by Ali Vali
“I don’t know his real name, but he was in a lot of the pictures I gave you.”
“Can you be more specific?” she asked calmly, but her head was about to explode.
“He brought the guy to Roth’s boat for that last big meeting before they took Roth down. He was the white guy.”
“Walter Robinson is Emray Gillis?” As she spoke, a whole slew of things snapped into place.
“Roth told me he worked for the CIA, but he kept his name from me to protect me. Emray was using Roth to build his own business, but betrayed him when he said no to the guy Emray brought to the boat. I was in Cabo when they picked Roth up, so I did everything we talked about if that were to happen. We just wanted to keep our son safe.” Natalie sounded both scared and resolute. “Maria did give me the money, but you’ll have to kill me to get it back. I need it to leave and start over. Besides, my brother’s right. You might not like how Roth made it, but it’s his to do with as he pleases. With Roth out of the way, Emray figures it’ll be an easy score.”
“Who was Maria to you besides your boss?”
“We hooked up occasionally, but she wanted more. I finally said yes a week ago when she agreed to come with us to help keep my son from harm.”
“Hooking up with women who didn’t really want her was a bad habit of hers,” Wiley said, more for her own benefit.
“Maria was in my life before Roth,” Natalie said defensively. “I met Roth on a trip to set up the new place. He was fun and persistent, and unlike Maria, he didn’t have someone else holding him back. We partied until it became something deeper, then I got pregnant. I thought he’d freak, but he tried to get out of that life instead. He said no to Emray because of the baby.”
“And Maria?”
“She was pissed when I stayed with Roth, and I didn’t hear from her until I came running back. Roth got to her first and made her promise all the cash from the sale would come to me. Maria never shared with me who Roth sold to or what went down, but she set up the buys and then she was dead.”
“A few million doesn’t seem to be worth the effort Walter’s put into this.”
“Maria gave us the last three million the day before she was killed. Roth knew, though, that to make a clean break from here with enough money to start over would take everything he had. It took me about three weeks to finish with the attorneys, but in total, we had over fifty million.” Natalie handed her son to Brian. “If your friend is Aubrey, all I can tell you is that Emray ordered Maria’s death, and he won’t stop until he gets everything from all of us.”
“What makes you think I won’t do the same?”
“Because if you know Aubrey, you know Tanith. What Aubrey would do for her daughter is no different than what I would for my son. Please let me get him out of here.”
“Do you have any idea who the guy on the boat with Walter was?”
“The only person I recognized was Emray, or Walter, as you keep saying.”
She couldn’t kill this woman and her child, and more importantly, Natalie knew that. Letting her walk, though, meant Aubrey had no way out of this other than the death of all the hunters, starting with Walter.
“Where are you going after this?” Wiley asked.
“Like we’d tell you,” Brian said, and laughed.
It’d been a long night and she wasn’t in the mood for sarcasm, and she also didn’t care that he held the little boy in his arms. “Let’s try this again,” she said, having moved so fast Brian stopped breathing as she pressed the gun to his temple. “This isn’t some game, asshole, and you aren’t good enough to hide from me. They could drop you in the middle of a jungle covered in pig shit and I’d still find you, put a bullet in your head, and be home in time for dinner. Do you understand me?” She pulled his head back by his hair so he’d look at her. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he rasped.
“We have an older sister who lives in Jersey, so we’re headed there,” Natalie said.
“Don’t make it easy for them,” she said as she took her phone out. “If you’re set on running, go in the opposite direction. Take this and I’ll call you when it’s over.” She slid the phone toward Natalie.
“Thank you,” Natalie said.
“The two guys outside were alone, so if you’re ready, leave now. Drive and use cash.”
“Roth said the same thing.”
Wiley let Brian go and put her gun away. “I’m sure he did, but one last thing. If you lied about anything, I will find you and take everything from you.” She purposely let her eyes drop to Natalie’s son. “I realize why you’re fighting for what you love, but Aubrey means more to me than that. Did you leave anything out?”
“No, but I’ll call you if I remember something.” Natalie held up the phone and, from her expression, Wiley knew she was telling the truth.
“If you fail to answer the phone, I’ll be on my way, but not for another talk. As long as you help me, I won’t be a threat to you, but don’t try to screw me.”
The guilt that swamped her as she left through the same door she came in should’ve been because of the threat to Natalie’s child, but it wasn’t. It haunted her that she was allowing Aubrey’s best chance at peace to run with enough money to vanish. She stopped at the side of the house and contemplated going back. Her hands shook from the urge to take the easy way out.
If she did, though, Walter won.
“Not this time.”
Chapter Twenty
Hector Delarosa sat by the pool of his new home in New Orleans and listened to the men who led his crews on the street update him on their progress. His real home was back in Colombia, but spending time in the States was necessary if he wanted to take over the cartel. Expansion took time, but by meeting with what was essentially the last stop of his supply chain, he was building loyalty as well as market share. Loyalty was the foundation of power.
So while his competition was locked behind their tall barbed-wire walls enjoying the posh homes the narcotics business had built for them, he was keeping his hands in the game. Eventually he’d unleash men like this on the old guard with no vision and claim the top spot. Once he did, he’d give his daughter, Marisol, her chance to run things. Of all his children, she was the only one interested in continuing what was important to him.
“Things won’t always be this easy, sir, but with the police spread so thin, our numbers are way up,” the young man to his left said.
“Good, give your men a bonus this month,” he said, and slapped his hands together. Some of them hadn’t gotten a turn, but he saw Miguel on the back patio with Tracy Stegal. Hopefully Miguel brought good news about the thorn that’d bothered him for months. Hector wanted the annoyance gone.
“Tracy, good to see you again.” Hector kissed both her cheeks. “Come inside.”
The storm had caused some wind damage to the house, but the work crew he’d flown in from Colombia was almost done. They’d completed his study first, and that’s where he led them. Pictures of his wife and family stood in the numerous teak bookcases, but only a picture of Marisol sat on his desk.
“I haven’t heard from you in days, Miguel,” he said in an even tone, not wanting to scold him in front of Tracy. “Anything new with Gillis?”
“Not yet, but Nunzio has come sniffing around. He wants to deal, and he’s interested in large buys every month.”
Hector nodded but kept his attention on Tracy. She was still an unknown variable, thus he didn’t trust her. “How’s he taking your sudden disappearance?” he asked Tracy.
“Nunzio doesn’t cry over anyone. I was with him long enough to find out what you wanted, but knowing he was responsible for Kim’s death made the days long.” Tracy spoke in heavily accented Spanish, but her pronunciation was good. “Nunzio is lost after his father’s death, and his drive for validation is making him sloppy. He might be good as one of your managers, but he’ll never run his own crew, not for long anyway.”
“Nothing about Gillis, though?” He ask
ed Miguel but kept his eyes on Tracy.
“He’s cleaning up his messes here and trying to take over for Roth Pombo. If he gets to the woman, he’ll control the money. It won’t touch us, but it’ll buy him enough willing mercenaries in Mexico to alter the balance of things,” Miguel said.
“Did he set Pombo up?”
“I don’t know that for sure.”
“What’s your opinion?” he asked Tracy.
“Whoever Emray Gillis is, he’s shy. As desperate as Nunzio is to make a buy, Emray refused to meet with him even though Nunzio wouldn’t hand over the money without a face-to-face. We dealt with his man Mitch.” Tracy crossed her legs and didn’t sound nervous. “Nunzio and I agreed that Emray was somehow involved with the alphabet soup.”
“What is this alphabet soup?” Hector laughed. This girl’s brilliance was starting to bubble up.
“FBI, DEA, ICE, CIA,” she ticked off. “It doesn’t matter which one, their objectives are always the same.”
“And if Emray gets the money?”
“It’s not as simple as getting the money, Señor Delarosa,” Tracy said clearly over Miguel’s sigh, a sure sign he was starting to get aggravated. “The product the money paid for is still in play as well. From what my sister’s old contacts tell me, it hasn’t hit the streets yet.”
“Pombo got the last shipment out?”
“It’s huge and it’s here somewhere. The buyers really don’t have anyone to retaliate against since Roth’s gone and his middle person is dead. If Emray finds the money and the product, he’ll be able to entice twice the number of willing men to join his cause.”
“What do you think his cause is?”
“To not only control the Mexican cartel, but build one here that’ll severely limit anyone who wants a thriving business in the States. It’s why he got rid of Roth without bloodshed. Since he was arrested, no one loyal to him can blame Emray because no one can prove the federales got the incriminating information from him.”
“You have no proof of that,” Miguel said, his hand coming off the armrest. He was moments away from literally slapping her down.
“He’s right. It’d be hard to collect enough evidence to prove that to me.”
“Has someone told me that?” Tracy said, with her hands up. “No, but Roth Pombo was as insulated as you are in Colombia. The size of his operations not only guaranteed that, it bought him even more influence in Mexico. Only Roth started small and, with smart decisions, rose quickly in the ranks. Emray will do the same, only he’ll skip paying his dues so he’ll have no respect. That means he’ll never acknowledge you and your authority, so when he has the chance, he’ll eliminate everything and everyone he sees as a challenge. Then he’ll acknowledge you, only because you’re a threat that needs killing.”
Hector leaned back in his chair and finally turned his eyes toward Miguel. His old friend had made a huge tactical error in bringing Tracy along. In a short conversation she’d proved herself worthy, so she wouldn’t be leaving with Miguel. Tracy would spend her time, including her nights, with him. Miguel could either accept it, or not. He’d made up his mind.
“Miguel, the others are waiting to talk to you,” he said, and held his finger up to Tracy. “Please stay, so we can finish.”
“Hector, come on,” Miguel said.
“We’re done,” he said softly. “Do we understand each other?” Miguel left without another word or glance at Tracy. “You were brilliant until the end,” he said to Tracy once they were alone.
“If you mean making an enemy of Miguel, I couldn’t help it. I’ve been waiting to talk to you, so if I’d sat here and pretended to be the dumb blonde, my chance might never have come again.”
“Let’s hear your price, then.”
“I’ll do whatever you need, if eventually you promise me revenge for my sister.”
“That might or might not happen, but my terms are simple. I’m not Nunzio or Miguel, so don’t think you’re free to leave. You’re here until I say otherwise. First, I want you to find what I don’t know about Emray Gillis.”
“That’ll take time.”
“You have two days.”
*
Wiley slept until noon and woke up alone. Aubrey and Tanith had both been in her bed when she’d gotten home, and even though she’d been quiet, Aubrey rolled toward her as soon as she joined them. She tried to distance herself, but ended up holding Aubrey until she fell asleep.
She thought out her next step as she stared at the ceiling. The only viable option was to take Walter out. She’d handle whatever repercussions came of that, but Walter wanted what Aubrey didn’t have to give. She needed to decide whether to share the details with Aubrey, since it wasn’t fair to give her anything else to worry about.
“What in the world are you thinking about?” Aubrey said. She’d made it to the bed silently enough that Wiley hadn’t noticed her until she spoke. “You still look exhausted.”
“Last night was more involved than I thought it’d be, but it was productive.” She accepted the cup Aubrey handed over and stared at her when she sat facing her on the bed. For a fleeting moment she was transported back in time to one of the mornings she’d woken up with Aubrey. If she was a religious person, she’d think Aubrey was God’s gift to her—the one beauty in her life that absolved every sin she’d ever committed.
She tried not to overthink her actions when she put her coffee cup down and ran her fingers along Aubrey’s cheek. Like her dreams through the years, Aubrey’s smile never changed, and she’d committed it to memory so long ago.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Aubrey asked, breaking the spell.
Telling a half truth wasn’t in her, so she shared with Aubrey everything that had happened, including the fate of Mitch and fake cop. Perhaps these reminders of what she was capable of would make Aubrey give up the notion of a happy reunion. She was clinical about what she’d done, having often reported her actions in debriefings sessions, but Aubrey wasn’t a superior.
“They’re both dead?” Aubrey asked, and didn’t flinch.
“The news will probably cover it today, but no, I left one alive.”
“And Natalie was here with a child?”
“A little boy she had with Roth. Her brother is with her, helping her along.” She hesitated briefly and mentally prepared for Aubrey’s anger. “She has the money these guys want. Maria brokered the deal that gave her the last of Roth’s fortune.”
“Maria was leaving with her, wasn’t she?” Wiley nodded, not expecting this. “God, what a fool you must think I am.”
“You tried to make a life for yourself. When I had to go I physically ached, not only because I was walking away, but because I knew you would never spend your life alone. The thought of someone else touching what was—” Her teeth hurt from clicking them together so quickly.
“Mine,” Aubrey said softly. “Is that what you were going to say?”
“I have no right to that word, and I’ll never judge you for your choices.”
“When are you going to forgive yourself?” Aubrey moved slowly until she was lying practically on top of her. “You aren’t a monster, you never were. The service you took up made you incredibly good at eliminating targets, but have you ever enjoyed the kill? I mean really relished it?”
“No.”
Wiley’s short answer was forced and raspy, so Aubrey was glad she’d locked the door on the way in. Their interactions had been hesitant so far, but she thought the odds had improved when Wiley had come to bed the night before. Wiley had made that decision, no one had made it for her; she’d chosen to stay with her and Tanith.
“Then you’re the same person I fell in love with.” She sat up and straddled Wiley’s waist. She’d habitually done that when they’d been together. Teasing Wiley, she’d pin her until she touched her. Wiley always did, gently at first, then in a way that drove her mad. From the way Wiley’s nipples hardened, she was remembering those times as well.
“You can
sulk and push me away, Wiley, but your heart knows me. It knows you’re not only safe with me, but you belong to me.” She reached for Wiley’s hands and threaded their fingers together. “For once do what you want, not what’s expected of you. Whatever you want, take it.”
“How can you let so much time go?” Wiley asked, her eyes hiding nothing from her. It was the first time since their bizarre reunion that she had unlocked the gates to the walls she’d erected inside.
“I can choose to be as angry as I’ve been since the numbness wore off, or I can live in the moment. And since you’re looking at me the way you did back then when we were in this position, I pick now.” Aubrey went willingly when Wiley pulled her down and kissed her. The joy of knowing how much Wiley wanted her erased the terror that’d started when Wiley left her. Her fear of never truly belonging shriveled in that instant.
“Are you sure?” Wiley asked when she rolled them over.
The people on the other side of the door faded from her mind.
“The door’s locked, honey, I’m sure.”
Wiley stripped her T-shirt off, and she rolled them over again. Wiley had so many more scars than the last time, proof she’d suffered more than just heartache. Aubrey started with what she knew was a bullet wound on Wiley’s right side by pressing her lips to it. There was a need in her to kiss every part of Wiley to prove this wasn’t a dream.
She got as far as the spot over her heart before her tears started, and she cursed herself for not having more control. The last thing she wanted was to give Wiley an excuse to stop, and when Wiley moved off, that’s what she knew was coming.
When Wiley tugged her sleep pants down it surprised her and made her cry harder. Wiley took things slowly as she stripped her of everything she was wearing, as well as every bit of apprehension. All that was left was Wiley’s boxers, but a quick lift of her hips and they were gone.
The moment Wiley lay against her was surreal, because while she’d never given up the hope of being with Wiley like this again, she’d never been totally sure. All of Wiley’s scars had proved all the reasons why, but they’d survived. Both of them.
