Page 56 of High

I didn’t know if that was a warning because he knew how precious it was to have someone at our side, or if he planned on trying to take Manny out, but either way, it made me tense. I chomped down on my tongue to stop myself from rushing at him. I couldn’t attack him here, no matter how much I wanted to do it. His smirk was a good target for my fist, and I pushed down every instinctive urge to slam my knuckles into his cheek.

Morrissey cleared his throat and wrapped his arm around Killough’s. “Reyes is right. It’s getting hot, and I didn’t put sunscreen on. I don’t want to burn.”

“I told you to do it before we left,” Killough grumbled, but the look of adoration he gave his pet was almost sickeningly sweet. They didn’t say anything else before Killough guided Conall up the sand past my men. With the way Rafael stiffened, I had no doubt the Irish bastard had something to say to him.

“Was that Killough and Conall?” Manny asked from behind me. I hadn’t even seen him come out of the water. Turning toward him, I smiled. His black wetsuit glittered under the rising sun and his wet hair fluttered in the beach breeze. Even like this he made me breathless. Fucking beautiful.

“Yes. Come here, hermoso.” I dragged him against me, not caring that he was wet, and laid a kiss on his forehead. He tasted like the salty ocean. Gathering his face in my hands, I tilted his head up and kissed him on the lips gently. “Listen, you said you wanted to learn our business, and I agreed. I’m not taking that back, but you’re important to me, Manny. Te quiero muchísimo. There are men and women who would use you against me. They know that you are my weakness now, which will put you in a lot of danger.”

“I can handle it,” he argued, nose wrinkling. “I’ve always been in danger, even before Mamá died, but I can’t live in fear.”

“I know, but you haven’t let me finish.” I stroked my thumb over his cheek and his eyes slid closed for a moment before he looked at me again. “I’m not going to lock you up like your papá, but you will need to take bodyguards with you everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Killough is only one man, one company. There are others who do not like me, and once they find out how much you mean to me, you’ll be their target.”

“And?” He peered up at me with big brown eyes that made me melt. Mierda, I both loved and hated the power he held over me.

“And I want you to learn how to defend yourself. You said you want to be part of my business, then you can be, but I want the best tutors training you in weapons and hand-to-hand combat. This is nonnegotiable.”

He cocked his head and swiped a hand over his wet dark hair. Finally he nodded. “Deal.”

“Sale, we have a deal then.” I kissed his forehead, tasting the ocean water on his skin again. “Seeing as business has finished earlier than expected, we should go home. Start your training immediately.”

“And business? You outlined how it works, but I wonder if I can learn step by step. Learn the ropes, who’s in charge of certain things. I want to be useful, Thio.” He pouted at me with a pleading gaze I couldn’t resist.

“Sí, I’ll teach you step by step. I’ll teach you everything.” I kissed his forehead. “Te quiero.”

He sighed with a smile. “I love you, too.”