Mad Love (Slateview High 3)

Nathaniel nodded, keeping his expression impassive. “I have.”

“There are a few guys on my team who think I’m foolish to even consider this,” Claudio acknowledged, grimacing slightly. “But I am considering it. I’ll have my answer for you soon.”

“Good.”

Nathaniel didn’t pressure Claudio for a more detailed answer, and it occurred to me that the Lost Boys’ boss really did want this alliance to happen. So much so that he wasn’t willing to risk pushing too hard or forcing Claudio’s hand. Luke Carmine must be a bigger threat than I’d realized if Nathaniel was so interested in teaming up against him.

Claudio turned to Misael, addressing him directly for the first

time since we’d arrived back at the table.

“You know where to find me. Please come visit sometime. I’ll answer any questions you like.”

His words were a little stiff, and I got the feeling there was so much more he wanted to say. Things he would’ve said, if not for the fact that this entire thing had become way more public than he probably wanted. If he’d had any other choice about where to approach Misael, he probably would’ve taken it.

Misael didn’t answer, just dipped his head once, acknowledging he’d heard the man.

Now that I knew Claudio was his father, I could see the resemblance between them. It must’ve been what’d tipped Claudio off. They both had fine, angular features, defined jaw lines, and full lips. They both moved with the same sort of easy grace, and even their smiles were similar.

Wrenching my attention away from the man who had declared himself to be Misael’s father, I stood along with everyone else, finding myself immediately surrounded by my boys.

“Come for a drink in my study,” Nathaniel told Claudio, jerking his chin toward a door on the far side of the room. Then his gaze shifted to the Lost Boys, landing on Misael last. “You’re dismissed for the night. Thank you all.”

There was no anger in his tone, and I got the feeling his dismissal of them was more to give Misael a way out than because he was displeased with how the evening had gone.

He and Claudio disappeared into the study, and Josephine led us all to the door. She surprised me again my hugging Misael, and I realized that whether any of us acknowledged it or not, the boys had sort of become her surrogate sons. And me her surrogate daughter.

I didn’t mind it though, and even though Misael stiffened awkwardly in her hug before gingerly patting her back, I was grateful for her gesture of support. Just like she had done with me upstairs, she was making sure he knew he wasn’t alone.

Someone had left my school clothes folded neatly on a chest in the entryway, and as Josephine picked them up and handed them to me, she said, “Keep the dress. It’s yours.”

Shit. I’d been hoping she would forget that plan. Not that I didn’t like the dress—I loved it more than any other dress I’d ever worn—but I felt bad taking it from her. But I didn’t reject her generosity, thanking her as she bustled us toward the door.

It was cold outside, and as soon as we got in the car, Bishop turned the heat up on high then wrapped his hand around mine, warming me with his touch. As he cranked the wheel one-handed and pulled out onto the street, Kace gave a low grunt in the back seat.

“That was some fuckin’ night.”

“You okay?” Bish asked, glancing into the rearview mirror to catch Misael’s gaze.

“Yeah,” Misael said, giving the same half-true response he’d given me. Then he shook his head. “I can’t believe he fuckin’ left her.”

“But he did it because he loved her.” Bishop’s voice was low, and I could hear how much he wanted to fix this for Misael. It made my heart ache sweetly. “That’s not nothin’.”

“Yeah.” Misael lapsed into a thoughtful silence, then he asked, “Should I go visit him?”

“Like he asked?” Bishop shrugged. “Why not? At the very least, you can get answers. Fill in all the missing details. Find out more about your mom. Then if you decide you want to hate the fucker, you can do it without havin’ to wonder. You’ll know the whole story.”

I saw Misael nod through the reflection in the side-view mirror. “True. Besides, I bet Nathaniel will want me to go. He’s still tryin’ to secure this whole partnership between them. If I can help him with that, I should.”

I bristled inwardly, not liking the idea that Nathaniel would try to leverage one of his people’s personal life into a bargaining chip. But then again, he hadn’t specifically told Misael to do that. The dark-haired boy was just assuming that’s what he would want.

Bishop brought me back to Highland Park so I could get my car, and I practically crawled into the back seat as I kissed Kace and Misael goodbye. I licked Misael’s hickey once more for good measure, drawing out the first full smile I had seen on his face all evening. Then I leaned over the center console and kissed Bishop.

“You’re good for us, Coralee,” he whispered, catching my wrist before I could pull back. His voice was so low I knew it was meant only for me. “We need you.”

My stomach gave a strange sort of flip-flop at his words. I loved hearing him say that, although it scared me a little.

I was still promised to someone else. My life was still bound up in the demands of my father.