*Make sure to read chapter 31 first*

"Papa, can you not send any more documents to Vera?" I heard Izan say to his dad, and Marco looked at me right before he could hit send. He was debating what to do since he didn't want to upset his son or me.

I sat properly on the couch with the laptop on my thighs—radiation and whatnot. "I don't mind working another hour, Izan," I remarked, reassuring him that I was fine.

It had been weeks since we became an official couple, and he was as grumpy as ever yet so clingy like a koala to a tree. Except I was not a tree. I was maybe a branch.

Do you ever get tired of your own jokes?

No.

His extreme attachment surprised me since I didn't take him as the emotional type of man. Yet again, he cuddled with me every night, and I loved every bit of it.

Luckily, he never asked for more than hugs and kisses, and I appreciated it. I didn't know if I was willing to melt away my V card just yet. It was the only thing intact in my life.

Other than my new-found family.

Izan shook his head and closed my laptop, taking it from me. We were in one of their main buildings, working on a new project with a French businessman. The online meeting ended two hours ago, but I had work to get done.

I had to translate his requests to Marco and Izan and reply with their sometimes vulgar answers.

Working with the Guererro Mafia was fun. Juan and Carlos occasionally gave their input, and Zulimar would just watch in silence.

Izan held my hands and helped me stand up from the very comfortable couch in his office. "That's enough. You have been working for hours. It's five now, and Alvaro has been nagging me to bring you home. He wants you to tell him a bedtime story," he explained, and I finally felt excited to leave. I missed my little buddy.

"We can tell who's her favorite," Juan commented, earning a glare from his boss. I just rolled my eyes and agreed.

"Alvaro is my absolute favorite, no offense to the rest," I said, and Izan just looked heartbroken—dramatic butt. "Man up, you are a Mafia boss, for goodness' sake. Don't be such a baby."

"Maybe then I can be your favorite since you apparently prefer my baby brother over me."

He was sulking, and I laughed my heart out. Marco and Zulimar shook their heads, amused at the sight, and Juan took a video of his boss, most likely to send it to Jose, who was staying home.

His injuries were healing slowly, and Camila and Henry advised that he should rest for at least a month. It had been three weeks since he was discharged from the hospital, and he was dying to get back to work.

"Hermana, just kiss his bruised ego, and let's go," Carlos suggested with a smirk, and Izan smacked his head. "I don't regret a thing!"

"Of course, you don't; only people with brains do, and you clearly don't have any," Izan countered, and I smiled at their dynamics. They were more like brothers than anything, and I was a part of this family. I was lucky and grateful.

As I wanted to walk to the door, I winced when my cramps returned. This was my second and worst day, and I was proud of myself for not going into beast mode on anyone yet.

I had a hate-love relationship with Mother Nature. I hated it for obvious reasons but loved it for its aftereffects.

I always feel like a new woman, ready to conquer the world.

"Are you okay?" Zulimar, the most observant, asked in a whisper when Izan and Carlos were still arguing and Juan and Marco were clearing the desk.

I didn't feel ashamed or embarrassed, so I said, "Yeah, just period cramps. I'll live," I replied and patted his shoulder. He instantly relaxed, and I smiled. "Let's go! I'm hungry, and I want to see Alvaro." We finished tidying up and went to the elevator. It was big enough to fit all six of us.

The silence was killing me, and we had a few minutes until we reached the first floor.

This building had thirty-two floors, and we were in the last one. The Guerreros were filthy rich. "If someone farts in a broken elevator, how long would it take for the smell to vanish in such a closed space?" The men looked at me, alarmed and amused.

"Long," Izan sighed, finally giving up trying to understand how my mind worked. "Don't you dare test the theory."

I gasped. "I would never, you puta. I am a lady with class and a sprinkle of sass," I replied, acting offended and hurt, but I was enjoying every bit of this conversation.

Juan and Marco laughed. Zulimar shook his head, and Carlos had a weird expression on his face. When I realized what was happening, I screamed and jumped on Izan.

"Carlos, you disgusting, filthy animal. You smell like a slice of rotten dead meat washed off with seawater!" I planted my nose in Izan's neck, preferring his fresh smell over Carlos' gases.

"Fuck you, man," Izan cursed at him and smelled my hair. "And how do you know what rotten dead meat washed off with seawater smells like?" he asked me, and I grinned. "You know what, I don't need to know."

The rest slapped Carlos on his head.

"All that talk about farts made me do it. It's like talking about waterfalls when you need to pee," Carlos explained.

Makes sense.

"Oh, finally," Zulimar breathed out once the elevator door opened, and we hurried outside. Izan let go of me, and I walked ahead of them.

When I thought of racing them to the cars waiting for us outside, I bumped into someone pretty hard. I needed to watch where I was going.

The man, whom I had yet to see his face, held on to me a bit too tightly for my liking. "I am sorry-" I froze when I saw his face.

Can this be more of a cliché than it already is?

As I tried to get out of Heath's deadly grip, he planted a gun into my temple, and everyone in the building stopped what they were doing. All the men drew out their guns, and my eyes landed on Izan.

"Boss..." I heard Juan say to Izan, but he remained calm.

"You saved me all the trouble of searching for you. Thank you for the stab, by the way. I almost bled out," the ugly duckling yelled, and I rolled my eyes.

I wasn't scared because he was in the lion's den, and I was the lioness.

I feel like a badbutt.

Ouch!

Stupid cramps.

"Dang it, I should have stabbed harder."

He tightened his arm around my neck, and I felt the air being cut off. I didn't want to show him any weakness, so I laughed.

"What so funny?" he asked, eyeing the guns pointed at him. He should have felt trapped by now.

"You walk right into the Spanish Mafia's headquarters, and not a second later, Mafia men and women surround you with guns. I honestly don't see a way out of this for you in one piece or unharmed." Izan grinned at my response and stepped closer to us.

"Let her go," he said so calmly, but his intimidating glare made Heath crawl further back, dragging me with him.

So gentle... not!

"She's my fiancé, and I want her back."

I sneered. "Excuse you, I am not your fiancé and never will be. You were never my boyfriend, to begin with, so shut up and let me go," I yelled, trying to free myself, but I was still too weak, even with my training. However, I was short, so I took advantage of my height and elbowed Heath in his lower stomach, catching him off guard.

The hand that held the gun rose from my temple, and Izan took his chance and shot it. Heath's gun flew from his grip, and I placed my foot behind his ankle, seizing his screams of agony and taking him down on the sparkling clean floor.

I can see my reflection.

Whoever cleans this building needs a raise.

"Serves you right, sucker!" I stuck my tongue out, got to Izan's side, and everyone relaxed. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and two of his men grabbed Heath like a prisoner. He was their prisoner until further notice.

"Now, what should I do with you?" Izan's smile scared me. He looked deadly, and I almost felt sorry for Heath. Almost.

~~~ 

2/02/2024 

Ohhh, Heath's in custody, at last. It's gonna get ugly... for him :)