one is doing?
“Yeah, because he’s going to tell me his comings and goings.” Emilio laughs as he opens my fridge. His face screws up. “Why is everything in here healthy? What is wrong with you, Jaz?”
“Antonia did the shopping. And there is nothing wrong with eating healthy.” I pick up my phone and am about to message Jake when I realize I don’t have his number anymore. I message Bradley instead.
Me:
Is he with you?
Bradley:
Who?
Me:
Jake?
Bradley:
Yeah, your father did a number on him, Jaz. Why? This asshole won’t tell me shit.
Me:
My father overheard me yelling at him about prom night and how Jake took something from me and then never spoke to me again.
I’ve never discussed this with Bradley, and I’m guessing Jake hasn’t either. The only person I ever told was Antonia—and my mother but it’s not like she can tell anyone from the grave. Although I have no idea how long Jake has been listening to myconversations. There haven’t been that many. I try to visit Mom at least once every time I come home, but I also haven’t come home that often.
I didn’t have to travel back to Vegas much because everyone kept coming to New York to see me. Was my family trying to keep me out of town? Why would they do that? I never questioned it at the time. I have so many questions now…
“He’s downstairs in your father’s office,” Emilio says.
“Oh good, you can go find him there then,” I reply.
“Nice seeing you too.” Emilio chuckles and makes his way to the elevator.
I head to my bedroom and change into something a little more appropriate for work. I am supposed to be taking some of the load off my father’s hands.
Once I’m dressed in a plain black pantsuit with a blush-pink blouse, I head back downstairs as if the events of the morning did not happen. The moment I step into my office, I’m accosted by the very fresh memory of Jake on the ground and my father beating the crap out of him.
I wonder if I can get the office saged or maybe just totally gut it and redecorate. Anything to get that scene out of my head.
I move towards the desk, sit down, and open the laptop I dropped off the other day. As I look around, I realize the space needs a lot more personalization. It’s really… sparse. I miss my office in New York, and honestly, I miss my job there too. I do love being with my family, though. As annoying as they are, I love them and I do miss them when I’m away.
I push those thoughts aside, start up my computer, and open my email. There’s nothing there. I don’t know why I’m surprised. It’s my first day, and honestly, I expected my father to spend the morning with me, outlining exactly what it is I should be doing. I really do not want to have to face him just yet. So instead, I stare at the blank screen, contemplating my next move.