Law #1: Never Bet on Love: A Sweet Billionaire Love Story (Laws of Love) by Agnes Canestri (the beginning after the end novel read .TXT) 📗

I wrinkle my nose. “I see you went to Marcel’s before coming here. What happened? You were afraid to stalk your ex-girlfriend without the encouragement of a few shots?” I feign to spit on the ground, a gesture I know he and his friends regard as a great offense. “I can’t believe I ever found you attractive.”

Fernando smooths down his mustache with his thumb. One corner of his mouth twitches. When he speaks, his voice is low, but it chills me all the same. “Oh yeah? You despise your own kind now? Being some rich guy’s prostitute suits you better, huh? Does your sugar daddy know he’s dating the sister of a convict?”

My stomach shrinks. Did Fernando see me getting out of Nathan’s car?

Fernando studies me with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. “Ah, so you didn’t mention that Alejandro’s in jail, huh? Or that you used to be part of my gang?”

“I was never part of your gang.” My voice trembles from the emotion. “Never. As soon as I found out what you were involved in, I left you.”

Fernando sniffs. “Whatever. Then you won’t mind if I pay a visit to your new boyfriend and tell him all about us and your brother?”

“No,” I scream instinctively. Hearing about my complicated family history from Fernando’s mouth would mean a death sentence for whatever feelings Nathan has or is starting to have for me.

I know I shouldn’t have kept silent about my brother or my past mistakes. It’s just that when I met Nathan, I didn’t know him well enough to tell him yet. And now? Perhaps I’m too afraid that I’ll scare him off as soon as he hears the word “prison.” It’s probably better to wait anyway, since Alejandro is being released soon. Once he’s out, I can introduce him to Nathan. Then Nathan will see that Alejandro is just a kid, whose only fault was trusting his sister’s ex-boyfriend.

Fernando grabs my wrist. He leans in so close to my neck that his lips brush my earlobe. “Huh, you don’t want that? Then you better start speaking to me more respectfully. You aren’t my woman anymore. You’re just a dancer in this shi—”

Before he can continue, the door of the bar slams open. Pablo jogs outside and bolts over to us. His six-foot-five frame is tensed into a posture of menace as he hovers over Fernando. He places a hand on his shoulder and squeezes it. “Didn’t Alfonso tell you and your stupid dealer friends to stay away from the Desert Rose? And from Eva?”

Fernando peeks up at him. “Are you doing the job of bouncer now, too, Pablito? Serving drinks doesn’t pay well enough?” His voice is mocking, but his grip eases on my skin.

I quickly wiggle free and flash a grateful smile at Pablo. “Thanks, you arrived just in time.”

Pablo releases Fernando and points at his motorbike. “Get going. Now. I don’t want to see you here again.”

“Fine.” Fernando shrugs, then his eyes dart to mine. “Eva, you and I are history now, comprendes? Do you hear me? Your rich boyfriend can have you, I don’t care. I’ll just wait for Alejandrito to be released. He’s the only member of the Flores family who’s worthy of my attention.”

“Don’t you dare approach my brother,” I growl. “Ale will get his life back on track and stay away from filth like you.”

Fernando lifts a brow. “We’ll see about that. Good luck finding any well-paying job with his criminal record. I’m his only chance if he wants to earn decent money; he’ll soon realize that. He won’t want to mix cocktails for a crappy salary.” He throws an arrogant glance at Pablo. “Though some people only have enough brains and balls for that.”

Pablo’s arms flex, as if he’s ready to launch forward.

I put a hand on his elbow. “He’s not worth it, Pablo. Please.”

Fernando chuckles. He ambles over to his bike, whistling cheerfully, and we wait in silence till he rides away.

“Are you okay, Eva? Did he hurt you? I ran out as soon as Judy told me that this cretin came by.” Pablo pats my back.

“I’m fine. Sooner or later this meeting had to happen. Thanks for stepping in, though.” I plaster on a smile I don’t feel.

My stomach is as hard as a tortilla forgotten in the oven for days as I turn Fernando’s last comment in my head. I doubt that, after what Ale has learned about Fernando, he’d be ready to fall back with my ex, but the longer my brother goes unemployed, the more the potential risk of getting involved with bad people increases. Abuelita, despite her thorough search and desperate attempts to call in every favor she can in our church community, hasn’t found any employment opportunities for Ale yet. But my brother needs a job, and he needs it fast. I probably should’ve applied myself more in helping Abuelita, but since Nathan appeared in my life, I’ve been too occupied to think about anything else.

I need to go see my brother. The drive to his prison takes an hour, so I can’t do it on a workday, but tomorrow is my free night. We could fill out a proper resume for him—a thing that some people inquired about before gently declining Abuelita’s request for help.

To do that, however, I will have to cancel my date with Nathan.

“Let’s go inside.” Pablo pushes me gently toward the door, and I realize I’ve been standing like a statue, sunk in my thoughts. He throws me a calculating glance from the corner of his eye. “By the way, have you seen that billionaire again? The one who was here a few nights ago? Fernando seemed to imply that you did.”

Something in Pablo’s tone makes me uneasy. “Yes, I did. Why?”

He taps his lower lip with a finger. “No reason. You know that I can’t stand your criminal ex. But he might not be wrong about everything. The rich guy isn’t