Later that evening, Marco, Eva, Louisa and I sat on the patio back at the big mansion sharing a bottle of wine, our chairs in a circle as we watched the sun go down. I felt like we were no closer to finding Luis Reyes than when we were back in San Diego. Personally, I was getting more and more curious as to his whereabouts. He was the leader of the biggest cocaine cartel in the world and this was his hideaway. Where else would he be? Something smelled funny, and I intended to find out what.

Plus, Marco kept droning on about how badly he wanted to spend a night with Alexa, which was starting to get to me. No way was I letting her alone with that psychopath, much less after what he did to his innocent employee last night.

“Alexa, I’d really like for you to spend a night with me. Trust me. I will make it worth your while,” Marco sneered.

I wanted to jump across the table and slap Marco. Just let it go, man. I decided a good natured ribbing would be a better route.

"You really want to get my sloppy seconds," I jabbed.

Marco leaned in toward me, his elbows on the table. "I’m fine with you warming her up for me,” he said. “I don’t care if I’m first or fiftieth, I just want her. With me. Alone.”

I held on to my stone face even as I threw up a little bit in my mouth. She was mine and only mine, and Marco wasn’t getting anywhere near her. No way in hell was I allowing this to go on.

"Corbin? Did you hear what I said?"

Shit. I'd spaced the hell out into my own little world again.  

"Sorry,” I said. “I was calculating all of the money I am going to make when I pull this deal off."

"Ha. You would be thinking about money. Money and women, those are Corbin Young's priorities," he grinned.

"Obviously," Eva said without looking at me.  

Louisa sat there twirling her hair, drinking her wine and looking off into the horizon, either purposely ignoring us, or just generally oblivious to our conversation. Either way, I envied her. It must have been nice to be so worry free.

"I deal with a lot of assholes in my line of work," Eva said, stealing a glance at me. "So it's nothing new."

Marco finished the rest of his wine and slammed his glass down on the wooden table. He reached across the table and grabbed Eva's wrist. "I'm a little concerned that Corbin is spending too much time with you, though. We have so many women here—I can have one ordered for you, Corbin. I worry that you aren't accepting my hospitality."

Or are you worried that since I'm spending all of my time with Alexa, you haven't had the opportunity to have your way with her? 

My possessive streak bubbled over. I didn’t give a shit if he was the boss or not, I needed to draw a line in the sand. "Dammit Marco! I'm not too concerned that I'm giving my woman a good nightly fuck. The way she services me, there's just not a real reason for me to get someone new right now. No offense Louisa, I'm sure you're great."

"None taken," Louisa shrugged. She ran her tongue lightly around her lips and took another sip of her wine.

"I am, however, concerned that we have been here for two days, and Luis Reyes still hasn't made an appearance. Marco, where is he?"

"I will take you to him," Marco said. "But first, I want a night with Alexa," he smiled.

I felt my insides tighten.

"That wasn't the goddamn deal we set up. At no point did we talk about that."

"The offer has changed," Marco said, cocking his head to one side.

"You know what? I'm doing you a favor. You need me to sell to college kids. You enlisted me for this job! And now you're making demands. That is not how this works."

Marco leaned back in his chair and folded his hands. The moonlight was starting to replace the sunlight, and he looked extra menacing.

"You are my friend, yes, Corbin. But right now you do not make the demands. I make the demands." He moved his eyes to the several armed thugs surrounding our table.

"You are my friend, too, Marco. Which is why I'm going to let this go. Must be the wine." I scooted out my chair and stood up. "Alexa. Come."

She looked at Marco, then at me, like a dog between two masters.  Marco said nothing.

"Thank you for dinner,” Eva said politely.

Two of the thugs stopped us as we made our way to the door. "Jefe, what should we do with them? That’s some major disrespect, no?"

Marco got out of his chair and slowly approached us. He had the rubik's cube in his hand now, tossing it up and playing with it. It was totally solved except for the corners. He put his face six inches from mine, scowled and cocked his head.

I wondered if he might just kill us both, right then. Shit, he was certainly crazy enough.

“Tonight,” Marco began, “I’m going to let this go. But tomorrow we will have a serious business discussion. I think the wine has started to affect your head.”