When the guests began to arrive, the house soon got noisy with chatter and Hispanic music. They seemed to be liking the food and I even got a few compliments...not from Andrea though. But he was enjoying himself dancing on the table having had multiple shots of tequila.

At some point, I found myself sat at the base of the chairs, sipping a glass of water watching the party. There must have been about a hundred people there because the house and garden were packed.

"Hey," a woman said sitting beside me with a strong Hispanic accent. "You must be Andrea's wife?"

I nodded before looking over to Andrea. He was dancing salsa on the table with a few of the other important men in his cartel. They were all so drunk and it was sort of funny but it was still Andrea.

"I'm Julia," she said. "I only know him through my mate."

"I'm Ella," I said shaking her outstretched hand. She had a warm tone and just radiated friendliness as she smiled.

"Who is your mate?" I asked.

"You probably know him," she began. "Chico. One of Andrea's guards."

"Oh, yes," I said. "He's kind to me."

"He's a good man but he's on duty right now, as always, so I guess I'm just here alone," she replied.

"Two loners unite," I sighed.

She nodded and there was a silent pause.

"So... how did you meet him?" she asked.

Maybe she was just trying to make friendly conversation and it was the natural first question but it felt she was trying to probe something out. As if she was already suspicious.

"Andrea?" I questioned and she nodded.

I hesitated for a moment.

"In a club in Caracas," I lied.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Is that what he told you to say?" she questioned.

I smiled nervously.

"I can't tell you," I whispered looking around.

"I thought that might be the case," she replied. "Listen. I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything, okay? From what Chico tells me, it sounds like you need a friend around here."

I looked around and spotted Andrea watching us.

"I'm okay but thank you for caring," I said to her before forcing a smile in Andrea's direction. He looked me up and down and began marching over.

With a deep inhalation, I smiled again as he approached and Julia looked between us suspiciously.

"Are you enjoying the party, babe?" he asked sitting beside me and tightly wrapping his arm around my waist.

I nodded.

"And you?" he questioned Julia.

She nodded too.

Andrea looked her up and down before narrowing his eyes.

"Julia, si?" he said. "Chico's mate?"

"Si," she responded.

He then put his hand on her leg before turning to me.

"You made a friend, huh?" he said.

She looked down at the position of his hand and then up to me with wide eyes.

"We were just talking about how I met you," I said.

"I see..." he said. "Not giving too much away, I presume?"

"No," I replied.

"Good," he said before turning back to Julia. "I was just about to take Ella upstairs, you're welcome to join us."

His hand then slipped further up her leg and she gasped.

"I should go and find my mate," she said.

"Okay," Andrea said with a nod, "Maybe another time, huh?" he added with a wink.

She forced a smile before standing, "I'll maybe see you later, Ella," she said in a sympathetic tone.

Andrea watched as she disappeared into the party.

"What has Chico told her?" he questioned. "What does she know?"

"Nothing," I replied. "I told her we met in a club in Caracas. She had no reason to suspect otherwise."

"Right..." Andrea said.copy right hot novel pub