“And why is that?”
“Most men wouldn’t like to leave their turf to enter enemy territory willingly,” Alejandro connotes plainly.
“But we’re no longer enemies now, right?”
“Not after tomorrow, no.”
In other words, only when Rosa officially becomes a Kelly will our feud be laid to rest.
“On that, at least, we are in agreement. Colin will show you out,” Tiernan dismisses, not even bothering to look Alejandro in the eye.
I start to follow the man in question back downstairs when he surprises me by halting his step and turning around to face Tiernan once more.
“She’s not like us, Kelly.”
“Who isn’t?”
“Rosa. She may be used to this life we lead and might even be a little bit jaded by it, thinking the way we do business is the norm, but she’s held on to something that we made men have no room for in our lives.”
“And what’s that?” Tiernan retorts with practiced boredom, his gaze fixed on the stage below.
“She still sees the good in people. Even when they don’t deserve it.”
Tiernan shifts his attention back to the cartel prince after that loaded statement.
“Are you telling me this because you think I’ll steal the noble attribute away from her?”
“I know you will,” Alejandro proclaims in a somber tone. “All I ask is that you ease Rosa into her misery. Let her hold on to that pure part of her heart a little while longer, if you can.”
“I’m not a monster, Alejandro,” Tiernan rebukes with an offended snarl.
“We’re all monsters, Kelly. I’m just alerting you to the fact that my sister is used to one breed of evil. It will take her some time to get accustomed to yours.”
“Goodnight, Alejandro,” Tiernan brushes off his rival, obviously having had enough of his insightful advice on his sister for one night.
Alejandro gives him a clipped nod before turning his back to leave. I follow the kingpin down the stairs, keeping my eyes glued on his retreating form. I only stop when Shay shouts out my name, loud enough to be heard over the noisy rambunctious crowd of horny drunk men.
“Go on ahead. Our men are outside, so you’ll be well-protected while waiting in the car.”
Alejandro doesn’t so much as say a word in complaint to me, eager to escape through The Pit’s doors and be done with this night.
“Tiernan’s got you on babysitting duty, huh?” Shay asks when he reaches me, slurring a bit of his words, proof that he’s having way more fun tonight than either his brother or I are.
“I’m supposed to take him back to his hotel,” is my cold response.
“Well, that sucks ass. When will you be back?”
“I won’t. Tiernan will head out in a few after we leave, so I’m just going home afterwards.”
I know my older cousin well enough that The Pit isn’t where he wants to spend the remaining hours of his freedom. He accomplished what he set out to do with Alejandro tonight. So as soon as we leave, so will he.
“Are you sure? I’ve got some party favors all lined up for us.” Shay tilts his head at the two dancers that are on stage currently fucking their stripper pole while their lips are glued to each other’s faces.
“Take them for yourself. I’m not in the mood tonight.”
“Not in the mood? You do know it’s my brother who is going to be stuck with a ball and chain tomorrow, not you? Hardly a cause to become celibate all of a sudden.” He snickers mockingly.
“Just because I don’t want to get my dick wet tonight doesn’t mean I’m entering the priesthood.”
“If you say so,” he taunts. “More for me.”
Instead of debating with my whoremonger of a cousin any further, I leave him be and go on with the task at hand.
When I get outside, I try to hide my surprise at seeing Alejandro sitting in the front seat of the car waiting for me. His kind is known for being chauffeured around, so him sitting shotgun is not something I’d ever consider him doing. I mask my disbelief with indifference and get behind the wheel of the car, so I can drop his ass at the hotel and be done with it. I don’t bother turning the radio on or instigating mindless conversation since I know he’s not one for small talk. Wasting words on me would be futile in his mind.
And if his mindset is still on the discussion he had with my cousin a few minutes ago, then he knows well enough that only Tiernan can show his sister any type of leniency. I have no influence on the matter.