My vision clouded a bit.
I sighed, irritated that the dizziness was getting worse. How the hell was I supposed to shoot things if I was dizzy?
I stopped walking, waiting for the moment to pass.
Sergio turned around. His expression showed concern for about one second before it turned to irritation, his mouth forming a thin irritated line. "Tired already?"
I swallowed back a snappy retort and blew him a kiss instead.
His bewildered expression told me that it was the right thing to do. Keep him on his toes — I kind of thought of myself as his entertainment. Clearly, he needed more happy in his life if I was the one cheering him up.
Maybe I'd be sainted when I went to heaven for putting up with his crabby attitude and all around gloomy outlook on life.
Was the sun shining? Yes.
Was he alive? Yes.
So why be grumpy?
The man lived in a mansion, and so what if I'd snuck into his room the night I moved in while he'd been passed out on the couch from drinking too much?
His closet was ridiculous.
Like something out of a movie.
There were still tags on some of the suits. And the suits weren't just expensive — they screamed money. I'd probably sleep better in one of his suit piles than I had in his bed.
The fabric was that rich.
His shoes were a completely different story. Even I was jealous, and I'd been spoiled my whole life.
Prada, Valentino, Versace — there was so much Italian leather in that boy's closet that I half-expected him to have cows out back or something.
"Andi!" Sergio barked. "Did you hear me?"
"Er…" I scratched the back of my head with the tip of my gun. My shirt rose above my hips.
Sergio's eyes dipped to the exposed skin.
When all else fails, distract him. "Yes?"
Sergio slowly lifted his gaze to my face. "I said, the gates just opened. Make yourself scarce."
I pouted.
"Andi…" He stomped toward me. "…they don't know you're here. According to the agency, you're still attending Eagle Elite and dating the star quarterback."
Wait, what?
He swore. "I'll explain later, for now. Hide in the bushes."
"You're serious?"
"No time for you to go back in the house, so yeah, I'm serious. Go."
I glanced over my shoulder. The black sedan pulled into the circular driveway.
"Fine." I skipped over to the bushes and ducked while Sergio made his way to the front of the house.
The large water fountain made it hard to hear any sort of conversation, but I could tell it wasn't a fun one.
Sergio's hands were in the air making gestures, while the agent's hands were in defensive mode.
Finally, Sergio threw a badge and a few other things onto the ground then emptied his gun and handed it over.
He was defenseless. Why would he do that?
The agent took the gun and leaned down to pick up the rest of the things Sergio had thrown. He hung his head, almost like he was sad, and then the strangest thing happened.
The agent wrapped his arms around Sergio's stiff body and hugged.
"His old partner," Nixon said from behind me, scaring the crap out of me.
I nearly fell over.
"Sorry."
"It's fine." I pressed a hand to my chest, my heartbeat was erratic. "I didn't know he had a partner."
"Apparently they were close — though he never knew Sergio's true involvement with us."
I frowned and continued to watch the exchange.
"Will he hurt him?"
"Who?" Nixon asked in a calm voice.
"Will the partner hurt Sergio?"
"Doubt it," Nixon whispered. "Regardless of the information the feds have on us, they still know that Sergio's part of our family. Retaliation would be expected. If they bite, we bite back only harder. Kill one of us, we kill ten of them. It's kind of how these things work. In the end, it's not worth the effort on their part."
"So why the precaution?"
Nixon stood as the FBI agent walked around his car and got in, slamming the door behind him.
"I never said the feds were smart." Nixon shrugged. "Sometimes their balls get too big, and we have to cut them down to size."
"Sounds painful."
"Killing always is." Nixon's icy stare met mine. "Then again, you know that all too well, don't you?"
I licked my lips and shrugged.
"Don't hurt him."
I jerked my head up. "Who?"
"You know who," Nixon said in a deathly cold voice. "I know how bad it really is. Sergio may not know, but I do. Don't hurt him, Andi."
"Sergio should know." I sighed. "I keep telling him I'm dying."
"Don't put it past him to try to save you." Nixon's eyes were sad.
I choked out a laugh. "Believe me, that's the last thing he wants."
Eyes narrowed, Nixon opened his mouth but was interrupted by Sergio walking around the corner.
"I hate today."
Nixon sighed, sharing a look with me before putting his gun back in its holster. "Maybe you should take a honeymoon with the wife? Might cheer you up."
"Hey!" I jumped to my feet. "That's what I said."
"Don't encourage the communist." Sergio pointed at me.