ANGEL'S WRATH by SK (SIN CITY HEAT) (39 page)

 
 
 
 
Jax's eyes flickered towards the closed door to the left before he quickly looked down. "Who?"

 
 
 
 
Angel chuckled softly and shook his head. "Still trying to insult my intelligence. See? That was your problem from the very beginning, Jaxon. You underestimated me. I assumed you'd learned what a mistake like that could cost you. I know you've been fucking Melania and I know she's in your bedroom now. I also know she's been helping you this entire time. You never would’ve been this bold on your own." Angel ignored the flare of anger that crossed Jaxon's face. "As I said, just wondering what her agenda is because I know she has one. She always does. But I have other things that need my attention which are far more important than this, so let's cut to the chase." His voice rose questioningly as he glanced towards the closed door. "Shall we
Melania?"

 
 
 
 
There was silence in the room for a few minutes before the bedroom door opened. His face indecipherable, Angel observed the woman walk out of the bedroom towards him with a slow, hip swinging stroll followed by three of her bodyguards. Her Mexican heritage was obvious, even if he hadn’t known who she was. One would not really call Melania Cruz beautiful, but the sensuous aura she projected made her more desirable than women a thousand times more attractive than her. Thick lashes surrounded her sexy dark eyes, and her plump lips hinted at the pleasure they could bestow upon every inch of a man's body.

 
 
 
 
Melania's tongue swiped across those very lips now, leaving them moist and wet. She and Angel stared at one another like they were the only ones in the room. Tossing her wavy, dark hair over her shoulder, the heavy, lustrous tresses fell to the middle of her back, wild and untamed...like Melania herself. When Angel's eyes ran over her hair, her smile told him she remembered how he used to enjoy twisting it around his hand in a tight fist while he pounded her from the back and rode her hard, controlled her until he broke her down and bent her to his will. Melania was an aggressive lover and used to being in charge. Angel had been the only lover to ever dominate her in the bedroom.

 
 
 
 
But that's where the domination ended. Her father had been a feared leader of one of the most ruthless drug cartels in Mexico. When his oldest son was killed, he groomed Melania, his middle daughter, taught and molded her to take his place, and after his death that's exactly what happened. She was more like him than any of his children, had the same fire, cunning intelligence, and cruelty needed to lead the powerful Juarez family. Mexican cartels had displaced Colombian groups as the dominant drug traffickers in the world. Melania had proven herself to the Mexican mafia and earned their respect long ago. Not many crossed her and lived to tell about it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Her eyes ran over one of the few men who'd successfully held his own with her. He was also one of the only men she'd ever truly wanted but hadn't been able to have. "Angelo.
Hola, papi.
It's been a long time, no?"

 
 
 
 
 
 
She placed a hand on her hip, bringing attention to the dress she wore that clung to every thick curvaceous part of her body. Melania was one of those women comfortable in her own skin. She would never be model thin, but she didn't aspire to be. She knew the power of her large, firm breasts, cinched waist, and generously rounded hips. Why would she ever aspire to get rid of something which had proven to be a natural advantage? Many a man had made the mistake of thinking she was only a beautiful body with an empty brain. By the time they realized their mistake, it was usually too late.

 
 
 
"Melania. It's been a minute. How are you, other than trying to stir up trouble for me?"

 
 
 
 
Melania's laugh was hot and sultry. "I've been doing just fine, Angelo. Not as well as you, though, my friend. You've become domesticated. A wife. A son. Quite the family man,
si
?"

 
 
 
 
The look Angel gave her was glacier cold. Melania shivered dramatically as her eyes danced.

 
 
 
 
"Eww. Is it me or did the temperature suddenly drop in the room? It seems very chilly all of a sudden."

 
 
 
 
Angel's tone never changed, but the hard edge in it was unmistakable. "I don't think you want to play this game with me, Melania. I don't know what this is all about for you, but let me say this now, before we go any further; my family is off limits. Make that the last time you mention my wife or my son."

 
 
 
 
Melania lifted her shoulder delicately. "Of course, Angelo. My apologies. But let me ask you this. What about your brother? Dominick. Is it okay if I speak
his
name?"

 
 
 
 
Angel became very still. Now they were getting to the reason for her involvement in all of this.
 
His eyes sharpened as his mind went through the mental rolodex of his dealings with Melania but couldn’t find anything that might connect her to Dominick. Melania never did or said something by chance. She mentioned his brother for a reason. But what?

 
 
 
 
"What does Dominick have to do with this?"

 
 
 
 
"Maybe you should ask him."

 
 
 
 
"I'm asking you!" Angel's voice whipped through the room like a missile looking for a target. "When I said my family is off limits, Melania, that means my
entire
family." Angel glanced at Jaxon who was watching the two of them like they were actors on a movie screen. "Now this sonuvabitch right here? Do whatever the fuck you want to him. I could care less."

 
 
 
 
Melania laughed as she cast an indulgent smile Jaxon's way. "Oh, he's harmless, Angelo. Like a pet I find myself amused with for the moment." When Jaxon frowned at the comparison, Melania blew him a kiss and patted his face.

 
 
 
 
"Melania…"

 
 
 
 
"It's not just about her," Jaxon cut in, apparently feeling it was time to make his presence felt. He was having a distinct case of deja vu. This was the same way Angel and his father had talked over him as if he wasn't important enough to even acknowledge. This time things were going to be different. "As you said, you already know what I want, Angel. Melania's reasons are her own. We have an understanding, she and I. She's going to help me gain control of
DWC
and in the process she'll be getting what she wants as well."

 
 
 
 
The chuckle that started out under Angel's breath turned into an outright laugh. "You really think she wants to
help
you, you stupid son of a bitch? Wow. Okay. Put that fancy education of yours aside for a moment. This isn't some business deal you're brokering from the comforts of a cozy office. Do you even know who she is? Do you have any idea? Melania Cruz looks out for Melania Cruz. After she gets what she wants, she'll cut your throat and tie your intestines around your nuts while you bleed out like the pig you are."

 
 
 
 
Melania, who had been studying her manicure and frowning when she discovered a slight flaw, glanced up when Jaxon turned to her with uncertainty written all over his face. She sent him a pretty pout and shook her head reassuringly. "Ignore him,
mi dulce
. He cannot be trusted."

 
 
 
 
Showing zero regard for her men who tensed and went on alert, Angel moved forward until they were only a step apart. "I'm going to ask you one last time what this has to do with you and why you're bringing Dominick into it."

 
 
 
 
"Fine. I'll give you one clue." Melania leaned close, placing a hand on Angel's chest and pressing her body against his. "Angelo, you know how much I love
mi
familia, si?
I love them with a fierceness that burns strong and deep, the same, no doubt, as you love yours. My baby sister, Isabella, was the light of our lives. She committed suicide one year ago."

 
 
 
 
"My condolences. What does this have to do with my brother?" Knowing there was more to her story, Angel's expression never changed.

 
 
 
 
"She knew your brother, our Isabella. Very well. They met almost twelve years ago."

 
 
 
 
"Twelve years ago, my brother was in prison." A sickening dread began to twist and churn in Angel's gut.

 
 
 
 
"Yes. He was. It seems my sister and your brother formed some sort of alliance to take out a common enemy they both hated and wanted destroyed."

 
 
 
 
A lightening quick awareness flashed in Angel's eyes for just a moment. It was only there a split second, but Melania caught it.

 
 
 
 
"Ahhh...so you have some knowledge of this."

 
 
 
 
Angel slipped his hands in his pockets and walked over to the sliding glass door that led to the balcony. They were on the twentieth floor which gave them a panoramic view of the legendary Vegas nightlife that was famous all over the world. Like many large cities, it didn’t really come to life until the cover of darkness fell. It was an exciting place...but it also had a dirty, unsavory side that would draw you in and pull you underneath its turbulent mass of crap if you weren't strong enough to fight and stay on top of the currents. Luckily, Angel had become an adept, skilled swimmer a long time ago.

 
 
 
 
He turned back to Melania with a nonchalance he was far from feeling. "Julio Garcia."

 
 
 
 
"
Si
."

 
 
 
 
"And?"

 
 
 
 
"Any other time, I would have applauded your brother for getting rid of that dog shit. At first, I had no idea Isabella was involved with him. Had I known, I would've killed him myself. For some unfathomable reason, my sister thought herself to be in love with him for a while. Men were always her weakness."

 
 
 
 
"If you're opinion of him is low, what's your problem with Dominick?"

 
 
 
 
"He used my sister to get rid of Julio. He used her then discarded her when he had no further use for her."

 
 
 
 
"Melania, from what I gather, your sister was deathly afraid of the bastard. She hated him. My brother hated him. He was taken care of. Your sister knew exactly what was going down."

 
 
 
 
"My sister fell in love with your brother, Angelo. She thought when he was released they would be together. Instead, he disappeared out of her life without a word. Nothing!"

 
 
 
 
"Melania, I know my brother. I'll bet everything I own that he didn't lead her on. Dom is like me, he's a straight shooter, no bullshittin' around. If your sister caught feelings for him, then that's on her. She knew what the deal was from the beginning. And anyway, that's been over a decade ago." Suspicion lighting up in his eyes, Angel tilted his head. “Why are you bringing all of this up now?”

 
 
 
 
"Some things came to light after Isabella's death...things that showed me without a doubt your brother was one of the ones responsible for her taking her own life."

 
 
 
 
"What things, Melania?" Angel was fast losing patience, and his irritation could be heard in the shortness of his words.