Solana doesn’t look convinced, and Georgie is lost in his own thoughts. Neither one of them has any idea why I’m hesitating, but I can’t stop thinking about my conversation with Judge. He opened up to me. He let me in, even if it was only for a little while. It feels like a slap in the face to leave him now, but what choice do I have? I know it doesn’t change anything. He was giving me an explanation, not an opening to change his mind. If there’s one thing I’ve figured out during my time with him, it’s that Lawson Montgomery is not a man to be swayed once he’s come to a decision. And I don’t have the luxury of time to wait him out even if he was. I made this decision on my own, and I’ll face the consequence on my own.

“Do you love him?”

Solana’s innocent question sucks all the air from the room. I shake my head automatically in my default response. A De La Rosa doesn’t show vulnerabilities like that. But even as I tell myself as much, it feels like a lie.

“That must be the reason,” she says. “You’re holding back. Are you sure there isn’t something—”

The sound of the front door slamming interrupts her thoughts, and we all swivel our heads just in time to see Judge stalking into the sitting room. When he sees Solana and Georgie on the sofa, his eyes flare with irritation.

“Not today,” he growls. “You two have to leave. Now.”

“Judge.” I glare at him as I rise to my feet, but he doesn’t seem to hear me, or if he does, he doesn’t show it.

“I need you both to leave right now,” he clips out. “That’s not a request. You can come back another day. Mercedes and I have somewhere to be.”

“They aren’t going anywh—”

My mouth snaps shut when his gaze moves to mine, and I know without a doubt I’ve never seen him like this. I can’t tell what it is exactly, but something isn’t right. I can feel it in the tension vibrating from him. The hard set of his jaw and the uncertainty in his eyes. He looks guarded, but there’s something else too. Nervous, I think. And I have never once seen Judge nervous.

I swallow as he slices a finger in the direction of the door. “Mercedes, your brother will be here any minute. Get upstairs, now.”

“Santi?” I choke out his name. “Is he okay?”

“Goddammit,” Judge barks. “There’s not time for questions. Please.”

He drags a hand through his hair, and I nod, offering an apologetic glance at Solana and Georgie as they rise from their seats.