Perfect Enemies

15

My spine stiffened, and my breathing quickened as if to prepare for a fight. I glanced at the other people nearby for reassurance when the man slowly ambled forward. It might have been a false sense of security, but having people I knew close by, no matter how superficial our acquaintance, gave me the courage I needed to hold my ground. Once the man was fully within view, I could see that he was definitely a few years older than me. Handsome in a stoic manner with dark, deep-set eyes over high, angular cheekbones. His black hair was nearly shaved on the sides but longer and swept back on top. A shadow of facial hair drew his face in stark repose and highlighted the perfect shape of his lips. I didn’t detect an immediate threat emanating from him, but I couldn’t imagine his appearance was a good thing. “Who are you?” I asked, cutting to the point, pleased my words were steady. “My name is Santino Cardenas.” His masculine voice was softened by the caress of a faint Spanish accent. I was right. This wasn’t a chance encounter. Did he work for my father or, worse, one of his enemies? Fear sank its icy talons deep into my skin, rooting me to the spot. “What do you want?” It was hardly more than a wheezed breath, my lungs suddenly too frozen to cooperate. Santino lifted his chin as his vigilant gaze swept the patio and its occupants. “I’m just keeping an eye on things.” “Things or me?” I bit out, finding a touch of courage. He only smiled. The look wasn’t remotely reassuring. “Well, feel free to stay and keep an eye on things. I’m leaving.” I started to step past him to walk around the outside of the house toward home, only thinking about getting away. From him. From the party. From my life. “I can take you home,” he offered coolly. I pulled up short, snapping out of my panic-induced escape. There was no way in hell I was getting in a car with this guy, nor was it a good idea to go off alone. Come on, Rey. You’re smarter than that. “Actually, I came with someone.” I stepped back toward him and the sliding glass doors. He smirked. “I’m happy to give you both a ride.” Was he toying with me? Because I didn’t find any of this remotely funny. I faced him fully, staring deep into his eyes. “Do you work for my father?” He slowly shook his head. “No. I work for a man named Javier. You might have known him as Primo.” My lips parted with recognition. “That’s the man who killed my uncle.” He was dating Val’s sister and had saved her from my uncle. If this man worked for Javier, he could be an ally—the enemy of my enemy was my friend. But if these men considered me an extension of my father, not knowing how much I hated the man, they would see me as a threat. That, or a pawn to get at my father. Hell, this guy could be lying to me and not even work for Javier. Any way I looked at it, I couldn’t trust him. He was following me for a reason, and I doubted that reason was good. “Your uncle was a bad man,” Santino deadpanned. The statement was a test, and my reaction would feed him information, but I wasn’t sure what he was looking for. If he did, in fact, work for my father, anything but a staunch rejection would seem like a betrayal. If he worked for Javier, any support of my uncle made me look loyal to my father. Nothing I could say was safe, so I chose to skirt the comment. “My head is starting to hurt, so I better get going.” I gave him one last look before heading to the patio door, relieved when he didn’t move to follow. What a difference a few minutes could make. The loud music and throng of people enveloped me in comfort. I now felt safer inside and wasn’t looking forward to walking home, but it was best if we left. I scanned the dancing bodies for Val, unable to spot her until my eyes landed on a girl leaning forlornly against the wall just as I had been doing minutes before. I wove my way over to her and slipped her hand in mine. “You ready to go?” When her eyes collided with mine, I was stunned by the sharp pain clouding her stormy gaze. We fell into each other’s arms without a word. She was my rock, always there to steady me, so I was pleased to comfort her for a change. I was desperately curious about what had happened, but I didn’t want to push her for answers. “Let’s go home,” she murmured when she finally pulled away. I nodded and led the way to the front door, pausing once we were alone on the front porch. “Are you familiar with a man named Santino?” She c****d her head, brows furrowed. “Yeah, sort of. He works for Javier, so my sister Giada would know him better.” I breathed deeply at her confirmation that the man had been who he said he was. “Okay, that’s good to hear. I saw him outside and talked to him briefly. I wasn’t sure if he was a danger to us walking home.” “He was here? What was he doing?” “He said he was keeping an eye on things, whatever that means.” Val’s protective mask slipped back into place, burying whatever hurt she’d been feeling. She scanned the front yard for anyone lurking in the shadows. “Okay, neither of us is walking home alone, but I don’t want him to see us together. I’ll be right back.” She yanked the front door open and disappeared for a minute, reemerging with a New England Patriots baseball cap on and an enormous gray hoodie hanging off her body. “Ta-da. It’s not fool-proof, but it’s something. Hopefully, if he sees us leaving, he won’t see me well enough to know who you’re with.” I couldn’t help but giggle. “Did you just steal that off some guy in there?” “Yeah, he was too drunk to care.” “And what about you? Think you’re okay to walk home? You were having a pretty good time not too long ago.” “Psh, I’m fine. Nothing like a fight to sober a girl up.” She tugged me forward, but I refused to budge. “What? You’re going to have to explain.” “Yeah, yeah. It’s cold out. I’ll tell you all about it while we walk. Now, come on!”