I pulled my dress back on while Maximo sat on the sofa smoking a cigarette. I had been smoking more here recently than I had for months away from him.
“I love you, Fallon.” He finally said, breaking the silence. “I have always loved you. I just need you to love me back. We need to remain a united front wo we don’t become a target of other cartels, gangs, and mafias. Its for the safety of you, my men, and my business.” He paused for a long time. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to respond or not. “Come back to me, Fallon.” He said before grabbing my left hand and putting my wedding ring back on.
“Come back to me, please.” He said before getting up and walking out. I was speechless. I sat down on the desk and contemplated his words. I must have sat there for awhile because Ali came in and broke my train of thought.
“What the hell happened in here?” She said with a big smile across her face. “Smells like sex.” Then she began laughing. Ali was a more confident woman these days than when I first met her.
“Ali, we need to talk.” I said seriously before moving to the sofa. She joined me, grabbing my hands.
“Tell me what has been going on, you don’t look well, Fallon.” She was concerned now. I told her everything. From the pregnancy, going into hiding, the attempted assassination, James, everything.
She listened intently to every word. I waited for her to respond, but I beat her to it. “Ali, I need you and James to be together. He is a great man and I need him distracted. I think you two will get along nicely.” She brought her eyebrows together so fast.
“Oh, Fallon, I’m not sure that is a good idea. James is yours.”
“Not anymore, Ali. Despite how much I wish it to be true, I can’t. I need him to be safe and I think that is here with you. I have business I need to take care of in Mexico. You and James can take over New Orleans, opening more clubs, buying up property, anything to give me something to fall back on if I need to go into hiding.” I grabbed her hands. “Please, Ali, for me.”
She shook her head ‘yes’ before pulling me into a big hug. “Fallon, please stay safe.” She gave me a kiss on the cheek and helped me straighten my dress.
Now, Maximo.
I decided to leave, whether the boys joined me or not, but to my surprise they were all outside smoking cigars. Joe was sobered up and decided to drive us home. I had left a note with the door man for James with the new plan of him and Ali taking over New Orleans for my return in the future.
I sat in the back of my SUV between Julio and Maximo, who were both handsy. I finally had to grab their hands and put them on their thighs, holding their hands so they would stop touching me. It didn’t stop Maximo. He ran his finger up and down my leg, running his finger on the hem of my dress.
At one point he leaned over and kissed my shoulder. Julio was just patting my leg, affectionately, but not sexually.
The boys kept saying how “the party isn’t over!” From what I gathered, they invited some of the girls from the club back to MY penthouse. Assholes.
When we got back to the parking garage, Monte and Julio went to the office to inform the attendant we would be having company while Joe escorted me to the penthouse. He looked at me deeply, “Mrs. Hernandez, are you good?” He was so nonchalant, making me smile.
“Joe, I’ve asked you to call me Fallon multiple times. I’m fine, just tired.” Maximo was silent, grabbing my hips and pulling me into his torso.
“We will be retiring to our room, make sure the party doesn’t get out of hand.” Joe nodded to Maximo.
When the door opened, Maximo pulled me to the master suite. “I’m tired and could really use a soak.” He looked at my abdomen questioning my decision. “My incision is healed. I am going for a soak.” Luckily, I had a hot tub installed on my personal balcony.
“Fallon, we need to talk about our future.” Maximo was serious. I had never seen him like this, strong, but nervous.
“Fine, talk, but I’m going for a soak.” I started to remove my dress, Maximo watched me hungrily, but followed my actions. I decided to not wear a bathing suit, it was my personal hot tub. Maximo also followed this action.
I walked out onto the deck; the air was cooler up here than on the street. I began to open the lid, but Maximo stepped in front of me and removed the top.
He helped me in the spa before stepping in after me. I embraced the warm water on my skin. I needed this after the last few days activities.
He was watching me intently. “Go on then.” I motioned for him to speak.
“Fallon, we need to perceive a united front for the sake of business, but, I’d like to have a cordial marriage with you.” He paused, searching my face. “I do love you, Fallon.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?” He was angry now. “I am trying here, Fallon, at least you can do is offer something to his conversation.”
I looked at him, he was still so handsome. The way his jaw clenched when he was mad was so hot. “Fine, for the business.” I said, trying to get a reaction out of him. “But marriage? You’re going to really have to try harder. Stop hurting me. Stop hurting those I love. And frankly, you fuck around on me too much. If you get to fuck other people then I want to fuck other people.”
This really pissed him off. “You are mine, nobody is to touch you but me. You’re lucky I let the kiss with James slide, because I was close to killing that motherfucker.” I flinched, I didn’t know he had seen us.”
I smiled, pissing him off even more. “You’re jealous?” I started to laugh.
“If I recall, you shot a woman who was riding me once, Fallon.” My smile faded, remembering when I walked in on Maximo with another woman. “Anyways, we need to remain a united front. It all went to shit when you left.” He was rambling on, but I couldn’t care less what he was saying. “Business……….murder………drugs……….stealing……blah, blah, blah.”
“Maximo, I don’t know if I can ever forgive you.” I finally said. His lips formed a hard line.
“How do we fix this, Fallon? Because the only way out of this is if you die.” There he goes again with the murder threats.
“I’d like to sleep with someone else.”