Wait, what?
He swore. “I’ll explain later, for now. Hide in the bushes.”
“You’re serious?”
“No time for you to go back in the house, so yeah, I’m serious. Go.”
I glanced over my shoulder. The black sedan pulled into the circular driveway.
“Fine.” I skipped over to the bushes and ducked while Sergio made his way to the front of the house.
The large water fountain made it hard to hear any sort of conversation, but I could tell it wasn’t a fun one.
Sergio’s hands were in the air making gestures, while the agent’s hands were in defensive mode.
Finally, Sergio threw a badge and a few other things onto the ground then emptied his gun and handed it over.
He was defenseless. Why would he do that?
The agent took the gun and leaned down to pick up the rest of the things Sergio had thrown. He hung his head, almost like he was sad, and then the strangest thing happened.
The agent wrapped his arms around Sergio’s stiff body and hugged.
“His old partner,” Nixon said from behind me, scaring the crap out of me.
I nearly fell over.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I pressed a hand to my chest, my heartbeat was erratic. “I didn’t know he had a partner.”
“Apparently they were close — though he never knew Sergio’s true involvement with us.”
I frowned and continued to watch the exchange.
“Will he hurt him?”
“Who?” Nixon asked in a calm voice.
“Will the partner hurt Sergio?”
“Doubt it,” Nixon whispered. “Regardless of the information the feds have on us, they still know that Sergio’s part of our family. Retaliation would be expected. If they bite, we bite back only harder. Kill one of us, we kill ten of them. It’s kind of how these things work. In the end, it’s not worth the effort on their part.”
“So why the precaution?”
Nixon stood as the FBI agent walked around his car and got in, slamming the door behind him.
“I never said the feds were smart.” Nixon shrugged. “Sometimes their balls get too big, and we have to cut them down to size.”
“Sounds painful.”
“Killing always is.” Nixon’s icy stare met mine. “Then again, you know that all too well, don’t you?”
I licked my lips and shrugged.
“Don’t hurt him.”
I jerked my head up. “Who?”
“You know who,” Nixon said in a deathly cold voice. “I know how bad it really is. Sergio may not know, but I do. Don’t hurt him, Andi.”
“Sergio should know.” I sighed. “I keep telling him I’m dying.”
“Don’t put it past him to try to save you.” Nixon’s eyes were sad.
I choked out a laugh. “Believe me, that’s the last thing he wants.”
Eyes narrowed, Nixon opened his mouth but was interrupted by Sergio walking around the corner.
“I hate today.”
Nixon sighed, sharing a look with me before putting his gun back in its holster. “Maybe you should take a honeymoon with the wife? Might cheer you up.”
“Hey!” I jumped to my feet. “That’s what I said.”
“Don’t encourage the communist.” Sergio pointed at me.
“Hey!” I put my hand on my hips. “I’m a US citizen, ass-hat!”
Sergio grinned; it was actually, a really nice smile, the type that made me feel warm inside. “Whatever you say, Russia.”
“Alright then.” Nixon patted Sergio on the back. “You kids have fun. No killing each other.”
“No promises.” I winked at Sergio.
He smirked. “I’d like to see you try.”
“I could dig that.” I nodded. “First one with a flesh wound loses?”
Nixon cursed. “Don’t make me come back and referee you two. I mean it. Play nice.” He waved at us and walked around the corner, leaving me and Sergio alone.
“You look like you could use a drink.” I took in his pale appearance and dark demeanor.
“It’s eight in the morning,” Sergio said dumbly.
“So? It’s five o’clock somewhere!”
He closed his eyes, probably in irritation, or maybe just so he could take a time out. “Andi—”
“Come on.” I grabbed his hand before he could jerk it back. “I’ll spike your coffee, and then we can knock some things off that list.”
“That damn list had sex written on it like fifteen times,” Sergio grumbled.
“I’m sorry, were you just complaining? And so what? You don’t have to cross those items off, though it would be kind of nice to get some aggression out. I bet you’d feel better.”
“If I screwed you?”
I nodded. “You’re really tense.”
“Ha.” He popped his knuckles. “You have no idea.”
“Clearly I do, since I listed it fifteen times.”
“Anyone ever told you that you aren’t normal?” He held open the back door for me and placed his hand on the small of my back, ushering me back inside.
“All the time.” My face cracked into an uncontrollable grin. “Are you complaining?” I reached my hand into his front pocket and slowly pulled the piece of paper from it, my fingertips lingering around the top of his jeans as I moved him closer to me until we were hip to hip.