Page 133 of Cartel Devil

“Why would it ruin it?”

“Because I think this couple wants it to be a surprise. And I think they’ve been cautious about not turning the attention to them when so much is going on with us.”

That makes me frown. It doesn’t sit well with me, even if it doesn’t surprise me.

“That’s not right. I don’t want to steal another couple’s time to celebrate with family.”

I don’t want my brothers or cousins—whoever it might be—to feel like they can’t share something this amazing because the attention’s been on Tre and me. It really bothers me.

I gaze out the living room window to my tío and tía’s backyard. This house is already our central meeting place by default because of Tío Enrique’s position. I can imagine a swing set and fort out there. I can picture baby pools near the regular pool. I can picture those things kids sit inside with all the toys on a tray around them, and they can walk in them. I can see those on the back patio. I can even picture our toddler zooming around in one of those here in the living room.

I can picture all of that in a house Tre and I call home.

Tre shifts, and I know she’s getting uncomfortable. I lift her until she sits sideways on my lap. She stretches out her legs, so they rest on the sofa cushions.

“I’ll have to enjoy this while I can.”

“Why would you stop?”

“I might gain fifty or sixty pounds for all we know! I’ll squash you.”

She waggles her eyebrows at me, so I know she’s joking. I can tease right along with her. I look at her as though she’s lost her mind.

“I can carry all of my brothers and cousins, and not a one of them is under two hundred pounds. Hell, not a one of them is under two-ten. You can gain that sixty pounds and still be far lighter than them.”

“Mmm. Sixty pounds would put me a lot closer to them than I want to admit.” She shoots me a rueful smile, and I pinch her ass.

“You could gain a hundred pounds, and I’d still carry you around. You’ll still be sitting on my lap no matter what your weight. If I had it my way, you’d always be right here.”

“I’d always be sitting on your dick, not just on your lap.”

She may laugh, but she isn’t wrong.

“Well, yes. Either way, here is where you belong.”

“You say the sweetest things, Joaco.”

“I’ll always be honest with you whenever I can, Tre. I’ll never lie about my devotion to you. If one day, you don’t want my love anymore, I won’t trap you. But I’m not going anywhere, and don’t think I would let you go without trying my fucking best to prove⁠—”

“Shh. I know, Daddy. That’s why when you say stuff like this, it’s so sweet. I know it comes from your heart. I know I can count it as honest and sincere. No one is going anywhere—except for maybe the kitchen soon for a snack.”

She grins and gives me a peck on the lips. I relax back against the sofa, my arms wrapped low around her hips.

“What do you want to do about our living situation, chiquita?”

“You saw those two houses on the market yesterday when we went to Jorge and Anneliese’s. One’s next door to Aleks and Heather. The other’s next door to Finn and Ally. Which is the lesser evil?”

I can’t tell her that moving next to Aleks is out of the question because I may kill him before we can close on the house. Instinctively, I think living next door to Ally would be great if our baby has any health challenges.

“There’s also that one between Salvatore and Sylvia, and Saoirse and Kieran.”

She looks at me and scrunches her nose. “At least we’re past the point of throwing wild parties. I’d feel like I was living next door to Mom and Dad. I know they’d still be judging us, but at least not thinking we’re a young couple with more money than sense.”

I laugh since I can picture both couples standing on their lawns, arms crossed, looks of disappointment on their faces. It almost makes me want to put a bid on the house right this minute.

“Tía Catalina can help us. She’s in residential real estate. If she can’t, then Mamá can, even though her specialty is commercial.”

“There are only three houses on the market right now, and they’re pretty much the last ones that can go on the market. All the others already belong to syndicate families. What if the owners don’t want to sell to us?”