Angelo barely spared her or a couple of the members from his team, who were standing on the other side of the large pool, a glance. He kept walking toward the main house and didn’t stop until he was in the kitchen. Then he froze.
Rock.
“I said put those guns away!” Sofia spat, waving her wooden spoon around. Her other hand was on her hip as she glared at the four men in her kitchen.
It took Angelo a minute to make sense of what he was seeing—Myles, Kenton, Rock, and Rock’s right-hand man, Gavin. They were all well over six feet tall and twice Sofia’s size. They also had their guns drawn and pointed at each other, all except for Rock. He stood in the midst of the strange scene, but he was staring at Angelo.
“Put them away now,” Sofia said again, still waving her spoon and looking as if she wasn’t afraid to go upside any of their heads with it.
“Do it!” Rock said, still staring at Angelo, but talking to Gavin. When Gavin lowered his weapon, so did Myles and Kenton, but all eyes were on Angelo as if to say, What the hell is going on?
“Myles, Kenton, meet Sofia’s son, Monty ‘Rock’ Rockwell.” Angelo might’ve been pissed to learn that Rock and Zenobia were related, but he understood why she’d kept it a secret. If the media or any of Rock’s enemies found out their real relationship, Zenobia’s life would be in more danger than it was now. Myles and Kenton would know the truth soon enough. Just not yet.
Sofia walked up to him with her shoulders back and her chin lifted. “Is my mija okay?”
“Yes,” Angelo said, though when he left Zenobia, she was pretty upset.
Angelo hated seeing her tears, but it had been best that he walk away before anything else was said that he couldn’t take back. He had to get his head on straight before they could discuss where to go from there.
“You summoned him here?” he asked, nodding at Rock.
Sofia set the spoon on the counter and for the first time since Angelo walked into the kitchen, she looked a little nervous. “I did. He needs to fix this.”
“I can’t fix this or anything until I know what the hell is going on,” Rock snapped, still staring at Angelo as if seeing a ghost.
Her son’s tone didn’t seem to faze Sofia. She patted Angelo’s cheek in that loving way she’d done countless times. Some of the anger and shock that had consumed him eased through his pores.
“Zenobia’s safety…and her happiness means everything to me,” Sofia said. That was the first time she had used Zenobia’s name around him. Normally, she referred to her as mija, my daughter.
“Talk to him, please.” Sofia pointed at her son. “Tell him what needs to be fixed, and he’ll do it.”
*
The faster Zenobia wiped at her tears, the faster they fell. She finally found the man she could imagine spending the rest of her life with, and he hated her.
Secrets destroy.
Sofia’s words from weeks ago bounced around inside Zenobia’s head. Had she destroyed what she and Angelo were building? She understood why he was angry, but surely, he understood why she hadn’t told him about her family. There wasn’t a person alive who didn’t have at least one secret that they planned to take to their grave.
Her ties to Rock was hers.
Kira walked back into the room with a box of tissues. “Come on, Zen. I’ve never seen you fall apart like this. What happened?”
“Angelo and I had a fight.” That was the understatement of the year. Within minutes, their relationship imploded and Zenobia wasn’t sure how to fix it.
“That looked like more than a lover’s spat. Angelo was livid when he dragged you out of the house. Nah, there’s something you’re not telling me. What gives?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s something because that brotha was pissed. He didn’t hit you, did he?”
“Of course not.” Zenobia sniffed, dabbing her eyes. “He would never hurt me.” At least not physically, she wanted to add, but kept that to herself. His parting words about hating liars was definitely hurtful though.
“Good because if Elijah found out Angelo put his hands on you, he—”
“He would what?” Zenobia stood and frowned at her cousin. “What would he do, Kira? Don’t you think it strange that your man has been all up in my relationship with Angelo?”
“It’s not strange at all. You’re like a sister to me. Obviously, he’s going to be looking out for you.”
“Nah, something’s up with Elijah. Ever since meeting Angelo, he’s been trippin’, acting like he’s my man.”
“Come on now, sis. Don’t get it twisted. Elijah’s not interested in you like that.”
“I didn’t say—”
“Then exactly what are you saying?” Kira pushed her micro-braids over her shoulder and jammed her hands on her hips. “I get that you’re stressed because some lunatic is after you, and now Angelo has a bug up his butt about something. But you’ve been acting weird for weeks.”
Zenobia threw up her hands. “How am I supposed to act? Someone is gunning for me and the man who I absolutely adore might’ve just broken up with me.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did he break up with you?”
“I said might have.” Zenobia wasn’t giving up on Angelo, and she wasn’t telling anyone about their argument. She trusted Kira to a certain extent, but there was so much Kira didn’t know.
When Zenobia and Monty made their agreement about keeping their family ties a secret, that included keeping it a secret from everyone. Kira only knew Monty as Rock. She was under the impression that he and Zenobia were once good friends, but that Zenobia had cut ties with him because of his line of work.
Maybe one day she could trust her cousin with the truth. This wasn’t that day, but there was something she could share.
“Did I ever tell you that Angelo was former DEA and that he used to work in Miami?”
Kira’s mouth dropped open. “What? Girl, no you didn’t tell me. I knew he was a badass, but what does that have to…” Her words trailed off and her hand went to her mouth. “Oh no. Does he know Rock? Is that why he’s pissed, because you used to kick it with a drug dealer?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t a complete lie, but at least she was giving her cousin something. If there was a chance of Angelo being in their lives, then there was a chance that his past career would come up in conversation anyway.
Kira waved her off. “Oh, girl. Considering how mad he was, I thought it was something serious, like you had cheated on him or something. He’ll get over you and Rock once you assure him that there’s nothing between you two.”
“I hope you’re right. I’m in love with Angelo, and I’m not giving up on us without a fight.”
“Now, you’re talking. Come on, Sofia’s probably wondering where I am. I told her I’d be right back and that I was going to check on you.”
Sofia. Zenobia had forgotten that Sofia had said they needed to talk. Maybe she had somehow found out that Angelo knew about their family ties.
“All right, let’s get out of here.” Zenobia looped her arm through her cousin’s and headed for the door. “You need to finish your cooking lesson before dinner, and I need to find Angelo.”
“Not so fast.”
Zenobia and Kira whirled around to find Elijah standing in the short hallway that led to the back of the guest house.
“Dang, baby. You scared me to death.” Kira pulled away from Zenobia and headed to him. “What are you doing here? Did Sofia—”
With a quickness Zenobia didn’t see coming, Elijah snatched Kira by her braids and jerked her to him.
“Scream and I will kill you,” he said with a gun to Kira’s temple then turned his attention to Zenobia.
Her heart skidded to a stop, and her mind raced trying to figure out what was happening. When he moved toward her, pulling Kira along with him, Zenobia backed up until she bumped into the wall.
“You wouldn’t by chance have my cell phone, would you?�
�� Elijah asked her, a scowl marring his face.
“N—no, I don’t.” Zenobia fought to control the anxiety that had her pulse pounding in her ears. She had to get her and Kira away from him. “Wh—what is this about? What are you doing?”
Kira gasped for air, her hand pulling down on Elijah’s arm that was tight around her neck. “Please,” she wheezed. “Eli, I can’t brea—”
“Shut. Up,” he growled at Kira, tightening his arm around her and holding the gun steady against her head. “I’m about to get paid and your cousin here has already cost me time and money!” He scowled.
“I don’t know what this is about, but you’re never going to get away with this,” Zenobia said, looking around the small space for any type of weapon.
Elijah moved the gun to the hand that was around Kira, then pulled a cell phone from his pocket.
Zenobia looked around the space, hoping to find something—anything that could be used as a weapon. She hadn’t done much in the form of decorating, but there had to be something.
A flashlight was on the end table and a half-empty water bottle sat on the old coffee table. She took tiny baby steps sideways toward the flashlight while keeping her eyes on Elijah.
“I have the package,” he said to whoever he had just called. “We need to move quick. Meet me on the block behind the house in ten.” He put the phone back in his pocket. “Zen, you’ll be coming with me.”
She froze. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she blurted without thinking. The last thing she wanted to do was piss him off.
“Oh, but you are. Someone’s paying me and my cousin good money to have you delivered to them, and I intend to cash in. You were supposed to be an easy snatch. I even put listening devices around your house to keep track of you. Then you had to go and get security and a damn boyfriend.”
“You’re never going to get away with this,” she said, trying to be inconspicuous as she moved closer to the table. “Security is right outside.” At least she hoped Parker and Connor were nearby.
“Your security is out of commission at the moment. And I don’t know what you did to piss that boyfriend of yours off. The way he burst out of this place, I’m sure he’s long gone by now. So, let’s go.”
“No! I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Johnny Garza,” Rock said, as he pulled a pack of smokes out of the front pocket of his pants. “I gotta hand it to you…you’re good.”
Like Rock was surprised to see him, Angelo couldn’t believe they were standing in the same space. Sofia had insisted he and Rock talk in Zenobia’s office. Angelo wasn’t sure what their little meeting was supposed to accomplish. Then again, maybe he could find out what was being done about the cartel. He knew Rock well enough to know that he was on top of the situation.
“First you infiltrate my organization,” Rock continued as he moved aimlessly around the office without lighting his cigarette. “Then you and your DEA roaches almost destroy everything I worked my ass off to build. And now I find out you’re fucking around with my sister!”
Angelo didn’t speak. Based on what Rock just said, at some point he must’ve found out that Angelo was with or had connections to the DEA. He didn’t bother asking. Rock was resourceful if nothing else. Which was probably why it hadn’t been easy to make the connection between him and Zenobia. There had been so many layers to keep their family connection hidden.
“My mother claims that you saved my sister’s life—twice—and that you’re in love with her. Is that true?”
Angelo could no longer stand still and he, too, was moving around the large office, but keeping his eyes on Rock. “Does it matter?”
“Answer the damn question!” Rock snapped.
Angelo huffed out a breath as anger clawed through him. “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. Now that I know she’s related to you, I’ll be sure to stay as far away from her as possible.” The words sounded hollow even to his own ears. No matter what he said, there was no way he could just walk away from Zenobia. It was too late. He had fallen in love with her.
Rock’s lethal gaze on him would’ve made a weaker man crumble. Not Angelo. He didn’t give a damn what the bastard thought of him, and he was prepared to take him out if it came down to it.
“Since we’re putting our cards on the table, you should know that I didn’t kill your people.”
Angelo just stared at him, surprised by the shift in the conversation but keeping his guard up. He didn’t trust Rock. The change of topic could be a way to distract him.
“It’s true,” his nemesis said as if reading his mind. “I had no idea that warehouse was going to explode. You think I would’ve been there if I intended to blow the damn thing up?”
Again, Angelo remained quiet. He’d thought about that years ago, but couldn’t think of who else would’ve known they would be there.
“The DEA was responsible for that clusterfuck,” Rock continued. “I was lured there. We were lured there.”
That included Angelo. He had been undercover in Rock’s organization when they showed up at that warehouse that night. “The only reason your ass is still alive is because I thought you, or should I say Johnny Garza, had died that night. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were very much alive and had played me…on my turf. Damn DEA,” he snarled.
Angelo straightened. He had a couple of weapons on him, but he hoped he didn’t have to use them. He would if it meant his life or Rock’s.
“Relax. I see you tensing up and can practically hear your thoughts. My mother would kill me if I did anything to you. She’s a lot tougher than she looks,” he cracked, shaking his head. “For some reason she likes you. I wonder what she would think of all the shit you did when you worked for me.”
“I didn’t work for you. I worked for the DEA.”
“Yeah, don’t remind me. Last week, I received a photo of you and my sister. I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn’t figure out where I’d known you from. It wasn’t until my mother called and told me what was going on that I realized who you were.”
“Why are you here, Rock?” Angelo finally said.
“I’m here to take my sister and my mother back to Miami where I can keep them safe.”
Panic sparked inside of Angelo. He might’ve been angry and told Zenobia they were through, but…
“Zenobia’s not going anywhere with you,” he heard himself say. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t willingly go with Rock, but right now Angelo couldn’t be too sure what she would do.
“She and my mother aren’t safe. At least not until I finish with these Cameeso wannabes in Miami for once and for all. That’s actually happening as we speak, but there’s a loose end here in Atlanta that I need to tie up. I would give you the details, but I’m not sure where your loyalties lie.”
“My loyalties lie with Zenobia.”
Rock nodded, the unlit cigarette now dangling from his lips. “So, you are in love with her. Based on what I’ve been hearing, I figured as much, but here’s the thing. I hate you. Yet, I have mad respect for how you were able to worm your way into my organization and live to tell about it. If Zenobia and my mother are cool with you, then I’m going to have to be, too. But hurt my sister and I will kill you.”
“Rock, you have to know by now that you don’t scare me. So, don’t come on my turf and start slinging around threats. What happens between me and Zenobia is between her and I. And don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me. You continue to stay away from her, and I’ll stay away from you.”
A charged silence fell between them until Angelo’s cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen.
Laz.
“Yeah?” he answered, but kept his eyes on Rock.
“Where are you?”
“Zenobia’s, why?”
“Elijah might be your guy. He’s had multiple calls from a Miami number traced back to a relative who used to be with the Cameeso Cartel.”
Angel
o’s stomach tightened and a numbness swept through his body. Elijah had been near Zenobia more times than Angelo could count.
“He was also a good friend of the guy you shot in the shoulder,” Laz continued. “But get this, Elijah received a big sum of money recently. Twenty-five large was deposited the day before someone tried to kidnap Zen off the streets. What do you want to bet more is coming when the job is complete? He’s not at his apartment or at Kira’s.”
“He was here earlier when I… Shit. He’s gotta still be here.” Angelo disconnected the call and bolted out of the room and into the kitchen with Rock hot on his heels.
“Elijah was in here earlier. Where is he?” Angelo asked in a rush. Myles and Kenton were still glaring at Gavin while Sofia busied herself around the kitchen.
Myles pulled out his cell phone, no doubt to check the house cameras. “He must have slipped out when these assholes…I mean Ms. Sofia’s guest, showed up.”
“Search everywhere. He might be our guy,” Angelo said, pulling out his gun and running out of the kitchen. “I’m going to the guest house. Rock, you’re with me.”
Keep your enemies close, Angelo thought as he and Rock rushed out of the house and started across the back lawn. He saw a guy down near the edge of the pool and as he got closer, realized it was Parker. There was no blood. Angelo checked for a pulse.
“He’s alive.”
Angelo didn’t see Conner but kept moving across the yard, knowing Myles or Kenton were nearby and would take care of their guys.
When he and Rock got close to the guest house, Angelo slowed and pointed at the bay window where he could see Zenobia. They couldn’t see Elijah.
“I’ll take the front. You go around back,” Angelo instructed. “The backdoor squeaks so be quiet.”
Rock nodded and took off around the house while Angelo tried to decide how he wanted to play this. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to Zenobia.
*
Elijah growled. “I don’t have time for this.”
He slammed Kira into a wall and Zenobia screamed when her cousin crumbled to the floor.
Betrayed Page 20