“My name is Julio, Bernardo’s brother. You’ll be spending the week with us, please let me show you inside. Bernardo is out on business and will meet with you at dinner.” Tick and I exchanged a look then grabbed our bags from the van before following him up the stairs into the house.
Bernardo hadn’t given me the impression that he held much class, but by the look of his house the man had expensive tastes. Marble flooring covered the foyer. A crystal chandelier dangled from the vaulted ceiling, small rainbows playing on the walls from the sunlight peering in through the massive arched windows on the second floor.
“Yeah. Thanks.” Tick looked around the place and gave me a look that reminded me of when we were kids walking through the museum in the city. Our moms would take us on one of those free days they had a few times a year, and Tick would worry about breaking something because his mom told us that if we broke something we’d have to pay for it. And if we didn’t have the cash, we’d have to live there until we earned the money. As a kid, I’d thought it an empty threat, one we’d never have to face, but now as an adult I had a horrible feeling tracking my every thought. It was a reality for Lucy. I’d left her behind with Jayson. I’d left her in his tortuous hands. I’d actually walked away, knowing he’d be using her body while I was gone. Could I have sunk any lower?
All for what? The club? For money? Fuck. I could have sent her and my mom away on a plane far away from Jayson. Forcing Lucy would have been necessary, but at least then I would know his fucking hands wouldn’t be anywhere near her. Instead, I sent her back, told her to hold tight until I finished this last fucking run.
“Hey. Get your head out of your ass.” Tick gave me a shove as we headed up the winding staircase toward the second floor.
“You can use this room.” Julio pushed the doors open to a room that looked like it belonged in a museum, not a house.
“Wow. You guys really make bank.” Tick whistled and walked into the room, tossing his duffle bag on the nearest loveseat.
Julio gave a half grin. “My brother does well enough. His wife, Carmella, likes the finer things. If it were up to my brother, we’d all be living in a warehouse working round the clock.” The way he said Carmella’s name struck me as different. Julio spoke perfect English, with only a small hint of an accent. His polished look, his elegant mannerisms—at first I’d guess he was gay, but after seeing his eyes light up at the mention of Bernardo’s wife, I realized the truth of the situation.
“When did you say Bernardo will be back?” I slid the bag from my shoulder.
“Sometime tonight. We’ll have dinner when he returns. If you need anything just pick up the phone. It rings the kitchen and someone can bring you whatever you need.”
“Thanks.” Tick nodded and started looking around the room. I gave a nod and Julio disappeared through the doors, closing them behind him. “Well, fuck, look at this place.” Tick held out his arms and nodded.
“Don’t’ get too comfortable,” I warned him. “We have shit to do. First we figure out how to get back through border patrol. I’m sure Bernardo will have a plan, we just need to make sure it’s safe. We aren’t going to have the firepower his men usually do.”
“Yeah. He has men to do this run over the border, why drag our asses down here for it?” Tick asked for the third time, and for the third time I shook my head, unable to answer.
“I don’t know. I don’t like it though, so keep your eyes open.” I eyed the bed in the next room. It had been a long drive down, and that bed looked almost as inviting as Lucy sitting a few feet away from me. “I’m getting a few z’s before Bernardo comes back,” I announced, and headed in that direction, already starting to kick off my boots.
I’d rather jump back in the van and head home to Lucy, but I’d have wait it out. Then I’d get to her as fast as possible and get her the fuck away from Jayson. Good standing or not, we were gone as soon as I got back.
***
Bernardo never showed for dinner. Julio made some excuse for him as we sat down in the expansive dining room. Wearing my usual shirt and jeans with my leather cut, I felt under dressed among all of the crystal and silver being passed around the table. Even though Tick and I ate alone with Julio, the full table had been set and utilized.
“Your president, Marcus.” Julio wiped his napkin over his lips. “He’s a good man? Honest?”
I looked at Tick, wondering how to respond. Tick stuffed his mouth with a forkful of chicken dish we’d been served. “I don’t think you get to where he is in life without being at least a little dishonest, but yeah, I guess he’s an honest man.”