"Who are you texting? Is it the girl? Ask her where she's at, oh, and see if anyone else is with them. I know that slippery fucker always has something up his sleeve."
I shove my phone in my pocket and ignore him.
"Will you shut up? She'll tell me everything I need to know on her own. I don't need to harass her about it and besides, it would look suspicious if I bombarded her with questions."
"You're getting too cocky. I suggest you get that under control."
"Fuck you. I have every right to be cocky! I'm fucking amazing, you miserable shit."
Large hands suddenly grab my neck and push me against the wall. He begin to squeeze until my eyes water and I struggle to inhale air.
"Has olvidado para quién trabajas, zorra."
(You forgot who you're working for, bitch.)
My eyes watered as tears forcefully spill over as my lungs burned. I wanted to yell but his grip was so firm that my voice sounded like a small squeak.
A wicked smile spreads across his face and he finally lets me go.
"You look so pretty... You know that right?"
I rub my sore throat and glare at him. Why did I end up getting stuck with the crazy ones?
"Whatever... I think it's time I get going."
I hastily grab my keys from my bag and start to head for the exit. Since I had received a call from him there had been a odd feeling in my gut. No matter how hard I tries to ignore it, it was always there.
"This was a mistake." I whisper to myself while walking to my car. I had felt an overwhelming sense of guilt that was eating me alive. But I'm in too much shit to back out now.
[Back at the Cabin]
"Te pareces mucho a mí."
(You look a lot like me.)
The small baby babbles and reaches for my hair. His tiny hands tug hard but it doesn't hurt.
"Heh, I suppose you got that from your mother. She likes to pull my hair too."
"Ricky!"
I grin and peer over my shoulder. Kaz had just stepped out of the shower and had water still dripping from her hair that was pulled up into a bun on her head.
"Don't say stuff like that around him! He's gonna think his mother is a pervert."
I put him on my hip and walk over to where she's standing.
"Please, the boy will find out eventually, so why not educate him now?"
I lower my head to kiss her. Her lips move slowly against mine as my tongue finds the inside of her mouth.
"Bahh!"
Anthony exclaims and I pull away from Kaz. She steps back and looks me up and down with a smirk on her face.
"What?"
She shakes her head, "Nothing... You just look incredibly sexy holding Anthony. Something about the whole "fatherly figure" thing is really doing it for me."
Her playful grin widened as she stepped closer to touch my chest.
"Kazmaria."
Her eyes stare at me with intensity but her lips quiver and she burst out into a fit of laughter.
"I'm messing with you! Christ." She holds her sides and wipes the tear from her eye. "Oh wow, you're getting easier to fool."
She takes Anthony from me and he instantly clings to her. Looks like he already has a favorite.
"Am I getting easier to fool or are you getting nastier?"
A faint shade of red tints her face and I grin. "Sh... Shut up."
She takes a seat at countertop and I quickly fix her a cup of coffee.
"Oh, thank you."
She takes a sip while patting Anthony's back.
"I actually wanted to talk to you about Lina."
I physically cringe at hearing her name. Ever since she met that woman I couldn't stand her.
"What about her?"
"I'm not completely sure, but I don't think she's being honest with me."
I lean onto the counter and watch her intently.
"Explain."
"I don't want to doubt her loyalty but I can't be sure anymore. She's my only friend and I deeply care about her..."
"But?"
"But if she's doing what I suspect, worse case scenario I'll have to-" She shakes her head. "I don't want to think about it."
"But why? What makes you think that?"
I wasn't trying to defend the awful woman but I needed her to elaborate further before I take action.
"Well for starters, when we heard that man in the house she didn't contact me until we left the house. Secondly, how did he even get in? That place is guarded like a prison but that guy just waltz's in? Tsk, something about that whole situation just doesn't sit right with me."
"Hm, I hadn't even thought about that. Listen, I know that you're attached to her and that killing her may be difficult for you but I-"
"No. Absolutely not. If she becomes a problem then I'll be the one to handle her."
Her glare was piercing and cold. For a brief moment I had forgotten that she was indeed a trained killer and not just my wife and mother of my children. Scary.
"Kaz, you're gonna wake up Anthony."
She snaps out of her trance like state and blinks.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I'll go lay him down."
"Don't worry about it mami, I've got him."
I take the small boy from her arms and she continues to blankly stare at the wall in front of her. I walk to nursery to lay down Anthony and check on Josiah who was still asleep.
I was grateful for my little family. They were all I've ever needed and anyone who posed a threat to them would answer to me. I wanted to respect Kazmaria's wishes but I refused to just sit around and wait until she did something. I had to take action now, before it was too late.
I leave the room and step out onto the deck out back. I quickly dial a number into my phone and wait for them to pick up.
"Oye, been a while since we've spoken eh? I'm calling cause I needa favor... Yeah, it is. Can I count on you to help me out? Perfect. I'll see you then."
I honestly felt terrible for going over her head like this but what other option did I have? I know her relationship with that woman, I know she'd have a hard time removing her from the picture. It was my job as her husband to keep her and the kids safe from all harm.
"Estoy haciendo lo que tengo que hacer... por ellos."
(I'm doing what I have to do... for them.)