I look up to see her entering the room, strapping on her gloves and velcroing in her hands.
I crook my finger in her direction. She bends down to traverse the ropes and immediately starts circling me. I laugh when I see the intensity in her eyes and she swings at me, connecting with my chin. I throw a punch and she ducks, easily dodging me. When she throws a kick in my direction, I grab her foot and lead her around the ring on one leg. She’s infuriated but can’t do a damn thing about it.
When she throws another punch at me, I grab both of her wrists and pull her against my body. I bite into the sweet spot on her neck and growl, “You don’t want to be loved but I’m going to love you like nobody’s business. Every time I pin you to the wall, you’ll be helpless while I run my hands up and down every bit of sweet, lean muscle on your body. You’ll want me… and I’ll fucking oblige.”
“Fuck you, Cash!”
I toss her back against the ropes and watch as she scrambles to get her footing. Our fight goes on for another forty-five minutes before I send her off to shower and start her Spanish classes via computer.
I guess I lied to myself when I said I wouldn’t pull punches. I have no intention of letting her out of my sight anyway, here or overseas, so she’ll be safe—always safe with me. I make my way over to the phone after I send her off to shower. It’s been ringing off and on throughout our workout and I need to see what’s so important that it can’t wait.
I pick up my phone and look down at the screen to see that it’s one of my team members of Undercover Elite.
“What’s up, Cash? You training that hot ass chick you’ve been stalking?”
“I’ll never let her near you, Hunter, you fucking man-whore.”
“Hey Dude, I practice safe sex. Shouldn’t that count for something?"
“Yeah, it counts for your dick not rotting off even though you stick it in a different chick every night. Johnnie Bayne is mine; she’s off limits to the likes of you.”
“You ready for this upcoming job?”
“I’m getting there and I’m getting her ready as well.”
“Alright… I sent you the itineraries this morning.”
“Great, I’ll be looking for them and we’ll see you when we get to Central America.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to meeting this chick who has turned you into a creepy stalker.”
“Fuck you, Hunter.”
“I’ll let you save that for your new partner.”
It’s the typical banter amongst team members but I let him know, even if it’s in a roundabout way, that he needs to stay the fuck away from my partner and my woman. He knows I mean what I say. He also knows I have never fallen for a woman before, certainly not this hard.
Johnnie
I quickly make my way upstairs and through the shower so I can begin my studies. I want Cash to know I’m dedicated to my training. This is the first time I can remember being so excited about something. I am going to make sure he knows I’m taking my new job seriously.
Suddenly, I think about my old job and make a note to ask him if he will call and let my boss know I won’t be returning. I’ve always been responsible when it comes to the jobs I’ve held down and I don’t like the thought of leaving my boss hanging, even if he is a jerk.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the new laptop that now sits on my bedroom desk. Cash must have had someone set it up while we were working out.
I jump up, excited to explore what it can do. I’m sure it’s a lot because it’s top of the line. I boot it up and pop in the disc that had been left on the desk with it. I study for the next two hours and then nap before it’s time for dinner.
For the next week before we leave, this would be my schedule and, much to my surprise, I have never been happier.
Chapter Nine
Cash
I watch as she enters the dining hall, wearing the red gown I laid out for her. Though I normally would escort her to dinner myself, I got stuck on a conference call going over the last minute details for our upcoming job. I stand to take her hand and kiss it as she sits next to me.
“You had a very full day,” I say as I fill her wine glass, “and you did very well, young lady. I’m impressed. Your schedule will be much of the same until we leave next week. Are you nervous?”
“No, I’ll be in my element—the only white girl for miles.”
I chuckle as I listen to her. She never ceases to entertain me with her wit. She may not be capable of falling in love with me, but she damn sure has me head over heels in something with her.
We spend the rest of the evening eating dinner and then she falls asleep in my arms as soon as her head hits the pillow. It has probably been years since she had to wake up at six am. Following a rigorous workout routine and then studying college courses daily has got to be wearing on her; I’m sure she is tired.
Chapter Ten
Johnnie
For the next week, I study and work out. My mornings begin by 6:30am and I stay busy until the time I fall into bed, exhausted from the day. Many times, I go to sleep in Cash’s arms or awaken in the morning to find him in my bed because he has joined me sometime during the night.
He seems to be more focused on my training and not so much on his obsession with bonding me to him. I find myself looking forward to going overseas and though I have many questions about our first job, he isn’t giving me any answers yet. His reply to any questions up to this point has been, “just focus on your training.”
Today is the day he chooses to fill me in on my itinerary, as well as the details of the job we will be doing. I look up from the bed, where I’m busy studying Spanish, when I hear the beep of the door alerting me to his entrance.
I follow him with my eyes as he makes his way over to me. Once again, he is dressed in a suit and the serious look on his face lets me know that he is here to talk business. I know that what we’re going to be doing is dangerous and I concentrate on listening to what he has to say. The country we’re going to is riddled with not only guerillas intent on forcing their political agendas, but also gangs in the midst of drug wars securing territory for their trade. Mexico and El Salvador are particularly dangerous right now and Guatemala is seated right between them.
Cash sits in the chair and eyes me as he stretches his long legs out, interlocking his fingers behind his neck in a relaxed pose. “I’m pleased to see that you’ve been studying not only the language for the area we will be going, but the geography as well.”
“How do you know that?”
“Do you actually believe I would allow you access to a computer without monitoring your history on it? You’re still a prisoner here, love.”
“You’re going to have to trust me at some point.”
“I believe this job will reveal if I can trust you or not. I hope you don’t disappoint me.”
“I stopped wanting to escape when you revealed your purpose for having me here.”
“Good, because you no longer have your own residence. Your home is here.”
“Well, Cash, thanks for making that decision for me,” I sarcastically reply. He ignores me, intent on discussing our trip.
“We leave tomorrow and I won’t always be with you but I’ll still be with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re going to break up a black market baby ring. You’ll be staying at the house of the doctor who is involved with setting up young mothers to steal their newborns. You’ll be there under the guise of enrolling in language classes for the next six weeks. I’ll provide you with a top of the line phone with unlimited internet access and international calls.”
“Why won’t you be with me?”
“I will be with you. It will just be covertly. I have no intention of ever leaving you. I’m not your mother.”
To my surprise, a single tear makes its way down my cheek. Whether I like it or not, her abandonment still hurts me. He continues talking, ignoring my show of emotion.
“You n
eed to be seen as vulnerable and being a woman, alone in a foreign country, makes you appear that way. The doctor needs to feel free to continue selling babies. If he views you as a mere visitor in his home, just a student taking classes, he won’t see you as a threat. Offering lodging to students has been his cover for the black market baby sales so you will be that student and he will conduct business as usual.”
“Why would he use language classes as a cover?”
“Much of his business is marketing babies to Americans and he needs a connection with the states. Blonde haired, hazel-eyed women aren’t common in Antigua Guatemala, but because he has students coming in from the states, it doesn’t raise suspicion. Don’t be deceived. This doctor will appear to be a meek, mild-mannered man, but it’s the connections he has to the cartel that make him dangerous. These people don’t think anything of putting a bullet in someone’s head. It’s common to see shootouts in broad daylight in full view of the public. Lives are bought and sold in this part of the world. We leave tomorrow morning and starting from the time we get to the airport and board the plane, we’ll be separated. I’ll be on the same plane as you, but it’s imperative that we maintain our distance. In other words, you don’t know me. Once we arrive in Guatemala, you’ll catch a bus to Antigua. At that point, you’ll be in a small pueblo and you’ll need to go to the local tienda and get directions to the doctor’s home. Though you won’t see me, I’ll always be close. If I need to contact you, I’ll text. Delete any of my texts as soon as you read them. One more thing… trust no one.” His face goes cold as he eyes me intently when he continues to speak, “and if I can’t trust you… I’ll kill you.”
How can this man go from cold to hot and back again so quickly? I don’t understand him at all and how does he expect me to keep up while he takes me with him on this emotional journey? He speaks as if answering my question. “My job is extremely dangerous and I can’t afford to have anyone close to my team, much less working with us, that I can’t trust.”
“How long will we be gone?”
“I can’t tell you that. The first thing you’re going to learn with me is to expect the unexpected.”
I look up to see a man coming in that I have never seen before. Cash speaks as the gentleman makes his way over. “I’m placing a chip in you.”
“Why? I ask, looking at the device in the man’s hand.
Cash’s expression tells me he has more than one reason for doing so. “Well, we wouldn’t want to lose you, would we?”
I don’t argue as I feel the sting signifying that the tracking device has been successfully inserted in my shoulder because I am actually looking forward to working undercover with Cash. The whole idea of working with Undercover Elite is exciting to me. I also think it’s pretty cool that I have been chosen as the only female to be on the team. If the only way I’ll be allowed to follow through with this first job is by wearing a tracking device, then so be it. I have no intentions of trying to run anyway. The sooner he is assured of my loyalty, the sooner I will be accepted as part of the team. The last thing I want is to be treated any differently just because I’m a woman and I certainly don’t need these guys thinking I’m going to run off on some emotional whim. I am actually looking forward to not only getting started with Undercover Elite, but meeting the rest of the team as well.
Chapter Eleven
Johnnie
Cash wastes no time throwing me into third world culture. It is evident that my time growing up in Puerto Rico is going to be put to good use. He had warned me not to reveal the level of my fluency in Spanish, saying that it would give me an edge on eavesdropping if they thought my knowledge of the language was limited.
I stare out the bus window and watch as black smoke lazily blows by, the smell of diesel filling the air. It’s almost nauseating in its intensity and it’s evident this country isn’t the least bit concerned with being eco-friendly. I am already becoming accustomed to the smell assaulting my senses but warding off the headache and nausea caused by the fumes is proving to be a bit more challenging.
The Mayan woman sitting next to me stares with no reserve. It is something else I have learned to accept—the staring. For so much of my life, I didn’t fit in anywhere but it was okay because it was all I knew. I grew up being the only white kid in the neighborhood so I was used to people gawking at me. Ever since I could remember, I was always a head taller than any of the other kids in school. Much of my time growing up was spent feeling clumsy and awkward. The bus stops and jolts me out of my thoughts. Getting through the maze of people on the bus is going to be a trial. There are so many crammed in the tiny space that there is even one guy hanging out of the bus door, holding on to nothing but the bar that’s meant to help passengers as they board. People carry cages with chickens in them and mothers sit breastfeeding infants with their whole breasts exposed, completely comfortable whipping a tit out in public.
I begin attempting to weave my way through the crowd, thinking that this is the perfect atmosphere for a pickpocket. For that reason, my money and passport are in a small, zippered pouch attached to my ankle. “Con permiso, con permiso,” I say as I try to maneuver my way through the throng.
I have arrived in Antigua, a small town in the mountains of Guatemala. I now have the task of finding the doctor’s home where I will be staying with his family. It is here that I will hone my language skills with a tutor; I never pass up the opportunity to improve my Spanish, no matter how fluent I am. Though I am here undercover with Cash, I will still utilize my study time and the tutor I’ll have access to.
“Rubia, Rubia,” a little boy yells. It means ‘blondie’ so I assume he’s talking to me. I just nod. I know from experience that the family I’ll be staying with will hear about my arrival long before I find their home. It is the way things work here. It’s a lot like the inner city or a small town. People know more about you than you know about yourself. I am just as grateful for my knowledge of Spanish customs as I am my knowledge of the language. Where many people would suffer from culture shock, I won’t because I spent some time growing up in Puerto Rico. I wonder if that was one of the reasons Cash chose me as the only female on the team. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the guys. I’m sure Cash is waiting to see how I fare on this first job.
I spot the tienda, the Spanish word for store, up ahead. This is where Cash told me to make myself known in a roundabout way. By the end of the day, every resident of this small town will know about the American staying at the local doctor’s home. Even though I haven’t really done anything of importance concerning the mission yet, I am glad things are going as planned up until this point. Tiendas are watering holes of sorts in small communities like this. Any chisme (gossip) always filters through the neighborhood store. I am certain this is the reason Cash told me to make an appearance here first.
I approach the women fanning themselves behind the small counter. They eye me curiously. “¿Dónde está la casa del doctor?” (Where is the doctor’s house?) “¿Dónde está la casa del doctor?” the older woman repeats back to me.
I still haven’t figured out why they repeat everything back but it’s a common practice in Spanish culture. I learned a long time ago not to get frustrated and not to worry if my Spanish was incorrect when they did it. It’s just another custumbre, a custom that goes with the Latin American culture.
“Ahí está, para abajo del calle.” (There it is, down the street.) I look and see the muchacha (young girl). Every house has one—a young girl who helps the wife with all the household chores.
“Muchas gracias y mucho gusto,” I answer the ladies who are still fanning themselves, trying to combat the heat and humidity. I make sure to be pleasant. Things like please and thank you will go a long way here in this place where I am considered the outsider. I will need to gain these people’s trust in order to be successful on this mission.
People here aren’t in a hurry to do anything and I have no doubt I am going to need these ladies in the future in
order to stay abreast of current events. It is very important not only for my success, but for my survival as well.
The muchacha greets me with a broad smile as if she already knows me when I make my way to the gated home.
“Hola, Juanita. Mi nombre es Marisol.” (Hello, Juanita. My name is Marisol.) Cash decided using my real name would be okay since the translation from Johnnie to Spanish is Juanita.
I smile at the young girl standing before me. I can tell right away that I’m going to like her. This is a good thing because I’m going to be spending most of my time here with her. I find myself hoping they’ve given me a bedroom of my own. Being forced to share one with her will severely limit my communication with Cash and I’m missing him already. It figures… I’m missing a man who stalked and abducted me. At least I can justify it and say that he did it for all the right reasons. Marisol’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Vamonos, necesitas a encontrarse a la familia.” (Let’s go, you need to meet the family.)
Marisol leads the way down the hallway to meet La Jefa, the female boss of the family. The Mother, in the Latin culture, is indispensable. She runs all things when it comes to the household. She is honored for her ability to bear children and is held in high esteem for the part she plays in the grand scheme of things.
“Señora Esther, quiero presentarte Juanita.” (Mrs. Esther, I want to introduce Juanita.)
“Mucho Gusto, Juanita.” As quickly as she appeared, she walked away. Over her shoulder she speaks once more to Marisol. “Ensenas a ella su cuarto.” (Show her to her room.)
I had known I would be dealing with Marisol more so than the doctor and his wife. My biggest challenge is going to be doing any kind of surveillance on them with so many people here in the house. It remains to be seen how effective I’ll be here. I am certain Cash has already done his homework on the black market baby ring. He has his reasons for having me here and part of me is glad he has chosen a relatively easy task for my first time on the job.
Shattered Pieces (Undercover Elite Book 1) Page 5
