by Shaw, LK
Preston stepped out from behind a nearby dumpster. His eyes scanned all of us, pausing for a minute on Landon. He drew back, eyes wide in surprise, but quickly shook it off. He returned his attention back to his brother.
“This is where Álvarez has been hiding out. I’ve been staking out the place, waiting to see if he comes back. Once he did, I was going to call you.”
“Jesus,” I shook my head. “He’s already in there. With Estelle.”
“Fuck, are you serious?”
“Yes. You need to get out of here before you get us all killed.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Look,” I barked. “We don’t have time for this. Preston, I don’t care what you do as long as you stay out of the fucking way. Understand?”
Preston nodded, gravely. “I understand. I swear on my mother’s grave I won’t do anything to endanger Estelle’s or my brother’s life.”
“Fine. Now is everyone ready?”
We watched Brody take off at a lope before disappearing around the other side of the building. Manuel pulled up his monitor so we could see what was happening through the camera attached to him. We knew there was a chance shit could go south the second Álvarez laid eyes on him. We’d run out of options though.
Brody knocked on the door. It opened to a man pointing a gun straight at him. He was jerked inside, and that’s when we got our first look at what we were up against.
Chapter 31
Never in my life had I been so exhausted. My eyes were gritty like sandpaper. I’d forced myself to stay awake for fear that Gladstone would come back while I was sleeping. Not that it would have made a difference if he had. But it made me feel better thinking it would. The same man who’d stopped him from his assault yesterday had entered a couple of times and let me use the bathroom. For a blip of a moment, I’d thought about trying to get free, but there was no way of knowing who, or what, was beyond this room. So, I’d complacently let him lead me to the bathroom and then back to this chair. I’d stumbled and almost fallen walking due to the numbness in my legs. Even unbuttoning my pants had been a challenge, but I certainly wasn't going to ask for help.
There was a tiny window near the ceiling in the room I was being held. I’d watched the sunlight fade, and I’d watched it grow bright. The only thing I could see through it was the roof of another building. While I sat here, alone, I had pictured the stars in the sky. How bright they could shine. That was the one sad thing about living in the city. You could never see how beautiful the night sky truly was. All the twinkling lights up above you. When I got out of here, I was going to ask Victor to take me on a vacation somewhere. Maybe up to Fox Lake. There were cabins we could rent. I’d have him find one with a front porch swing where we could sit with nature and see the stars reflected off the water.
We’d talk about our future. The kids we were going to have. I wanted a big family. I laughed to myself. The delirium from lack of sleep must be kicking in. Victor hadn’t even mentioned marriage, and here I was, thinking about our kids. My eyes burned, but I forced back the tears. I couldn’t give up hope. I trusted Victor with my life. I was absolutely, whole-heartedly in love with him. His name was a song my heart beat out.
The doorknob rattled, and I jerked. Expecting my recent frequent visitor, I was surprised to see Álvarez himself stroll in. No one would ever guess by looking at him that he was the ruthless leader of the cartel. His blue pinstriped suit was perfectly pressed, red tie smooth against his chest before disappearing behind the buttoned suit coat. Black leather shoes shone without a single spot or speck of dirt. Not a hair on his head was out of place. He strode forward confidently and with purpose. The only thing that made a person pause was his eyes. They held a savage quality.
He stopped before me, pulled down my gag, and then squatted, putting himself almost eye level with me. “I hope you’ve been enjoying your stay, seńorita.”
My eyes burned with hatred, but my smile was saccharine sweet. The stubborn side of me, the one that got me into trouble, couldn’t resist responding. “Sadly, your accommodations leave a lot to be desired. And your turndown service sucks.”
For a moment, we just stared at each other, and then Álvarez threw back his head in laughter. He wagged his finger at me. “You have a lot of fire for someone in your predicament. I could almost admire you.”
Before I could even blink, my head jerked to the right and a burst of pain shot through my cheek. Stupid, Estelle.
Álvarez tugged his shirt sleeves down and straightened his jacket. “You’re lucky I’m a lenient man, seńorita.” He glared evilly down at me. “If you speak to me with such disrespect again, I will make your death more painful than it needs to be. Señor Gladstone has taken a liking to you. Perhaps I will let him teach you some manners before he kills you.”
The blood drained from my face, and I cursed my smart mouth. Álvarez pivoted from me and began to move about the room with an easy stride.
“Do you know that because of Officer Rodriguez, I have no family left? No one to carry on my legacy. She killed the only blood I had left.”
Even though Alejandro had betrayed him and tried to overthrow him, he’d still been Álvarez’s nephew.
“Brody would never let Ines come alone. You have to know that.”
Álvarez froze mid-stride, and my breath caught in my lungs. He turned toward me.
“What did you say about Agent Thomas?” His voice was low and dangerous sounding.
Why can’t you keep your fucking mouth shut, Estelle?
There was no taking back what I’d already spilled. “I said that Brody will show up as well.”
With three steps he was in front of me. I craned my neck back to look up at him.
“Are you telling me that Brody Thomas is still alive?”
I stared back wide-eyed. “You didn’t know?”
He spun on his feet and marched out the door leaving it open.
In my field of vision was the cement floor and bright fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling. Wooden crates piled at least eight feet high were scattered around the area. On the far side of the building was a metal wall with four-paned, dirt and grimed-covered windows evenly spaced across the width of it. They were so high off the ground it didn’t matter that you could barely see through them.
Raised voices came from out in the main warehouse floor. I couldn’t actually make out what they were saying, but the tone was definitely not a happy one. After a few moments, the arguing ceased. Long moments passed. I couldn’t hear anything. No voices. No movement. I kept my eyes on the door waiting for someone to walk through. Shadows moved and were then still.
I didn’t know what good it would do if I actually got free, but I tested my bonds, twisting and moving, trying to wiggle at least one wrist free.
“There has been a slight change of plan. It’s time to go.”
Álvarez stood in the open doorway. He pulled a penknife from his pants pocket and sliced my bonds. He yanked me out of the chair and then wrapped his arm around my waist. I winced at the pain shooting through all my extremities.
Before I could blink, he pulled a gun and pressed it to the side of my head. “Move.”
He held me securely against him, and we walked forward and out into the warehouse. He kept pushing us further across the room. I gasped at the sight of Brody standing there. Where was Ines?
He smiled reassuringly at me. “Everything’s going to be fine, Estelle.”
His gaze shifted back to Álvarez. “Let her go, Miguel. You have what you wanted.”
My captor spat at the floor. “What I want is to see you and that puta of yours dead.”
Brody shrugged. “I already told you, you’re going to have to settle for just me. Now, let her go.”
Álvarez shrugged. “Si, that was the agreement wasn’t it? She is all yours.”
He gave me a small shove, and I stumbled forward. This seemed too easy. He’d already promised Ines and I were dead. Fuck. I kept moving in Brod
y’s direction, bracing myself for a bullet in the back. My gaze remained locked on the man in front of me. He continued to smile encouragingly. I was a little over an arm’s length away before everything went to hell.
“Now!” Brody grabbed my arm and yanked me so hard I felt like it was being pulled out of the socket. There was an explosion, and gunfire erupted all around us.
Chapter 32
“That motherfucking traitor.”
“Holy shit. Isn’t that Gladstone?” Pablo asked from my right.
Landon spoke up for the first time since we’d left the house earlier. “Who’s Gladstone?”
“My partner.”
“Wait, are you telling me your partner is a dirty cop?”
I glanced over at her. “Unless you can come up with another explanation, it appears so. He had to have been the one who took Estelle.”
“Listen,” Manuel hushed us.
“Tomás, my old friend. Or should I say Agent Thomas. You appear well for a dead man,” Álvarez greeted Brody.
“Where’s Estelle?”
“Where is your puta?” he countered.
“You don’t have to worry about her. You have me instead.”
Álvarez slashed his arm through the air. “That is not what we agreed upon.”
“That is what you’re going to get. Now, go get Estelle,” Brody barked.
Our eyes remained focused on the entire scene. My jaw ached from the tension I was holding in it. Finally, the older man nodded. “Very well.”
Álvarez turned his back on Brody, marched across the floor, and disappeared inside the open door on the opposite wall. Within a minute he reappeared, only this time, not alone. Holding her in front of him like a shield, and with a gun pointed at her head, was Estelle.
“Shit.”
I took off running, knowing everyone would be hot on my tail. Muffled curses came from behind me. I skidded to a halt outside the entrance. Manuel appeared right next to me.
“Wait until Brody gets her out of the way, bro.”
I watched on his screen as Estelle moved slowly forward. There was so much fear in her eyes. Inch by inch she got closer. Three, two, one.
“Now!”
I fired several rounds at the doorknob, and then kicked in the door. After that, chaos reigned. Like ants, we swarmed inside the building, gunfire erupting all around us. We all dove for cover, hiding behind anything that offered protection. Shot after shot was fired. Bodies fell. I spotted Jonathan diving behind a stack of wooden crates. My eyes scanned the room. Where was Álvarez?
“Gladstone’s at one o’clock,” I warned my brother.
“Got it.”
A lone gunshot echoed before all was quiet. I called out into the silence. “It’s over, Álvarez. There’s nowhere to run. Gladstone, I know you’re in here too. Both of you come out with your hands up.”
“Álvarez is dead,” Jonathan called out from his hiding spot. “Don’t shoot.”
He slowly came out from behind the crates, hands in the air, gun pointed at the ceiling, finger off the trigger. Keeping my weapon trained on him, I moved forward, alert for any movement.
“Put the gun down,” I ordered.
Slowly, he bent down, arms still stretched out in front of him, and placed the gun on the floor.
“Kick it over here.”
He pushed it across the floor with his foot. It slid across the concrete to land at my feet.
“A fucking dirty cop. What a waste. Why’d you do it?”
He shrugged. “I like expensive things.”
I sneered in disgust. “You won’t need them in prison.”
Jonathan laughed self-deprecatingly. “I’ll never see the inside of prison. You know that. I’ll be dead before I ever make it there.”
“That’s not my problem.”
Before I could guess his intent, he reached behind his back and pulled out another weapon. I fired round after round into him. Jonathan’s body jerked, and he stumbled backwards a few steps before collapsing against the exit door. Dark red spots appeared on his chest. He slid down the door leaving a smeared path of blood behind him. His butt hit the ground and his head lolled to the side, eyes slowly drifting shut, chest not moving. I kicked the gun away from him and checked for a pulse. Nothing.
“Victor!”
Shots rang out. I spun on my heel in time to see Álvarez fall to his knees. Brody stood behind him with a gun in his hand. The older man stared at me in shock before toppling face first onto the cement floor. Jesus. Was it finally over? My eyes darted around the room.
“Where’s Estelle?”
“I’m here.” She stepped out from her hiding place.
My eyes locked on hers. She raced toward me, tears streaming down her face. I sprinted across the room, meeting her halfway. The second I reached her, I crushed her in my arms, her cries loud in my ear.
“I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe, now. It’s over.” I repeated the words again and again.
Her tears lessened and the tight-fisted hold she had on me loosened. I pulled back to look at her, to reassure myself that she wasn’t hurt. That she was okay. Her tear-stained cheeks tore my heart to shreds. I swiped away the wetness with my thumbs. I assessed the rest of her. Her nose was crusted with blood, and a bruise was forming along the side of her face. Otherwise, she appeared whole. She laid her palms on top of mine. “I knew you’d come for me.”
Estelle’s confidence in me was humbling. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”
“It doesn’t matter. You came.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “I love you so much. I was so afraid I’d never get the chance to tell you.”
“I love you too. And you’ll never have to be afraid again.”
The night of her birthday, even without the words, Estelle had told me she loved me. I’d just been waiting for her to admit it out loud.
“Victor?”
I glanced over to see Manny standing there.
“Sorry to interrupt, but a couple agents from the D.E.A. just arrived. I guess Landon called them. They want to talk to all of us.”
They decided to show up now? When everything was over? I shook my head in disgust.
I wrapped my arm around Estelle’s shoulder and led her outside. We hadn’t taken two steps before Ines screamed for her best friend. The two women embraced, both of them crying. Leaving them to their reunion, I stepped over to Landon, and two suit-clad, sunglasses wearing men with D.E.A. badges hanging from their neck, who stood a few feet away.
“Álvarez is dead, I hear,” the first suit said by way of introduction.
Fuck these guys. If they’d been that concerned about taking him in alive, maybe they should have showed up before now. I shrugged. “It would seem so.”
Landon’s lips twitched.
Suit number one sneered. “I see.”
“You’re welcome to his body. He’s right in there. Along with a dirty cop and four of his men.” I gestured over my shoulder.
“We’ll get to them. We’re going to need to ask you some questions. Why don’t you come to headquarters tomorrow morning, say eight a.m.? Here’s my card.”
I took the rectangle paper and tucked it in my vest. “Sure thing.”
Without another word, the two of them walked away and into the warehouse. I turned to Landon. “Charming fellows.”
“Yeah, neither Agents Brickman nor Crawford has much of a personality. Regardless of the fact that they’re dicks, they’re both good at their job.”
I withheld my doubts, mostly because I couldn’t care less.
“So, what happens next?” I asked her.
“The M.E. will show up and take care of the bodies. Word will spread that Álvarez was killed in a D.E.A. shoot out, and we’ll all go along with it. Beyond that, who knows?”
I shook my head. We did all the work and the Feds would get the credit for it. Sounds about right. “What about you?”
Landon shrugged. “I’ll go back to my desk job.”
“
I really appreciate your help.”
“I told you, Brody did me a huge favor all those years ago. I merely paid back what I owed.” She gestured over my shoulder. “You got someone over there waiting for you. Good luck to you two. You guys deserve to be happy.” With that, she strode away and back into the warehouse.
I looked over to where I’d left my sister and Estelle. The whole family stood there, but I only had eyes for one person. Needing to hold her tight to remind myself she was safe, I headed in their direction. I reached her and she wrapped her arms around me. We held each other tight, and I swore now that I had her, I’d never let her go.
Chapter 33
1 week later
“How soon before Victor moves in?”
My head snapped in Ines’ direction, and I practically choked. “What?”
She snorted and took a bite of her ice cream. “You heard me. Brody and I have been staying at dad’s house this whole week, and I have yet to see my brother.”
After Victor had rescued me, he’d made me go to the hospital to get checked out. Once I’d been discharged, I called my boss and requested a month-long leave of absence. I hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to go to work. Plus, I didn’t want to explain to my kids the bruises on my face. I was worried they would scare them.
“He was at your house yesterday.”
“Yeah, while I was at the grocery store. And from what I was told, he only stopped by for fifteen minutes so he could grab more clothes. Then he was gone again.”
“It’s not something we’ve talked about.”
Ines stared me down. “Estelle Marie Jenkins I’ve known you for over twenty years. You, my dearest, closest friend, are full of shit,” she scolded, wagging her spoon at me.
It was true though. We hadn’t talked about it. There wasn’t anything to talk about. Neither of us wanted to be away from the other. “Do you think it’s too soon?” Ines had me worried that maybe we were moving too fast.
“Hey,” she scooted closer to me. “I was only teasing. Look at Brody and me. We were shacking up barely three months after we met. You and Victor have known each other your whole lives. If it feels right to you guys, then it’s right.”
