So does Carmen.
Her smile returns.
“Good,” she says. “You’re finally looking in the right direction.”
“Did you send the roses to Eclipse?” I ask.
She lifts one shoulder. “Roses are everywhere in Miami if you know where to buy them.”
“Did you help take Lady?”
“Lady Nyx put herself in danger when she decided bikers were accessories. That is hardly my fault.”
Diablo lunges half a step.
I catch him again.
This time, he looks at me.
I shake my head once.
Not for her.
For us.
Don’t let her steer your hands.
He breathes through his nose, hard, but stays.
Carmen sees that too.
It makes her angrier.
Good.
“Look at you,” she says, voice sweet as poison. “Training him like a stray dog.”
“No,” I say. “Loving him like a man. That is probably why you don’t recognize it.”
Her eyes burn.
There. That one hurt more than her losing her crown.
Carmen turns toward the door. “Enjoy the night, Darling. Chosen women have such short seasons.”
Diablo’s voice stops her.
“You made your choice tonight.”
She glances back.
His expression is cold enough to frost the room. “You walked into Saints ground flanked by Mutherfukers. No more Solano courtesy. No more old debt. No more protection because Rafael was like a father to me.”
Carmen’s mouth thins.
“Then come for me, Diablo.”
His smile is terrifying.