"That's it baby, just keep looking at mama."
I bounce Anthony on my knee while Josiah peacefully sleeps inside his carrier. I was in the back seat of the car waiting for Lina to come to the garage.
"If your aunt Lili isn't here in the next minute I'm gonna get upset, and we don't want to see mama upset do we?" He giggles and reaches up to grab my finger.
"Maldita Lili, ¿dónde estás?"
(Damn Lili, where are you?)
I jump at the sudden sound of someone tapping on the window. It was Ricky. But I thought he was handling whatever that was downstairs? And where was Lina? He walks around to the drivers side of the car and starts the ignition.
"Oye, get yourself and them strapped in. We've gotta go."
His voice sounded slightly worried and he spoke in an urgent manner. I securely strap in both of the boys and climb into the front seat.
"What's wrong and where the hell is Lina?"
"I'll explain everything when we get somewhere safe."
"Somewhere safe?" I repeat his words in confusion. "Ricky, what's going on?"
"I said later Kaz." He looks in the review mirror then over his shoulder.
"Are we being followed?" I didn't know what was going on and him not answering me was beginning to annoy me.
"Oye, Kaz-"
"No, don't "Oye, Kaz" me! I want to know why you're in such a rush to leave."
He sucks his teeth and his jaw clenches.
"I'm a wanted man, hermosa; You know that. You knew that when you first stepped on that plane. There are people out there who wanna hurt me and they damn sure know how."
"..."
I stare at him with an unimpressed expression and my arms folded across my chest.
"Have I ever told you how bad I want to smack sometimes? Because right now, I want to."
"Heh, wonderful." He was being obvious sarcastic which made me upset.
"That didn't tell me jack-shit about what just happened. Who was that man yelling and why exactly does he want to kill me?!"
The look in his eye grows darker and his knuckles turn white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.
"No on will ever lay a hand on you... Mataré a cualquiera que intente."
His words cause goosebumps to appear on my arms. Why on earth was he so on edge? Whatever's causing him to react this way must be truly bothering him.
"I- I'm sorry."
"Mhm."
He leans back in his seat and begins steering with one hand, as if he wasn't just pissed literally a second ago.
I roll my eyes at his bipolar behavior and peer outside the window. We hadn't been driving for too long but the traffic seemed to disappear, the road we were on was old and covered in potholes.
The scenery had changed from the towering buildings to even taller trees. Another half hour had passed and Ricky and I still hadn't said a word to each other. In the back seat Josiah began to stir in car seat. I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to grab him.
"Good morning sweetie, how was your nap?"
He quietly looks around and puts his hands in his mouth.
"You're not hungry? Awe, did you just want mommy to hold you?"
From the corner of my eye, I could see Ricky occasionally taking glances at at the two of us.
"What?"
A small grin creeps onto his face and he shakes his head at my question.
"No, no, you keep staring at me. What is it?"
"Just not used to seeing you act so... so gentle."
"And that means...?"
The car pulls in front of a large cabin, it resembled the one we were at all that time ago but this one was bigger. He cuts off the engine and fully turns ta face me.
"It means that I find it incredibly sexy watching your maternal instincts kick in. Loco eh?"
I stifle my laughter by holding my hand over my mouth.
"You are seriously like a hormonal middle schooler! Hahahaha!"
I open the passenger door and put Josiah on my hip while walking around the car to get his brother. After I had finished laughing, Ricky walks up to the front door of the house and unlocks the wooden door.
"Oh goodness, thank you for that laugh Ricky. It was much needed."
He rolls his eyes and grabs hold of my hand. "Yeah, yeah, let's go."
He leads me through the large cabin so fast that I barely had time to look around. But from what I could see, this place was very well put together. Despite the homey looking appearance of the cabin from the outside, the inside was decadently decorated.
"The boys will stay in here. Our room is just down the hall that way." I tilts his head towards the right. "I had cameras put up so you can keep an eye out from anywhere in the house."
He sets down the bag on a table inside of the nursery and leans against the door frame. I set the twins down inside of their cribs and sigh. I still had so many questions that I wanted to ask but I knew him. He'd just get upset again and I'd feel bad for pressing him.
"So, what's to eat around here? I'm starving."
"How rude of me. I haven't even fed my woman yet. Tsk, tsk this simply won't do."
He pushes himself off the door and steps closer to me, looking down with a smirk on his face.
"You stay here, maybe explore a little bit while I cook mi mujer a nice home cooked meal. Sound good?"
I give him a quick peck on the lips and smile.
"Yeah, sounds good."
As soon as he turns to leave, I pull out my phone and text Lina's number.
[Text messages]
Kaz: Lili wtf?! I called like six times and still no response? Where are you?
Lina: Kazzie omg i'm so sorry! I heard someone yelling for Ricky and I panicked! I really didn't mean to scare you, i'm sorry
K: It's okay, as long as you're safe
L: What about you and the kids? I heard someone heading towards their room, was that you?
K: Yeah. Ricky rushed to handle w/e that was downstairs and told me to grab the boys
L: Oh... what's up with him? Who had that psycho pissed off now?
K: He's not a psycho and idk. He won't tell me a thing. The last time I tried to ask he got all upset and I just let it go, it hasn't come up since
I suck my teeth and furry my brows. I didn't like it when she called him that, it made me feel so kind of way.
L: Hm, weird. W/e I guess it doesn't matter, as long as you guys are okay
K: I suppose. I'll call you a little later on okay?
L: Okay babe, talk to you then. Love you!
I turn off my phone on set it down on the same table that holds the baby bag. Josiah had already been fed and burped in the car and Anthony didn't want to eat.
"I guess I could take a shower or something..."
A delicious aroma had began to fill my nose and in responding my stomach growled. I followed the scent all the way to where it was coming from and smile when I see Ricky humming quietly to himself with his shirt off as he danced around the large kitchen.
"Didn't take you as much of a dancer, Hernandez."
He stops dancing and laughs a hardy laugh. "Well it takes two to tango, hermosa. Care to join me?"
"Ou, a tempting offer but I have to decline. I came in here to tell you that I'm hopping in the shower real quick so keep an ear out for the boys."
"Or..."
He puts his hand beneath the marble countertops and presses a button. Out from the counter a small screen shows different cameras. He clicks on the one recording their room and gives me an achieved look.
"Or I could watch from here."
I click my tongue and laugh a little bit.
"You are so damn extra, Ricardo. Thank you."