Now all manner of law enforcement was after Rio’s sister for the killing. The Texas Rangers had wasted a lot of time on false leads, but Brent... Brent had been the one to find her.
So he couldn’t afford to let her get away now.
Except...in his gut he’d believed all along she was innocent. This woman had risked her life to save his in Mexico on a sting gone bad and he couldn’t forget that. Maybe he wanted to believe she wasn’t a murderer. Wanted to believe she wasn’t working with her brother. But he needed to get the truth out of her, here and now.
“I don’t want to hurt...what did you say her name was?”
“Kiana.”
“Kiana. I don’t want to hurt her. Mind calling her off?” Right. Like he would harm the creature under any circumstances. But maybe Adriana wouldn’t see through his bluff.
She appeared to consider his words, and maybe even humor flickered in her gaze, but finally it seemed her concern for Kiana outweighed the risk she was willing to take. Adriana lifted her hands. “Let me approach her. I can calm her.”
Her English was good. Smooth, like honey, not as broken as he remembered.
“Fine. Don’t try anything.” I’m not letting you get away now that I’ve finally found you.
He watched Adriana approach the llama, who visibly relaxed as the young woman spoke soothing words.
Adriana’s gaze drew back up to hold Brent’s.
Good. Now he’d attempt to get the answers he needed. “Why would he frame you?”
Her chuckle was incredulous. “Come on. You’re smart. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
I have my suspicions, but... “I want to hear it from you.”
Adriana dropped onto a bale of hay near Kiana and her shoulders sagged. “My brother is hunting me. There is nothing he wants more than to get his hands on me for what he believes is the worst kind of betrayal.” Her brown eyes pierced his.
“Four months ago he learned that I helped you to get away, and I had to escape. And once I was settled, I began enacting my plans to take him down.”
Brent slumped under the weight of that news. He hadn’t realized how great a risk she had taken in helping him, or that it had been the catalyst to her fleeing to Texas. “Go on.”
“So, if he made it look like I killed a border patrol agent, his problem would be solved. Others will find me for him. The Texas Rangers will hunt me down and lead him right to me. And...here you are.” Her gaze flicked to the barn entrance.
A chill ran over him. Had he done just that? Led her brother and his bloodthirsty cartel members to this ranch? He didn’t think so, because he’d been on his own in his search for her. After the discovery that Greg had been a double agent, they were all wary of sharing their leads through any means that another spy might be able to track. The reconnaissance team didn’t know where to find him, which also meant no backup was on the way if Garcia showed up to take Adriana.
Lord, please don’t let that be the case.
But her words confirmed his own suspicions as well, that her brother hoped the authorities would lead him to his sister. It had already nearly happened once, when a woman who had borne a surprising resemblance to Adriana had been found by the Rangers—and then subsequently attacked by Garcia’s men. That was why he’d been so careful when coming here today. Still, the suspicious tone of her words had him itching to flee the barn and check the perimeter of the ranch.
Her gaze snapped back to him, and her eyes reflected that she noticed his anxiety.
“Look, I didn’t lead him here. I came alone.” Was he revealing too much? “I had to find you first. On my own.”
Emotions he couldn’t read shifted behind her gaze and her stern expression softened. “You came alone? But...why?”
He lowered his weapon but kept it ready. “Because I didn’t believe you were guilty of murder even though there’s evidence that shows you were at the scene.”
“What evidence?” Her hands fidgeted.
“A scarf and a bracelet. We’ve seen you wearing identical ones in surveillance videos.” Though Brent had always doubted her ability to strangle a man to death with a scarf—at least, a strong and sturdy man like Greg.
She blew out a breath. “That’s convenient, isn’t it? I mean, if you’re going to frame someone and have access to those sorts of things, makes sense to plant them at the scene, doesn’t it?”
His thoughts exactly. He’d said as much to Colt, though his friend hadn’t been very willing to listen. “It does. And it also makes sense that if you were there and committed the crime, evidence would be found.”
“It doesn’t make sense that I would leave that kind of evidence. That’s much too obvious.”
Hands shaking, Adriana rose from the bale. She appeared nervous, definitely nervous. Brent didn’t take his eyes from her in case he had it all wrong about her and she tried something. That possibility remained.
“I left those items behind in my home in Mexico when I fled. Your surveillance videos are from before I ran, aren’t they?”
She had him there. But he still had a lot of questions. “What about the money and drugs? Where are they?”
“So you’re still unsure of my innocence.”
“Something like that.” Either she was guilty, or she was in trouble and needed protection. Before he could do anything else, he needed to know which was true.
Though she remained wary of him, she grabbed the bucket she’d dropped. Some of the grain had spilled on the ground, but she continued feeding Kiana with what was left in the bucket.
She drew in a deep breath. “Yes, I took the cash and drugs. That’s the biggest reason Rio is hunting me now. Before, he wanted me for my betrayal. There is a penalty for the kind of disloyalty I showed when I saved you. Then he learned about what I’d stolen. A family heirloom. My grandfather’s Rolex. In my panic to escape, I thought I might need leverage. Something for which to trade my life, so I took it because it has a removable back that contained a gold key. That key was to the storage unit with the drugs and cash stores.”
“And we’ve seen the storage unit firsthand. Know that it’s empty. Where did you hide the goods, and why?”
“After I escaped, I realized I could do more than simply hide. I could take my brother and his cartel down—if he couldn’t access all those drugs and cash, the operation of his cartel would be hurt, maybe even collapse. But I had to act fast before he realized I’d taken the Rolex. Before he knew to wait for me at the storage facility. But my plan didn’t work. Even though I got away with emptying the storage shed without getting caught, he’s still in business.”
If she really had believed she could shut her brother down or cripple him by taking one warehouse out of the equation, she could dream on. They wouldn’t have been mortally wounded by her actions. But he admired her determination—that was, if what she said was true.
He swiped a hand over his face. Could she be telling the truth? He had to ask all the right questions, cover all the bases. Not let his own gut feelings or his debt to her cloud his judgment. “I would think the right thing to do would have been to turn the drugs and cash over to law enforcement rather than keep them yourself. Keeping them gives the impression that you stole them to start your own cartel.”
She gave a cynical laugh. “Right, as if I’d ever consider doing a thing like that. I want no part of that life. I want to be free...” She trailed off, as if she would have said more but hadn’t meant to reveal so much, then leaned her forehead against the llama’s neck. “You told me that I’m wanted for the murder of a border agent, which proves I cannot trust you. How could I turn the drugs over to you or any law enforcement? Would they let me go? No. They’d keep me locked away. I have to finish my mission first.”
“To take down your brother.” And then she’d be free, she’d said.
&nb
sp; “And I can’t do that behind bars, can I?”
“True enough, but you hid the drugs and money before the border patrol agent was murdered.”
She held her chin high, anger flashing in her gaze. “I’m Rio Garcia’s sister. I couldn’t risk turning the supplies over to the law, who would imprison me, one way or another—whether to use me for their own devices or because they would never believe I’m innocent of any involvement in my brother’s cartel. I will never give up the drugs and cash. Not until I’ve taken down my brother. There is no one I can trust. Tell me I’m wrong!”
Brent sagged. I...can’t.
His grilling her even wore on him. And for some insane reason he couldn’t fathom, he found himself wanting her to trust him, as he’d trusted her two years before. “Look, Adriana... I want to believe you.”
As she gazed into his eyes, he hoped she read the truth of his words there.
Her face softened and she spread out her palms. “Look, it’s Christmas. Inez, the woman I lease this property from, helps me run the ranch, lives with me in the house. We’re family now. We had planned our own small celebration. She doesn’t have anyone, and apparently neither do you. Why else would you be here on Christmas morning?”
He hadn’t taken time off for Christmas in years.
Could he believe that she was innocent and had told him the truth? He’d suspected much of it and had hoped to hear as much from her. But he could very well be blinded to the truth staring him in the face for the simple reason that she’d saved his life before. Any criminal would claim to be innocent.
He wasn’t sure if he could trust his own instincts when it came to Adriana. Though he shouldn’t, he really shouldn’t, he had a soft spot in his heart with her name on it. He buried the thought and focused on his task.
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with you yet, even though it’s Christmas.”
A measure of fear flickered in her gaze. “How did you find me?”
“I’ve been receiving anonymous letters that gave me clues. Llamas. That you’re somewhere on the Rio Grande. The last one urged me to find you before your brother catches you.”
She gasped.
“I’ve visited a lot of ranches along the Rio Grande looking for you, including a llama ranch or two. And I had hoped this would be it. When I saw the booby traps, I guessed it could be you.”
“Well, that’s comforting, that I’m so easy to locate.” She rubbed her arms, clearly distressed. “And then you decided you would just accost me in my barn.”
He was a Texas Ranger. A lawman. Why should he be sorry for his actions? But he was. “I had to make sure it was you.”
“And you have. My brother won’t be long behind you.”
“If he’s tracking me, or has his own lead on you. I only found you because of the letters. Who do you think could have sent them?”
Adriana led Kiana to the barn’s exit and urged her outside to the blue skies and sunshine and this beautiful Christmas Day. “I don’t know, which is what worries me most. What else can you tell me?”
“We had the letters analyzed. It’s someone young. Probably female. We believe English is her second language.”
“Rosa...” she whispered.
Who?
Her eyes brightened, lifted to meet his gaze. “It could be Rosa. She was in my brother’s cartel. A low-level drug runner. While I wasn’t part of his cartel, just being his sister, being Adriana Garcia, made me feel dirty. The only thing I could do to feel better about myself was help people. I figured that God had me there for a reason—to help others get out. Rosa was one of those people. I mentored her and tried to help her change her life. Get out of the ugly business, but...”
“But escaping the cartel isn’t so easy,” he added.
Brent saw the truth of it in Adriana’s eyes—she really wanted to be free of her brother. She wanted to be free of her family ties to the cartel. This young woman she’d mentored was proof enough of that.
“How did she ever know where to find me? I can’t believe she sent the letters and has been trying to lead you to me. She must think—”
“That we’re the good guys and we can protect you.” He cut her off, but he didn’t want to risk the conversation taking another direction.
“As long as you, Brent McCord, aren’t on my brother’s payroll. And even if you’re one of the good guys, you still found me and you made it through my security network of booby traps.” She paced the barn, agitated. “If you can, so can my brother. He’ll be coming for me soon.”
TWO
“Tanya!” Inez called, using Adriana’s assumed name.
She kept her gaze fixed on the handsome Ranger but angled her head toward the barn door, where Kiana had finally exited. “If I don’t tell her something, she’s going to come out here to the barn and see you. I don’t want her to get hurt.”
Adriana didn’t see any point in trying to escape the Ranger. He was here now. But she didn’t want Inez to come between them and end up becoming collateral damage. Maybe Adriana should have thought about that when she’d chosen to stay with Inez and take on the llama ranch, but Inez had saved her life.
As far as Ranger McCord was concerned, Adriana wasn’t sure if she could trust this man yet, though she wanted to, and though she had a strong feeling she could. He tried to appear cold and intense, but she saw the compassion behind his gaze. The problem was that she didn’t know if she could trust her own judgment when it came to him—a man she didn’t even know. The only thing she knew for sure was that she had saved his life. And risked her own life to do it. That one decision had forever changed everything about her life. Did it matter as much to him as it did to her?
What was it about this handsome Texas Ranger that had her head spinning when she was near him? Had her doing crazy things?
He nodded. “Tell her, then. And don’t worry. I have no intentions of hurting anyone.”
Sorrow flickered in his gaze. Interesting.
She stepped to the barn door opening. “I’m out here,” she called. “I’ll be there in a minute, Inez.”
Her friend nodded, her bright smile easy to see from the porch of the house. “The cinnamon rolls are baking. They’ll be ready soon.”
Adriana focused her attention back on Ranger McCord. “Though you say you’re not going to hurt us, that doesn’t mean I’m ready to trust you. I can’t be sure you’re one of the good guys. But what now? Are you going to join us for our Christmas celebration or arrest me and take me in?”
He appeared to ponder her question. Hadn’t he already thought this through? Just what had he planned to do once he found her?
Then, finally, he said, “I don’t want you running away.”
Was that his agreement to spend Christmas Day with them? “Where would I run to? Inez is expecting me any minute. So you’d better make your decision. Are you going to join us, and if so, are you marching into the house as a gun-wielding Texas Ranger?”
He frowned. “I’ll...sneak around so she won’t see me leaving the barn. Knock on the front door. You can introduce me as an old friend. Act surprised to see me or something.”
“Are you saying that you’re not going to take me in yet? You’re going to let me enjoy my Christmas?” If she even could after Ranger McCord had scared her by holding a gun to her head. Her legs still shook, but she wouldn’t let him see her fear.
“If you can still enjoy it while I’m here.”
“I’m not going to let you ruin this joyful occasion.” Besides, she felt sorry for the man. Anyone who was alone on Christmas deserved her sympathy. “And you’re just pathetic enough in your loneliness that I’m compelled to extend a proper invitation to you.” She allowed a soft smile for the Ranger she’d thought about for two years, now here with her again. Who would have thought? “Will you
join us for Christmas?”
He seemed to consider her request for a moment, questions swirling in his gaze before it softened, his decision made. “I’d be happy to.” He stood taller, lingering suspicion in his eyes, but he still offered her a friendly grin and triple dimples lit up his cheeks. She’d almost forgotten about those. Considering the tingling in her toes that they caused, she wished he hadn’t flashed them now.
Adriana quickly forced her attention from the attractive lawman wearing a Stetson. “Now, I’ll go distract Inez while you sneak out.”
“Wait,” he said. “I’m letting you walk out of my sight on good faith, because...because it’s Christmas.”
His tone had softened. Can I trust you? She read that desperate question in his eyes and realized he wanted to trust her as much as she wanted to trust him. They were two of a kind—reaching across an invisible barrier that separated them and trying hard to seal their connection.
She nodded. They understood each other. But when she headed for the exit, he tugged her back and gripped her arm, his face mere inches from hers. “I haven’t decided if I think you’re guilty yet or not. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt, for now, but if you try anything, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t.”
She didn’t like that he’d suddenly tried to sound gruff, but at least she could see his hesitation, see the softer side of him behind the facade. Warmth spread through her. “And if you decide I’m innocent, what then?”
He studied her, his intense eyes taking her all in, unsettling her in ways she couldn’t explain. “Either way—guilty or innocent—I’m here to protect you from your brother.”
She hadn’t asked for his protection. Wasn’t sure she wanted it. And for how long would he be hanging around? Adriana didn’t like this uncertainty one bit. On the other hand, his presence did add another layer of defense against her brother, should he show up.
Texas Christmas Defender Page 2
