Fierce Love by Phoebe Conn

someone ought to be setting limits for them.”
    “You could if you stayed.”
    His knowing smile made her laugh. “They have a mother who ought to be doing so. Have you heard Marina sing?”
    “No, I’ve never been to an opera.”
    “Neither have I.”
    “Never?”
    “No, never, so I’ve missed seeing Marina perform.” She didn’t repeat Santos’s description of her talent, or lack thereof. “Is that the twins just ahead?”
    “Yes, we found them too soon.”
    There were standing with three young men who were clearly too old for them. “I don’t think so.” She hurried Rafael to reach them. “I’ve been looking for you for our dance lessons.”
    Perry introduced their companions as Carlos, Juan and Javier. “Carlos wants to take us sailing.”
    Carlos was the tallest of the trio, but he still had to look up at Rafael. “You can come along if you like.”
    “Thank you, but no,” Rafael responded.
    “Definitely no,” Maggie echoed. “Let’s go home.”
    “Wait a minute,” Javier asked. “Are you Rafael Mondragon?”
    “I am.”
    “I heard you set Mexico City on fire. When are you going to fight here in Barcelona?”
    “Soon, I hope.”
    “On fire?” Connie giggled, and she and Perry ran down the beach betraying their youth in every step.
    Maggie paused to whisper to Carlos. “The twins are only thirteen, and if I see you with them again, I’ll have you arrested.”
    His mouth fell agape, but he nodded, and he and his friends jogged away.
    She reached for Rafael’s hand as they followed the twins. “Miguel is too sick to scold them; Grandmother and Cirilda don’t care. I hate to tell Santos they’re roaming the beach looking for trouble.”
    “I think they found it.”
    So have I , she thought to herself, but she hadn’t meant to remind Rafael of his sister. It was one thing for a Spaniard to be protective of his family and another for him to resort to murder.
    “It sounds as through news of your popularity in Mexico is common knowledge here.”
    “I didn’t spread it.”
    “I didn’t say you had, but with satellite TV and the Internet, sports fans can follow anyone or team they choose.”
    He glanced over his shoulder. “At least they aren’t following me here.”
    When they reached the house, Maggie recognized Vida Ramos from the documentary the twins had shown, and while Maria Luisa and Enrique were nearly grown, they were easily recognizable too. The three were standing on the patio, arguing quietly. They moved aside to allow the twins to enter the house but didn’t glance toward Maggie and Rafael.
    Maggie thought she ought to introduce herself, but Rafael backed away. “I’ll see you tonight,” he promised softly and crossed the sand alone.
    Maggie waited for Vida to stop for a breath and stepped forward to introduce herself. Maria was dark-haired and dark-eyed and shared Maggie’s resemblance to their father. They could easily be recognized as sisters, but Enrique had sandy blond hair and hazel eyes. He swept her with a dismissive glance.
    “The American,” he exclaimed. “Come on, Maria, let’s get this visit over with.” Maria smiled shyly and followed him into the house.
    Vida ripped a tissue from her purse and dabbed her eyes, taking care not to dislodge her false eyelashes. “Is Miguel summoning his children from the far reaches of the earth?”
    “You could say that,” Maggie agreed. “Don’t you want to see him?”
    Vida shoved her long, curly blonde hair out of her eyes to look up at Maggie. She was lovely, on the cusp of forty with big blue eyes and creamy smooth skin. “I’ll speak to him later.”
    “It’s a shame we’re all here for such a sad reason,” Maggie replied.
    Tears flooded Vida’s eyes at that unwanted reminder. “I wish I’d never left. Don’t ever threaten a man with divorce if you don’t truly mean it.”
    As Maggie recalled, her father had two more wives after Vida, but the hurt sounded fresh in her voice. “You have some