No One to Trust

by Iris Johansen

  “Yes.”

  “I tried to get him off drugs. I did everything I could. He wouldn’t listen. It’s not my fault.…” Tears were running down her cheeks. “I can’t do it, Galen. I can’t help him.”

  “I know.” He pulled her into his arms. “Shh, I know.”

  “You don’t know.” Her hands clenched his shirt. “I cared about him. I think I still care about him. I don’t want to, but he made me remember—”

  “What’s wrong?” Dominic was frowning as he climbed the porch steps. “What’s happened, Elena?”

  “Luis …” She pushed Galen away and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Chavez has Luis with him, Dominic.”

  He stopped in shock. “Luis.”

  “He’s going to hurt him.”

  It took Dominic a moment to recover. “But Luis helped him.” He shook his head as if to clear it. “That won’t make any difference, will it? Sometimes I forget how evil Chavez is.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Can we save him?”

  “Not without giving up Barry. And you know I can’t do that.”

  “There has to be something you can do.”

  “He’s using Luis to bait a trap. He wants Elena as well as Barry,” Galen said. “If she tries to go after Luis, he’ll snap the trap. Besides, we don’t even know where he is.”

  “Could he still be at the ranch?”

  Galen shook his head. “I called the DEA as soon as we got to the airport and told them where Chavez could be located. He’d left the ranch by the time they got there.”

  “You didn’t tell me that,” Elena said.

  “The DEA wasn’t as good as a bullet, but I thought they might buy us time until he bought his way out of jail.”

  “You should have told me.”

  “Why should I give you bad news? I hoped we’d get lucky.”

  “Too much to ask.”

  “Is Chavez going to call back?” Dominic asked.

  “Yes.” Elena rose to her feet. “I’m going down to the lake to Barry. I need to …” She wanted to be close to Barry, to touch him.

  She hurried down the steps and down the path.

  “I want to roast Chavez over a slow fire,” Galen said as his gaze followed Elena. “How close were she and Luis?”

  “Very close as children. It was the two of them against the world. Later they grew apart. Her father openly favored Elena, and that hurt Luis and made Elena feel guilty. Luis wasn’t a bad boy. He was just weak. When he got on drugs, Elena did everything humanly possible to help him. Every time she’d turn her back, he’d be back on them.” Dominic shook his head. “It’s a terrible thing Chavez is doing to both of them.”

  “I don’t care what he’s doing to Luis. The bastard betrayed her.”

  Dominic nodded. “I’m sure he had no intention of hurting Elena.”

  “I’m not sure about anything.” Galen stood up. “Except that after she thinks about it, she may decide to try to do something to help that son of a bitch. Even if she doesn’t, I don’t want her torturing herself because she had to choose between her brother and her son. I don’t want any tinge of guilt touching her.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I have a few options open.” He gazed at Elena sitting on the bank talking to Barry. She was smiling, but he could see the strained tenseness of her muscles. He had never seen her completely relaxed, totally content. Christ, he wanted to see her like that.

  “I want to help,” Dominic said. “After all, I’m to blame for trusting Luis in the first place.” His lips twisted. “I wanted him to change, to come to us and start a new life. Instead, I almost ruined Elena’s life. I have to make amends.”

  “I’m drowning in all the guilt bubbling around here,” Galen said. “You were only guilty of bad judgment, and Elena isn’t guilty of anything. Luis wouldn’t be in this situation if he hadn’t betrayed her in the first place. She knows that, rationally, but her emotions may be a different matter.” He turned to go inside. “If I can use you, I will. But you’re not as qualified as Judd in this kind of situation. Your morals would get in the way.”

  “Second fiddle to Judd again.” Dominic grimaced ruefully. “I’m not as gentle as you might think. Let me help.”

  “I’ll let you know.” Galen glanced at Elena again. She was looking past Barry at the setting sun, but he knew she wasn’t seeing it. She was thinking about her brother and the load Chavez had dropped on her shoulders.

  Time to get to work. He’d make some calls and then, later tonight, after Elena had gone to bed, he’d talk to Judd.

  “You’re going to go after him?” Judd shook his head. “Let Chavez put him down. The sniveling bastard deserves it.”

  “You’re probably right. In any event, I’m going to scout around to make sure Luis is really in dire straits before I decide whether or not to go in.”

  “Go in where? You know where Chavez is?”

  “Miami, or near there. He went there directly from the ranch. Manero just found out he’s cruising around the coast on a yacht called The Prize.”

  Judd’s gaze narrowed on his face. “And how do you know that?”

  “I called Manero the minute I heard Chavez was on his way to the ranch. I told him to get a man out there to monitor the situation and to track Chavez when he left. He came through for me.”

  “How long have you known this?”

  “I’ve known he went to Miami since the day after I got here. As I said, Manero just found out about the yacht.”

  “And you didn’t tell Elena.” It was a statement, not a question. “You were afraid she’d try to go after him again.”

  “I didn’t want to take the chance. I think she’d do anything to put an end to this threat to Barry.”

  “She won’t be pleased.”

  “I don’t care. I want her safe.” His lips twisted. “Jesus, is that too much to ask? She’s never been safe in her life.”

  “You want me to go with you?”

  “I may need help.”

  “Good God, you’re admitting you’re not all-powerful? What’s the world coming to?”

  “Will you do it?”

  “It will be difficult. A yacht isn’t like a house. They can see you coming.”

  “It can be done.”

  “When?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  Judd was silent a moment. “I’ll think about it.”

  “I won’t go in unless I believe we have a chance.”

  He nodded. “I know you’re no amateur. It’s just that I have a good deal to live for right now. I don’t want to blow it.”

  Galen turned to leave. “Let me know.”

  Judd grinned. “You’ll be the very first.”

  The mat.

  Elena woke up screaming. Just a dream.

  She was panting and drenched in sweat.

  She got out of bed and went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Then she changed her nightshirt and went back to bed.

  No, there was no way she could relax. Her heart was still beating so hard she felt suffocated. She needed air.

  A moment later she was on the porch and taking deep, cool breaths.

  “Okay?”

  She looked over her shoulder to see Galen standing in the doorway. “I needed some air.”

  “Couldn’t sleep?”

  “Oh, I slept,” she said. “Nightmares.”

  “About Luis?”

  “Yes. He was on the mat, and Chavez was hitting him and hitting him and hitting him.” She drew a deep breath. “Luis was never good at hand-to-hand. My father and I both tried to teach him, but he didn’t want to learn. Maybe the life we led was too rough for him. Maybe if he’d grown up in a stable family situation, he’d have been different, happy. Everyone should have the chance to be happy.”

  “If they don’t try to take that chance away from someone else.”

  “You’re right. I know you’re right.” Her teeth bit into her lower lip.
“But I can’t just sit here while Chavez is torturing him. I have to help him. After he’s free, I can turn my back on him, but not now.”

  “What about Barry?”

  “You and Dominic will keep him safe.”

  “Oh, so I’m the one who is supposed to stay here and baby-sit?”

  “Yes. Luis isn’t your responsibility. I want only one thing from you. I need to know where Chavez is.”

  “And you think I can find out?”

  “Sure.” She tried to smile. “You’re the great problem-solver. You can solve this one, can’t you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Try.” Lord, she was cold. She crossed her arms over her breasts. “Please. Find him. I don’t want to have nightmares like that for the rest of my life.”

  “You won’t. Go back inside.”

  “You’ll do it?”

  “There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you.” A smile lit his face. “Fight a dragon, tilt at a windmill, explore a wilderness …”

  She loved that smile. She never wanted to stop looking at him when he smiled at her. “Just a location.”

  “You don’t understand. You have to make me stretch my capabilities. Next time I want a challenge.” He opened the screen door. “Now scoot back to bed. I have some thinking to do.”

  She didn’t move. “Will you … sit on the porch swing with me?”

  He went still. “Why?”

  She didn’t want to go inside. She didn’t want to leave him. “It would be nice. I feel a little … It would be nice.”

  He took her hand and led her toward the swing. “Yes, it would.” He pulled her down beside him and put his arm around her. “Cuddle up. It’s a little chilly.”

  But he was warm and strong and smelled of lemony cologne. It was good sitting here and not thinking of anything but the creak of the swing and how comforting it was to have him hold her. “This is very nice of you. If you want … we could go in later and have sex.”

  He chuckled. “No, we couldn’t. That’s not what you need right now. You keep trying to pay me. How long is it going to take you to realize that times like this have their own value to me? Of course, that’s only when I’m not being a sex-driven pig.”

  “Or an asshole.”

  “You’re smiling.” His hand gently massaged the side of her neck. “That’s a good sign. Now, close your eyes and I’ll tell you about my life as a smuggler in the Orient back when I was young and dashing. Of course, I’m still young and dashing, but maybe not quite as foolhardy. I remember one time when I was trying to find a ship to Shanghai …”

  11

  Chavez’s call came the next morning.

  “Did you have a good night?” he asked after Galen gave her the phone. “I’m afraid poor Luis didn’t. Of course, I slept very well indeed.”

  “I’m not going to give you Barry.” She paused. “But he’s not the only one you want. I’ll meet you, if you like. Don’t you want another chance at me?”

  “So much that I’m almost tempted. Almost. But I have to have my son first. Once you’re dead you won’t be able to tell me where he is. Then I’d have to negotiate with someone else.”

  “Maybe you’d get lucky and be able to keep me alive. I’m sure you’d much rather torture me than Luis.”

  “Much. But there are small satisfactions. He looks a bit like you around the eyes. Give me my son.”

  “Let me talk to Luis.”

  “I’m afraid he’s not able to communicate at the moment. Perhaps the next time I call.” He hung up.

  “He wouldn’t let me talk to him.” She handed the phone back to Galen. “He said he couldn’t talk.”

  “He could be lying,” Judd said from his seat across the room.

  “I know that.” She drew a deep breath. “Just find Chavez for me, Galen.” She went out on the porch. She tried to make her face expressionless as she saw Barry sitting in the swing with Dominic. “Hi. Are you hungry?”

  “No.” Barry was gazing at her, troubled. “You look sad, Mama.”

  “No, I’m fine. I thought maybe we’d take a walk by the lake. I heard wild geese when I was out here last night.”

  “Sure.” He jumped down from the swing. “I’ll go tell Galen that I can’t help with breakfast.” He ran past her into the house.

  “It’s getting harder to keep things from him,” Dominic said. “He’s a smart boy, and all this bouncing around would make anyone suspicious. You may have to talk to him.”

  “And what am I going to tell him? That his father is a monster and wants to kill his mother?” She shook her head. “My job is to protect Barry.”

  “And Luis?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. Chavez wouldn’t let me talk to him.”

  “I’m ready.” Barry opened the screen door. “Galen said he had to do some business this morning anyway and I could come back and help with brunch. That’s half breakfast, half lunch.” He ran down the porch steps. “Let’s go see the geese.”

  “Well?” Galen asked Judd.

  “You may not be handling this right,” Judd said. “I’ve been thinking about it, and maybe we should be more patient. Chavez doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to kill her brother.”

  “Which won’t be particularly good for Luis.”

  He lifted his brows. “Do we care?”

  “No, but Elena does. And she won’t be patient.”

  “True.” Judd stared thoughtfully out the window at the lake. “Chavez is playing on her emotions. He’s counting on her breaking down.”

  “Not counting—betting on a long shot. He knows how tough she is.”

  “Then he may be as desperate as she is.”

  “Are you going to help me or not?”

  Judd nodded. “But we don’t go for it tonight. Tomorrow. I want to think about it a little more.”

  Galen shrugged. “Why not? Tomorrow.”

  Chavez looked down in disgust at Luis Kyler sprawled unconscious on the bed.

  Weak vermin. He could see nothing of Elena in her brother. He had lied to her about that. Such a weakling shouldn’t be permitted to live. Only the strong should inherit the earth.

  “We’ve not been able to trace Galen yet,” Gomez said behind him. “We’re going through reports on his friends and associates.” He glanced down at Luis. “Will we still need to find them?”

  “Keep on looking.” He turned away from Luis. He had been grabbing at straws when he brought Elena’s brother into the bargaining. He would have to think of some way to use him other than as a trade. He had no faith that she would give in to save her brother. He would not do it for his own brother, and she could be almost as strong.

  But not as strong. She had lied about pretending to let him defeat her. That couldn’t be the truth. He would not accept the idea that she had not only defeated but also fooled him.

  For the past two nights he had begun dreaming about having her back in the gym. Wonderful, exhilarating dreams of triumph.

  They would come true.

  The phone rang at eleven-forty that morning.

  Elena froze.

  “Chavez.” Galen handed her the phone.

  “I don’t know how much more Luis can take,” Chavez said. “Give me the boy.”

  “We’ve already discussed this.” Her voice was shaking. “No deal.”

  “You’re upset. I think you’re weakening.” He paused. “And you’ll be even more inclined to save him if you see what kind of punishment you’re inflicting on him. Yes, I believe we should arrange to bring you and Luis together. Let me see. Suppose I take your brother to Orlando two days from now? The garden of the Kissimmee Hotel. The bench beside the koi pond. Ten A.M.”

  “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

  “Oh, he’ll be alone. I understand Galen called the DEA on me when I was at the ranch. Do you think I don’t know that he could have a truckload of agents at the hotel to try to catch me? It wouldn’t be smart to place myself in that position.”

  “Then what�
��s to stop me from taking Luis?”

  “The fact that I’ll have a very fine marksman stationed nearby with his sights on Luis. He leaves the garden, he’s dead.”

  “And that same shooter could take me out.”

  “That’s your problem. I’m sure you can work it out to your satisfaction.”

  “I won’t be there.”

  “After another two nights of worrying about dear Luis? I think you will.” He hung up.

  “He’s bringing Luis to the Kissimmee Hotel in Orlando. Ten A.M. two days from now,” she said. “He thinks I’m softening. He wants to show me his handiwork. He says Luis will be alone.”

  “Not likely.”

  She nodded. “Trap.”

  “But there may be an opportunity there,” Dominic said. “Perhaps we can snatch Luis before they can close it.”

  “He wants Elena,” Galen said. “And I don’t want that trap closing on her.”

  “Wait, maybe Dominic is right.” She rubbed her temple. “I can’t seem to think. It makes sense that he wouldn’t show up himself or in force when he knows that you called the DEA on him before. He said there would be a gunman with his sights on Luis.”

  “There’s no way he expects you to go in, look at poor, poor Luis, and then leave. The shooter will try to take you out, or there will be another wild card in the deck.”

  “I know that.” She moistened her lips. “But I may never have a better chance.”

  Galen’s lips twisted. “And clear the way?”

  “He’s her brother,” Dominic said quietly. “He’s weak, not bad, and he deserves better than to be treated this way by Chavez.”

  “Dammit, she doesn’t need your encouragement, Dominic.”

  “You never knew him,” Dominic said. “I did. And I loved him. No, I do love him.” He smiled at Elena. “Don’t feel ashamed of still loving Luis. Forgiveness is a good thing.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” Galen threw up his hands. “Why am I wasting my breath? You’re going to do it, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve got to try,” she whispered.

  “It’s a big risk.”

  “Then I’ll have to find a way to make it less.”