Victor Ramirez could feel his blood boiling. Who the fuck did this little poindexter think he was anyway? It paid to have trusted informants planted on the movie set to let him know what that little fucker was up to. And it was a good thing his father had insisted he not go to Guatemala himself or he’d ring Luis’ scrawny little neck personally.
The bastard had gone too far – or he would have, if Valentina weren’t the strong, classy woman he knew her to be. She had walked off the set like a fucking queen, but was now without representation, which was the kiss of death in the entertainment industry. She was also unprotected, which suddenly seemed more important. That changed everything, as far as Victor was concerned. The time to make his move was now.
There would be no time for the niceties. No wooing, no dates, no fancy proposal in an elegant restaurant. He wasn’t sure he would have ever had the patience for any of that anyway. But regardless, Luis’ ability to be a complete asshole had escalated the situation. The more he thought about it, the more Victor was convinced that he needed to go to Guatemala without delay and take care of business himself. He would just take what was his. His father had done it. His uncle had done it. She would just have to understand. Anyway, the ultimate outcome would be unchanged: Valentina, in his home, in his arms and in his bed. This approach would just be more efficient.
It was late enough that he could still wake one of the pilots and hop a flight on the family’s private plane. Before he could change his mind, he rushed from the room and packed a suitcase with the bare necessities and headed toward the front door.
As soon as his hand touched the doorknob his father’s voice cut through the air. “I had a feeling you might try that.”
Victor slowly turned around. His father stood in the foyer, his arms folded over his massive chest.
“She’s not even here yet and already she’s in your head and affecting your good judgment.”
“She’s been through enough,” Victor said. “I’m going to go get her and bring her home with me, where she belongs.”
“You underestimate my power. I already have the situation well in hand. Go to bed.”
“She’s mine! It’s my job to go get her,” he snapped, his voice gruff. Why wouldn’t his father listen to reason?
“This isn’t about your ego, mijo—”
The endearment calmed Victor as it always did and he forced himself to settle down and listen to what his father had to say.
“These are dangerous times. The cartels there are at each other’s throats at the moment. Certainly, you don’t expect me to send you into dangerous region, where life and limb would be at stake. Do you know what it would do to your mother and me if something happened to our boys? We only just got Tony back safe and sound. It was hard on all of us, but especially your mother. She’s got the whole mama-bear thing going on these days. I’m not poking the bear, son, not even for you. You’re staying put.”
Great…now he’s playing the mother card. “We’re hardly boys, Father.”
“I know, I know. But you try telling your mother that.”
Victor’s shoulders sagged in an outward show of defeat. He knew what his father was saying was true. They had enemies, people who would love to execute the Ramirez twins. This was a dangerous time to try to go legit by expanding their business interests into the entertainment industry. It was a good call long-term, but it would be fucking dangerous getting there.
When Ricardo was assured he had his son’s attention he continued. “I’ve already sent King to retrieve her and we both know how convincing he can be. He’s fluent in Spanish and light-skinned enough to pass for a tourist.”
“You’ve already sent him. Fuck,” Victor muttered, dropping into a nearby chair.
“Yes, and he’ll have a little help from El Demente. Your woman will be here by tomorrow night.”
Victor’s jaw ticked erratically, an outward sign of his distaste at the prospect of another man retrieving and, inevitably, touching what was his. It was a good thing he and the two men were on good terms or he’d be daydreaming about putting a bullet in someone’s skull.
As if his father could read his thoughts, he chuckled and said one more thing: “Don’t worry, Victor. Take it from the voice of experience. If all goes well, she’ll sleep through the whole thing and wake up in Louisville. And then she’ll be all yours.”
“She already is. Always has been.” He couldn’t help the wicked grin that touched his lips. He was looking forward to seeing her expression when she woke up at his mercy.