MARTY stared out the passenger window of his car as the San Antonio scenery sped by. Even though he was scared out of his ever-loving mind, he enjoyed a certain satisfaction in suddenly finding his backbone. Sure, his life was in danger thanks to his thug cousin, but for the first time in his life, he was standing his ground instead of running off with his tail tucked between his legs.
It made him feel twelve feet tall and bulletproof, which would come in handy right about now.
He also felt somewhat confident in the plan. Luke would be with him, which was great. Unfortunately Luke’s partner would be there too, which was not so great. Luke might trust Special Agent Crispy Aguilar with his life, but Marty sure as hell didn’t. Still, there was truth in that old adage. Sometimes you had to keep your enemies as close to you as possible. As long as Crispy was with them, Marty could keep an eye on him and watch his every move.
Now all he had to figure out was how to bring Luke out of his foul mood. He had barely said two words the entire drive back to the garage apartment. Marty had gathered everything they needed while Luke peered through the drawn curtains and stood guard. Now that they were on their way to Christian’s, Luke drove with a clenched jaw and a death grip on the steering wheel.
Marty wasn’t certain what was going on, but he did have an educated guess. “You know this isn’t your fault, right?” he asked.
Luke tore his eyes from the road and stared at him as if he’d forgotten Marty was in the car. “What?”
“Don’t blame yourself for this.”
Instead of answering, Luke returned his focus to the road.
“I’m really good at getting myself into trouble,” Marty continued. “It happens all the time. My mother even said so at dinner the other night. Remember? Besides, I’m the one who asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend, so it’s on me. Not you.”
“This isn’t about some fake relationship, Marty,” Luke muttered. “Saving face in front of your family and sticking it to Christian are so far beyond the point right now, it’s silly to even consider it. This is extremely dangerous. So dangerous I can’t even properly define how dangerous it is. You have no idea what kind of man your cousin is or the kind of man he works for.”
The fear Marty had seen in the mall restroom leaped back into Luke’s eyes. It changed him from the lethal government agent who could kill a man without breaking a sweat into a scared little boy Marty desperately needed to hug.
“I’m not an idiot,” Marty finally said. “I read the paper and watch the news. I know what El Dragón is capable of.”
Luke’s shoulders tensed. “Knowing and seeing it firsthand are two different things.”
Marty wasn’t even going to try arguing against that point. “You’re right, and I don’t want you to think I don’t get how dangerous this is. I do. More than you can possibly realize. I was just trying to say that this isn’t your fault. You didn’t force me to blackmail you into being my pretend boyfriend. You didn’t make me create Tim Drake. It’s not your fault I went to get some tamales for breakfast and wound up in that alley. Chances are I would have ended up there anyway.”
“I don’t buy it,” Luke replied.
“Then how about this?” Marty asked. He sat sideways in the seat and rested his hand on Luke’s shoulder. Luke’s tense muscles relaxed upon contact, which brought a slight smile to Marty’s lips. “If I hadn’t met you, if you hadn’t been there, I’d be dead right now. So thank you for saving me and thank you to my father’s lucky coin for bringing you into my life.”
Luke’s stony expression cracked and a smile crept across his expression.
“There we go,” Marty said. “You’re far too handsome to be frowning the way you’ve been.”
Luke slowly turned, a smile drawing full across his face. “You think I’m handsome?”
Marty groaned and faced forward in his seat again. “Is that all you heard?”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Of course I think you’re handsome,” Marty said with an eye roll. Anyone with eyes would think the same thing. “Have you seen yourself?”
“Every morning in the mirror,” Luke answered. “But I don’t see it.”
“Well, you’re just a dumbass, then. You’re, like, the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Marty tensed as soon as the words left his mouth. He suddenly wanted to open the car door and jump out into the highway traffic.
“Before I forget,” Luke said, “I have something for you.”
From his peripheral vision, Marty could tell Luke was digging around in his pocket. When he found whatever he was searching for, he reached out and placed it in Marty’s open hand. Marty’s breath caught in his throat as he gazed down at the coin he’d tossed into the fountain at the mall.
“You walked into the fountain for it?” he asked as tears lodged in his throat.
“I figured you’d want it back,” Luke answered with a shrug, as if he hadn’t just done the sweetest thing ever. It also explained why Luke’s jeans had been wet when he was fighting off the attacker in the men’s room.
“Thank you again,” Marty said as he gazed deep into Luke’s smiling eyes.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “Just don’t throw it away again. It really is a lucky coin. It led me right to you when you needed me the most.”
Marty squeezed the silver dollar in the palm of his hand and nodded.
The coin knew what it was doing after all.
MARTY got out of his car and stood in front of his ex-boyfriend’s townhouse complex. He hadn’t been back here since he dumped Christian’s lying, cheating ass. Marty welcomed the idea of spending the afternoon with his ex even less than when he agreed to be the bait Luke and Crispy hoped might bring down Rogelio and El Dragón.
“It’s going to be okay,” Luke said as he slipped his hand into Marty’s. “I’ll be right here.”
Marty didn’t doubt that for a second. Luke’s presence was the only thing keeping him sane. But his worry refused to be shaken off. A lot rested on his shoulders. Luke and Crispy were counting on him to help them capture the bad guys. While helping them do that might help save his family’s lives, it placed them in jeopardy at the same time.
Rogelio’s henchmen could come for Marty at any time. It wasn’t like his cousin couldn’t find out where the next wedding event was being held. All he had to do was pick up the phone and ask any of their relatives who had been invited.
If he happened to show up, Marty was ready for him. Luke had arranged a little surprise.
As Marty and Luke made their way around the outside patio and toward the clubhouse, Marty noticed quite a few people lounging by the pool.
“Are they—?”
“Some, yes,” Luke replied. “We’ve got a team in the pool area and walking the grounds. They’ll just appear as regular tenants, so no one should be suspicious. You’re well covered.”
Unless one of them happened to be the leak. “And your partner? Where’s he?”
“Around” was all Luke replied.
Marty scrunched his face. If he didn’t know where Crispy was, how the hell was he going to keep an eye on him?
“Will you stop it?” Luke asked after gently knocking his shoulder into Marty while they walked. “Crispy is a good guy.”
“If you say so,” he replied.
“I do,” Luke said with a nod.
“Well, how are you supposed to get your suit, then?” Marty asked. He motioned to Luke, who still wore the Batman hoodie and sunglasses. “You’re not exactly dressed for a pool party.”
Luke pulled down his sunglasses and winked. “It’s all been taken care of.”
Marty was just about to ask how when his cell phone dinged. It was a text from his sister.
Where the hell are you? You’re late, and we need to talk!
Marty sighed. Almost there, he replied before shutting off his phone and stuffing it back into his pocket.
“Remember, you don’t go anywhere without me,” Luke warned. “Not even to the bathroom. You know how well that worked out the last time.”
Marty nodded as they entered the packed clubhouse.
The roar of conversation immediately stopped when they stepped through the door. It was almost as if every single person in the room decided to hold their breath at the same time. A second later conversation returned to its former dull roar, but Marty could still feel dozens of eyes watching his every move.
“What was that about?” Luke whispered.
Marty had no fucking idea. His family could be strange at times, but that was bizarre even for them. “Search me.”
“I suppose we should start mingling,” Luke said as he stepped forward.
Marty gripped Luke’s hand firmly and pulled him back. “Or we could just stand here.” The tension in his body returned with a vengeance. It had been much easier to agree to be bait when he’d been in a car with two FBI agents, but now that he was out here with his family, he felt like a giant bull’s-eye had been painted on his chest and that at any moment, his nightmare from this morning would come true.
Luke wrapped his arms around Marty and pulled him close. It was his turn to hold his breath. Marty trembled when their bodies touched, and Marty’s body trembled in response.
“Wh-what are you doing?” he finally managed to choke out.
Luke grinned down at him and rested his forehead against Marty’s. The sweet, simple gesture almost made Marty’s knees buckle. “You look upset,” Luke whispered, his warm breath fanning across Marty’s hot, flushed skin. “And since I’m your boyfriend, it’s my job to hold you and make it better.”
“Luke, what the hell are you talking about?”
“It’s Tim, remember?” he asked with a seductive grin lounging across his lips.
“Oh, right,” Marty said on an exhale. He’d almost forgotten. Again.
“Stay focused. It’ll be okay,” Luke said before pressing a small kiss against Marty’s cheek.
Marty leaned into the kiss and sighed. Luke’s presence made him feel safe, and holding his hand gave Marty strength, but that one kiss was the equivalent of a yellow sun to Superman.
Nothing could touch Marty now.
“You’re fashionably late yet not stylishly dressed,” a voice behind them said.
And here came his kryptonite.
Christian stood behind them, wearing only a Speedo and an alcohol-induced smile. Marty recognized that expression. When Christian drank, he didn’t slur his speech or weave when he walked, he became an even bigger asshole than he already was.
“For an underwear model,” he said with air quotes, “you sure dress like shit. I wasn’t aware superhero couture had come to Milan.”
Luke gave Christian the once-over. He was clearly half a second away from wringing his second neck of the day. Marty squeezed Luke’s hand, basically asking him not to make a scene. Luke blew the air from his lungs and gave Christian a thin smile. “Well, that’s why you’re the lawyer and I’m the model.”
Christian sniffed. He switched his gaze from Luke to Marty. “You know, until recently I thought better of you. I even allowed myself to feel bad for hurting you because you seem so sweet and innocent. What a fucking joke!”
Luke took a step forward, but Marty pulled him back. This wasn’t Luke’s fight. It was Marty’s. “Christian, you’re drunk.”
“Maybe,” he replied. His narrowed eyes softened and a look of absolute misery fell across his expression. “You didn’t have to do this,” he said, gesturing at Luke. “I would have taken you back. I still would, you know.”
“I don’t want you back,” Marty scoffed. “I’ve moved on. I’m with Tim now.”
Christian chuckled. “Right,” he said with a wink and a click of his tongue. “With the underwear model you’ve been dating. Except he’s not really what you say he is, is he?”
Marty flinched slightly. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I know the truth, Marty.” Christian took a step back and waved to the room behind him. “We all do.”
Luke stepped right up to Christian and got in his face. “If I were you, I’d shut my mouth before you lose all your teeth.”
Christian didn’t back off. Luke’s anger emboldened him. He gazed right back into Luke’s steely blue eyes. “I wish you would,” Christian said. “With all these witnesses, I’ll be able to drag your ass through the legal system for years. When I’m done with you, you won’t be able to scrape two dimes together for the rest of your whorish life.”
“Stop this right now,” Marty said, stepping between Luke and Christian. Fortunately, the music was too loud for their conversation to be overheard, but the tension had caught the eyes of some in the room. His cousins, who had been all over Luke yesterday, whispered from across the room and giggled, as if they somehow approved of Christian’s behavior. Others, like his Tía Rosie, shook their head in disappointment. When Marty spotted his mother, the smile she’d worn parading Luke in front of the family yesterday turned into a scowl.
As Luke would say, something was definitely eating her cheese.
“I’m doing this for you, Marty,” Christian said. He stepped away from Luke and drew closer to Marty.
“What?” he asked. “Embarrassing me?”
Christian tore his gaze from Luke’s and settled it on Marty. “No,” he said. “Standing up for you and showing you that you don’t need to hire some two-bit escort to bring to the wedding.”
Marty gasped. Warmth spread across his cheeks as he surveyed the crowd to see who had heard. From the many blank stares, he guessed it had to be more than a few.
“I’d apologize if I were you,” Luke warned.
“Or what?” Christian asked.
Luke drew closer and his voice dropped to barely a whisper. “Believe me, you don’t want to find out.”
This time Christian took two steps back. He clearly got Luke’s message. If Christian didn’t shut up, he’d never have the chance to file a single lawsuit.
Christian turned around and stormed off.
“You okay?” Luke asked. He wrapped his arms around Marty again, this time resting his hands at the small of Marty’s back.
Marty was exhausted. Standing up for yourself was a lot harder than it looked.
“Martín, I need to have a word with you,” his mother said from behind him. “Right. Now.”
Marty dropped his head against Luke’s chest and said a silent prayer to all that was holy. He might have survived a hitman and Christian with Luke’s help, but against his mother, he needed divine intervention.
He turned around in Christian’s arms and stared at his mother. If her lips were pressed any tighter together, they would have disappeared. “What is it, Mama?”
“Is it true?” she asked, glancing at Luke in disgust. “What Christian has been telling everyone?”
“Would it matter if I said no?” His question earned his mother’s pissed-off-momma stance. She crossed her arms, stood up straight, and glared down her nose at him.
“What matters is the truth,” she replied.
“Does it?” he asked. “Because it seems that no matter what I say, you don’t believe me anyway.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re always lying to me,” she said. “You may think I’m a stupid old woman, but I’m not. I’m your mother, and I have always been able to tell when my children were lying to me.”
Marty blew all the anger out of his body. She was right. He was a liar and now, apparently, to everyone at this fun little gathering, a john. “It’s not true,” he answered, nodding at Luke. “He is not an escort.”
His mother stared at him for a few seconds before she dropped her arms to her side. “Good. That’s all I needed to know, because I’ve got enough to deal with as it is.” Her face twisted in misery.
“What’s wrong?” Marty asked, stepping out of Luke’s embrace and hugging his mother.
“Your Tío Beto was here.”
Now he understood her mood. Beto Rodriguez was his mother’s older brother. She hadn’t seen him since Marty’s grandmother had packed up her daughters and crossed the border into the United States over four decades ago.
His uncle had tried to contact them over the years, but his mother refused to communicate with him. She even refused to show Marty and his sister pictures of him. Marty had never understood why, and whenever he’d asked his mother about it, her only response had been a lengthy silence.
“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” he said. “Maybe you two can patch things up.”
“No. That will never happen,” she said before turning around and walking away.
“What happened between your mother and your uncle?” Luke asked.
Marty shrugged. “I wish I knew. It’s been a family secret for as long as I can remember.”
“I’ve got another question for you.” A devilish grin slanted his lips.
“What?”
“Does everyone really think I’m an escort?” Luke asked on a laugh.
From the way everyone continued to stare at them, the answer was obvious. “Apparently so.”
“That’s fucking funny.”
Marty arched an eyebrow at him. “No, it’s not. It’s a complete disaster. Why would you even say that?”
“Because it is,” Luke said. “But where the hell did that idea come from?”
Marty found his answer on the other side of the clubhouse. His sister stood in the back with her fiancé. When Marty caught her eyes, she gave him a guilty smile and a halfhearted wave.
“YOU did this?” Marty asked his sister after pulling her outside on the patio deck. “You told Christian that Tim was an escort?”
“I did not,” Sophia answered. She held her chin high in mock indignation.
“Mentirosa!” he said, calling her a liar. “You were the one who said Tim was an escort at dinner. It could only be you.”
“Not true,” she said with a smug smirk.
“You told your fiancé,” Luke said from behind Marty.
Sophia’s smirk twisted into a frown. “Well, yes,” she admitted with dismissive wave. “Danny told Christian. It wasn’t me.”
Marty suddenly wanted to give his sister one of the atomic wedgies she had so often given him when they were children. “Why would you tell anyone?”
“Because it’s funny,” she said, barely able to contain her laughter.
Luke chuckled. “She’s got you there.”
Marty shot Luke a grimace. “It’s not funny!”
“Oh yes it is,” his sister said. She strolled past him to Luke. She placed her arm in Luke’s and flashed a big grin at Marty. “I’m glad someone has a sense of humor.”
“Why do the two of you think it’s so funny?”
“Because it’s so not you. There’s no way Mr. Too Serious For His Own Good would ever hire a sex worker! The whole idea’s ridiculous, and so is anyone who believes it to be true,” she added with a wink.
Only trying to teach a cat to play fetch would be more exasperating than dealing with Luke and his sister right now. “Well, I’m glad the two of you find this so damn amusing. I’m the one who has to deal with the consequences, not either of you.”
“What consequences?” his sister asked. “It’s not true, right?”
“Right,” Luke replied.
She stared at Marty and held her palms face up. “So what’s your damage, then?”
Could his sister be any more naïve? All lies came with consequences. No one knew that better than Marty. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He had too much to deal with already. He did not need to add this to the pile of flaming crap his life had become.
“Marty, listen to me.”
When Marty opened his eyes, Luke stood in front of him. The laughter in his voice spread to his eyes, which reminded Marty of the ocean on a bright summer day. More than anything, he wanted to give himself over to the dazzling radiance, but the turbulent emotions continued to thrash within him.
“You and I know the truth. I’m not an escort.”
Marty exhaled and nodded.
“So what does it matter what everyone else thinks?” Luke asked. “Let them think what they want. I don’t care, and it’s me the majority of your family thinks is a prostitute.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Marty replied. “When all this is over, you’ll be gone. I’ll be the one left behind to deal with this mess.”
Luke flinched. It was the truth. Luke didn’t live in San Antonio, and no matter how much Marty wished otherwise, Luke wasn’t really Marty’s boyfriend.
“And just where are you disappearing to after this?” Sophia asked. She stood next to Marty and eyed Luke.
“Home, I guess,” Luke muttered, as if he hadn’t considered that question before now.
“And where’s home?” she asked.
“You’re missing the point,” Marty said, suddenly feeling the need to come to Luke’s rescue even though he would have liked to hear the answer. Luke knew a lot about him, but other than his name and occupation, Marty had no clue who Luke Myers really was. “You shouldn’t have told Danny.”
“Maybe not,” she admitted with a shrug. “But are you really going to make today all about you?”
Sophia was right. He was being selfish. This weekend was about her and the new life she was about to begin.
“I’m sorry,” he finally said. “Let’s put the focus back where it belongs. On you.”
She scrunched up her face as if he’d gone loco. “Screw that,” she said. “Did you hear about Tío Beto?”
Marty rolled his eyes. He should have known better. His sister loved gossiping more than she loved making his life miserable. “Yeah, Mom told me.”
“You should have been here. When Tío walked in, Mom turned whiter than your pretend boyfriend,” she said with a nod at Luke.
Marty peered through the glass wall that stood between the clubhouse and the outside deck. His mother sat at a table by herself amid the current of conversation that swirled around her, which wasn’t like his mother at all. She usually glided from one conversation to another, taking time to sit and chat with each member of the family.
“Where is he now?”
“I don’t know,” she said, standing next to him. “She made him leave shortly after he got here. But he promised he’d be at the wedding whether Mom wanted him there or not.”
“And neither of you has any clue what happened between them?” Luke asked.
Marty shook his head. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
“Oh for crying out loud!” his sister said. “Could today get any worse?”
He turned to his sister, who was gazing up at the sky, clearly asking God for strength. “What’s wrong now?”
“Why is he here?” she asked the heavens. “Why?”
Before Marty could ask Sophia what she was talking about, Luke wrapped his hand around Marty’s wrist. He nodded inside the clubhouse, toward the front door.
Marty inhaled sharply and held on to Luke.
His cousin Rogelio had just arrived.