Free Stand of Redemption by Cathryn Williams

position in the cartel when he had been found murdered.
    “Mama, everything will be all right. I promise.”
    Her mother nodded her head. “I’m going to go lay down.”
    “Go ahead. I’ll do the dishes.” Ria kept her expression composed until her mother left the room. She put the leftovers away then cleaned the kitchen to take her mind off Emiliano’s r equest.
    He was someone to be frightened of. Alejandro had never hurt her because of their mot her, but Emiliano wouldn’t feel the same restraint.
    She racked her brain, trying to come up with a solution. Her mother had lost two of her children after having been used as a pawn by the cartel since she was fourteen. She had been made to marry her first husband, Antonio, having Alejandro then Matthew. When Antonio had been killed, she had then been forced to marry his second in command, Angel, who had given her drugs to take away her resistance to their marriage.
    Ria couldn’t remember much about her father. He had kept them hidden away from those he commanded, turning her brothers away from their mother by giving them jobs he expected carried out. Both had become cruel members of the cartel.
    When her father had been murdered, Alejandro had taken over, releasing her and their mother to live away from the danger. Her brothers had both been kind and protective of her. Now that Alejandro was dead, his protection was gone, and Ria didn’t know what to do.
    She remembered the night Alejandro had been murdered. A car with two of her brother’s subordinates had picked her up after work, driving her to an isolated house. She had been wo rried, but not frightened. Her mother had been in the rehab center, so she had known she was safe, and these were men that she knew were loyal to Alejandro; they wouldn’t hurt her.
    The next day, when they had released her, they’d told her of her brother’s death. She had realized they had hidden her to keep her safe.
    She had thought, with Alejandro’s death, the cartel would forget about her mother, but her family still maintained a strong position in the cartel and would use them as pawns.
    Emiliano wouldn’t accept her refusal gracefully.
    She shivered, picturing his dark eyes. He was a handsome man, but the cruelty he was capable of had her fearful for her mother. She needed to get her mother where she would be untouchable by the cartel.
    She was going to have to accept Lacey’s help because she couldn’t stand on pride and see her mother hurt. She would borrow just enough money to place her mother in Suncoast. Then, she would pay her back as soon as she could.
    Ria was surprised Lacey hadn’t already tried to call to see how the test had gone. Coming to a decision, she placed a call to Lacey. When she didn’t answer, she left a message for her to call as soon as possible. She must be on rounds .
    When the phone rang minutes later, she answered without looking at the display, expec ting Lacey; instead, it was Nicholas on the other end.
    “How did the test go?”
    She found herself telling him the truth. “I’m worried whether I passed.”
    “I’m sure you did. How about going out to dinner with me tonight to take your mind off it?”
    She had waited for him to call her the last week and hadn’t heard anything from him. Now she realized he had given her the time to study without interfering. He had remembered the exact date of her test. She felt warmed by his concern.
    “I’d like that. Where do you want me to meet you?”
    “Tell me where you live, and I’ll pick you up.”
    Ria almost refused, not wanting him to see where she lived, but if they developed a relationship, he would eventually see. She gave him the address.
    “I’ll pick you up at seven.” From his slight pause, she knew he had recognized the seedy part of town she lived in.
    “I’ll see you then.” She disconnected the call, already regretting agreeing to see him. She had too much on her plate to deal with without the added pressure of