I began grabbing my shit. “I don't get it, D. Why the alarm? He dropped Ari off for a visit, Pop took too long, so he left. What's the big deal?”
Roman’s face looked alarmed. “Do you think he was at the dock?”
My heart stopped. Diego’s exhale was shaky.
“We don't know. No bodies have been found, but Marco is not answering his phone. He deactivated the locator on it. Pop’s desk drawer was open. The secret compartment lifted up. He found it, Carlos- he found the phone. Even Pop’s locked gun room was left open, an Uzi and Pop’s new APC9 were missing.”
“These events could be two separate things.”
“Yea, Rome, I know. And they also could be related.”
I hung my head down and wiped a hand over my face before I looked up at Roman.
Diego breathed hard. “He has the phone and saw the vid. And worse, he knows we know and kept it from him.”
“You’re making a lot of assumptions, D.” Roman stared at the phone as of it was really Diego’s face.
“What was he looking for in the first place?” I asked.
“They're not assumptions, Rome. He was looking for something, and he found the phone,” D responded, an annoyed snap to his words.
Roman and I looked at each other with confused faces.
“Impossible. This isn't making any sense. He doesn't know anything about it. Why would he be looking for anything at all?”
Diego’s growled. “He left a note behind. Not his handwriting.”
“Well, what the fuck did it say?” Roman barked.
Diego sighed. Roman and I looked at one another, waiting.
“They're keeping something from you.”
Drag the Lake, The Amity Affliction
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Zambrano Family Tree
Alejandro + Maria Elena
Marco Antonio (Jennifer Garcia, deceased)
Romano Alejandro (Izabella Laurenti)
Carlos Roberto (Caridad Zavala)
Diego Marino
Daniela Marina
Gabriela Luna
Glossary
Phrases & Translations
Abuela: Grandmother
Ahora no. Estoy con mi mujer. Llama Ileana para una cita: Not now. I’m with my woman. Call Ileana for an appointment.
¿Bella, no?: Beautiful, huh?
Belleza: Beauty
Caramelo: Caramel
Cojones: Balls
Colada: several shots of espresso in a cup for sharing
Con gusto: With pleasure
Corazón de mi alma: Heart of my soul
Cuídalos. Ámalos. Protégelos: Care for them. Love them. Protect them.
Dastatachna: Russian; that’s enough
De acuerdo: Understood; In agreement
Demonio; Demon
El amor de mi alma: The love of my soul
Eres mi corazón, siempre mi bendición: You are my heart, my blessing always.
¿Estas bien?: Are you ok?
Estas loco: You’re crazy
Fruta: Fruit
Hablaré con Maria Elena a ver cuando podemos tenerte de visita: I’ll speak with Maria Elena and see when we can have you for a visit.
Hijo de puta: Son of a bitch
Hvatit: Russian; Stop; enough
Inteligente: Intelligent
La cosa es complicada, amigo: It’s complicated, friend.
La familia: The family
Maldito: Damned
Me alegro que regresaste. Sentimos mucho la muerte de Liliana: I’m happy you returned. We’re sorry about Liliana’s passing.
Mejor: Better
Mi bendicion: My blessing
Mierderia: bullshit
Mira Tomás, aunque eres amigo de la familia, no voy a permitir que preguntes sobre asuntos que no son tuyos: Look, Tomas, although you’re a family friend, I won’t permit you to ask about issues that don’t concern you.
Nada: Nothing
No es machismo ni soy machista: It’s not machismo, and I’m not machista.
No soy una para la miederia de machismo: I’m not one for the bullshit of machismo.
Nunca te olvidaré, Papá. Te quiero en mi vida para siempre: I’ll never forget you, Father. I want you in my life forever.
Oye. Pero adonde vas tan temprano: Hey. But where are you going so early?
Para de insultarla y a mi. ¿Tu no vez que ella esta conmigo?Mantenga los ojos lejos de ella: Stop insulting her. Don’t you see that she’s with me? Keep your eyes far from her.
No supimos: We didn’t know
Pendeja: literal meaning is public hair, but it is used as an insult like asshole, jerk
Perdóname. Buenas noches, Carlos: Forgive me. Good night, Carlos.
Perdoname hija: Forgive me, Daughter
Pero si lo es: But yes it is.
Porque no empezamos: Why don’t we start
Perro: Dog
Princesa: Princess
Puta: whore; slut; bitch
Que bueno: How good
Que bueno verte, hijo. ¿Como te sientes?: How good it is to see you. How do you feel?
Que disfrutes este baile con tu papa: Enjoy this dance with your father.
¿Que hay de nuevo?: What’s new?
¿Que mas?: What else?
¿Que pasa aqui?: What’s going on here?
¿Quieres mas?: Want more?
Si tienes un minuto, quería hablar sobre el proyecto: If you have a minute, I wanted to talk about the project.
Si y con razon: Yes, and with reason
Siempre. Con mi vida: Always. With my life.
Sobrina: Niece
Tacitas: Little cup
Tambien: Also
Te mato: I’ll kill you.
Te quiero, hermana. Nada y nadie puede cambiar eso. La felicidad que siento después de encontrarte nunca se morirá: I love you, sister. Nothing and no one can change that. The happiness I feel after having found you will never die.
Te vemos pronto: We’ll see you soon.
Tio: Uncle
Todavia vive: He still lives
Todo bien: Everything good; all good
About the Author
Liv is a contemporary and sci-fi romance author. She is a rescue-pet loving, day-dreaming and fantasy world living girl, who loves reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. Ummm, maybe not the last one. She loves anything having to do with the sun, animals, chocolate, and wine. She likes outdoor activities, and she’s a runner, even if it’s only just in her head (for now).
Liv likes to hear from her readers, so don’t be shy.
Find her here:
Olivia Deici
Also by Olivia Deici
Miami Mafia Series
* * *
Roman
Book 1
A Zambrano Family Novel
Excerpt from Roman
Roman
Chapter 1
Roman
“Fuck.”
My feet didn't quite make it. That was fucked up, since I decided to take it easy tonight. I'd been at forty-nine inches for box jumping for weeks, and I was only jumping forty now. I tried it another time, and cleared it easily. I landed on top and exhaled. Jumping down, I decided to end his workout with the good old-fashioned jump rope.
My feet barely hit the floor as I snapped the rope around. The cord made a whipping sound as my pace increased. Thinking about my day tomorrow made my feet lighter. I was focused ahead, getting into the right frame of mind. When I hit the last remaining minute, I double-timed it. The adrenaline and endorphins shooting into my system spurned my feet to be lighter. I felt the burn.
It made me feel alive.
The music beating through the speakers was adding to my rush. I felt the beads of sweat run down my forehead, chest, and back.
I looked at myself in the mirror, and anyone looking at me outside of the gym would think I'd just showered and forgot to dry myself off.
Who the fuck needed steroids?
I'm a big motherfucker all on my own. At six and a half feet tall and 280 pounds, I towered over mostly everyone. I'd worked hard. Genetics helped, too. Height was inherited, but my muscles, though, that was all me.
“Roman, you want to get something to eat?”
Sissy walked over to me, swaying those sexy hips of hers. That was code for sex. She was one of the few who could hang with my brand of dirty. We’d had some fun before, but I hadn't sampled her in a while. I saw her appreciative gaze touch the planes of my chest where my skin was barely visible through my ink.
She wanted me. It wasn't that I didn't want an ass to tap, but I was selective, and hers had been tapped more than a keg at a frat party. That's why I hadn't taken a drink in a long time.
“Naw. I can't tonight.”
No fucking before fighting, anyway.
I observed all the rules of fighting, even now. When I'd fought in the MMA local circuit, I didn't have sex before a fight.
Her left eyebrow hiked up. “Oh?”
I closed my eyes briefly. I despised needy and clingy females. This was old. Just because we had been fuck-buddies didn't mean she could keep tabs on me. I wasn't planning to settle down any time soon, or ever. My life was busy and it wasn't always on the right side of the law. That wasn't a life for a family. I knew first hand. Besides, while she had stirred me in the sheets, she did nothing for my intellect. There was a lot of air between her ears.
“Got an early day tomorrow.”
Her eyes softened slightly. “Court?”
I nodded, wiping my face and chest with my towel.
“What are the charges?”
I clenched my jaw. She came dangerously close to crossing a line here.
“Murder.”
Her eyes widened. “That's stressful, huh?”
I shook my head dismissively. “You don't know the half of it.” I gathered my things and headed to the locker room.
“You don't want a snack? Might take the edge off your hunger and ease the tension a bit.”
I smiled and shook my head again. No quickie or blow job, as much as I really wanted one. I ran a hand through my inky black hair. It remained spiked as my blue eyes looked at her.
“Gracias, but I'm good. Take it easy, Sissy.”
“When will you be back?”
Valid question, since I couldn't predict trials or verdicts. I shrugged. “Don't know. Let's hope for the best.”
She pursed her lips.
Damn, but I hated clingy bitches. Fuck-buddy status didn't mean she could leash me or question me about my other activities. Fuck that shit, man.
I turned my swagger to the locker room, raising my hand up in goodbye. I showered, got my shit, and drove home. It was late and I had an early morning.
I'd just barely made the yellow light when my phone rang. It was my father, and I accepted the call via blue tooth. My pop didn't normally call at this time of the day.
“¿Que pasa, Papá?”
Pop exhaled. This didn't bode well.
“Necesito un favor, hijo. It's important and I only trust you.”
“A favor? I'm on my way home.” I sighed. “I'm not too far away. I'll stop by. I'm assuming that you need help with your bills?”
It was code. We couldn't talk over the phone, so it had to be in person.
“Si.”
“Te veo.” I'll see you, I told him, and ended the call. I really didn't need this shit now- not with court tomorrow.
I entered the gate and drove down the long driveway to my parents' home. I didn't stop to notice the flowers my mother doted upon. Instead, I jogged to the front door and opened it. We didn't lock doors. We didn't need to.
Nobody fucked with the Zambranos.
“¿Romano?” My father called out to me from the den.
“Did you clean today?” I asked, as I walked in.
Pop nodded his head. “Yes. It's safe. No bichos.” I let my guard down. Pop swept the room today. There weren't any bugs.
“What's up, Pop?”
He raised an eyebrow. He wasn't much for English slang.
“I need something taken care of. I wouldn't ask, but it needs to stay en la familia. It needs to be clean. It needs you.”
I exhaled and sat down in the leather chair in front of his massive solid wood desk. I rested my elbows on my knees.
“Pop, you know I can't get my hands dirty anymore. It's a fine line I walk here.”
My father nodded his head. “I know, hijo, but I don't trust just anyone to take care of this. I wouldn't ask if I didn't need you. I know you need your hands clean, but I need you to dirty them for this.”
“How bad?”
My father exhaled again and shook his head. “We're talking life for Marco if the raton lives another day, never mind if the Russians find out- they'll take him out.”
At the mention of my older brother, I straightened. “What the fuck happened?”
“A deal went bad. Marco lost control trying to save it. Shot and killed someone. The Russians are involved now.”
I held up my hand. I didn't want to know anymore. “This shit needs to end with the Russians. He's not going to stop until he finds out who ordered the hit. Who's the traidor that needs taking care of?”
“Juan.”
I stood up. “No!”
My father nodded his head. “I had the same reaction. He's been with the family for years. We can't chance him running his mouth about Marco.”
“How did you find out?”
“Talo saw him speaking to the Colombians and Russians before this went down.”
“Do you think he said anything to the Russians after?”
Pop shook his head. “Not yet. It's only a matter of time. Talo saw money change hands.”
I sat down again and covered my eyes. “How long has he been feeding them shit?”
Pop was quiet for a second. “Who knows. But now we know why mierda has been on a downpour for us. Juan has been running his mouth.”
“Which Russians are involved?”
He shrugged. “The deal involved the Semenovs. Talo didn't get a good look at who Juan was speaking to, though.”
“Marco is instigating fights to find out about the hit. Pop, you need to talk to him. We need to find out information, but he can't be shooting his mouth and gun off whenever the fuck he wants.”
“I know. I have spoken to him. You know how he's been since Jenny’s death.”
I stayed quiet, thinking.
“I'm sorry, Romano. I can't trust anyone else. You're the cleanest. In and out. You're also the smartest. I love all my children, but I know their weaknesses and strengths. You have very few weaknesses, hijo.”
My curiosity got the best of me. “What are mine?”
My father smiled. My mother said that he'd given me his smile.
“You're too cocky and too chulo.”
I laughed. “I asked for my weaknesses.”
Pop chuckled at my arrogance. “See.”
I snorted. “I can't help those things.”
He shrugged. “These are according to Mamá.”
“And according to you?”
He paused for a long moment studying me.
“You're good at everything. You fail at nothing. You're intelligent, capable, and fierce.”
“How are those weaknesses?”
He sighed. “They make you entirely too dependable.”
I nodded my head in understanding, getting serious. “Ok. Fine. I'll do it.”
“Esta noche.”
“What? No, Pop. I got trial tomorrow. Early. No way. It's been a difficult case.”
My father pursed his lips. “Romano, I told you this bastard cannot live another day. If he runs his mouth, Marco goes down.”
Carlos: A Zambrano Family Novel Page 32