“Speak!” a Spanish voice echoed in the background. Breathing was heavy and I pulled the phone out, hitting the speakerphone button and holding it against the wheel as I headed back on the freeway. “I said speak,” the voice growled. The sound of a hit was loud, almost filling the interior with a thickness that made it hard to breathe past.
“Fuck you.” Crux. Shit. Another hit and a groan. That could have so easily have been me. It was a hazard of the job, but it made it worse that I knew he was being beaten because of what I’d stirred up by taking Elle to begin with.
“Hey,” I yelled. “Hey!”
Another hit.
“I’m the one you want. Talk to me.” I ground my teeth together, not being able to stand the lack of control I had on the situation.
“You have one more chance. Deliver the message or you die,” the voice said, getting closer to the speaker. What sounded like a hammer cocking back on a gun had my mouth going dry. I knew how this was going to end and I had no doubt Cruz did too.
“Me,” I yelled, again. “I’m right here. You tell me. Not him.” Nothing. I tried to slow my heart and calm. “Listen, nothing bad has to happ—”
My heart stopped at the explosion that sounded just as loud as if it had been right here in the car. Then, a thud.
“You have three days to convince Senora Garza to come home on her own.”
Lava flowed through my veins as I squeezed the steering wheel, not even really seeing the road in front of me. “Over my dead fucking body,” I said through clenched teeth.
There was a moment of silence, followed by a laugh. “So be it.”
Chapter 16
Elle
If I stared at my phone any longer, I was convinced the damn thing was going to burst into flames. No amount of concentration was going to make Gaige magically decide to call me. He had to have been busy. Very busy.
Two days had gone by since the last time he’d been the one to call and when I didn’t receive anything last night after our conversation, the first thing I thought was that something bad had happened to him and he’d been hurt. But Mr. Viceroy never called and no news was good news. I had fallen asleep close to four in the morning and it was now approaching midnight and still nothing from Gaige.
It was hard not to pace around and worry. Where he was, was the epitome of danger, and I was supposed to pretend that he was all right and would be coming home as soon as he could. I couldn’t do that. Couldn’t imagine that he was lounging in someone’s living room, kicked back, watching TV. He was immersed with the Los Banditos Del Sur. They were the fucking devils and didn’t even have to disguise themselves. In Mexico, they were the law. Not the government. Everyone catered to their agenda and I couldn’t stand Gaige mixed up in the middle of it.
“God dammit.” I slammed the empty soda can down, more caffeinated than I should have been. The plan had originally been to stay up in case he called. Now I was likely to be up until dawn.
I glanced at the phone, but grabbed the remote and flipped the television on. The news had stayed playing since Gaige had left. Why? I wasn’t sure. Maybe because if something happened, I didn’t want to miss a thing. It wasn’t like they’d show information on main stream media concerning anything having to do with what was happening there, but if…who was I kidding? If something big enough transpired to make the news, I doubted it would be good on my end, which scared the shit out of me.
“Come on, Gaige.” I stood, grabbed the can and walked over, throwing it in the trash. I was half tempted to grab another, but I knew I’d never get to sleep if I did.
I took a bottled water out of the fridge and began to pace. The pictures on the wall sucked me in and I slowed, looking at the one of Gaige and Carson. I sighed and moved down the wall, looking at all the new ones of me and Gaige. So happy. Smiling. Kissing. A grin replaced the sadness and heat took over at just the thought of him being close to me. What great times we’d had in these few short months.
Talking had me turning to the door and I knew it was just the agents patrolling around the house. It’d become routine. They stayed in a travel trailer on the driveway and I brought them meals, which weren’t all that great, but they seemed to appreciate it. But their presence only reminded me of Marco’s men and I wanted this behind me already.
I took a drink of water and headed for the kitchen to make some popcorn when the sound of the phone had me racing back to the coffee table. I nearly collided with it to get there fast enough.
“Hello?” My breath came out in big bursts.
“Ms. Tanner.” Mr. Viceroy’s voice wasn’t who I was expecting to hear. I eased to the chair, my legs feeling suddenly weak.
“Where’s Gaige? He hasn’t called.”
There was a pause. “That’s why I’m calling. I…”
“You what?” I burst in. “Where’s Gaige?”
“He hasn’t called me back since last night. You’re going to have to leave with the agents and come with me.”
The room spun the slightest bit and I pushed to my feet, rushing to the master bedroom. Clothes. I needed something to wear. “Where am I going? Why can’t I stay here? Are you afraid Marco has him?”
I grabbed a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt, stripping off my pajamas while still trying to keep the phone to my ear.
“I’m not sure. He got into some trouble last night and he was supposed to call me back for the address of a new safe house. He never did.”
A small sound fell from my lips and tears blinded me. “I’m going to Mexico. You’re taking me to fucking Mexico,” I exploded.
“Not going to happen, Ms. Tanner. That’s out of the question.”
“Bullshit.” I grabbed my bag, stuffing it with clothes. There was only one more thing I needed. I walked to the bed and grabbed my gun from under the pillow where Gaige had told me to keep it. “I’m going to Mexico. Either you’re going with me, or I’ll go by myself. You pick, Mr. Viceroy.”
Again, silence. “The agents are expecting you outside. Go with them and we’ll decide when you get here.”
No way. I grabbed my purse and the keys to the truck, walked to the garage and climbed in. “I’m headed to the airport. Either you’re going to be there or you’re not. You tell your agents that if they try to stop me, I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”
I hung up, locking the doors and turning over the engine. The garage door opened at my push and I threw the truck in reverse. I zoomed past the travel trailer and pulled into the grass to turn around. An agent pulled at my door, but I threw the truck in drive before he could do much of anything else.
The phone rang again and I looked down at the cup holder in the middle console where I’d dropped it. Light reflected behind me and I watched the agent’s car turn onto the road. I hit the button, angry. “I’m going,” I snapped.
“Ms. Tanner. Elle, listen to me.” Mr. Viceroy’s voice sounded aggravated, but nervous. “You can’t just go to Mexico. You have no idea where you’re going. If Marco gets his hands on you and he has Gaige, he is as good as dead. Use your head. I need you under my protection so we can try to negotiate this if it comes down to it. Maybe he’s not in trouble at all. Gaige is known to go off and do his own thing. The only reason I told you was because I thought you’d understand. That you’d see how dangerous this was and would use rational thinking.”
“You know what I see,” I said, slowing at the stop sign that led me into town. “I see the man I love possibly being in trouble and I’m not going to sit around some office or house and do nothing about it. I’ve lost one person I cared about to Marco already, I’m not losing another.” I turned, making my way through the town. “Are you going to be at the airport or not?”
“Woman, you are the most stubborn damn person.” He took a deep breath. “I could so easily detain you. You know that right?”
“Don’t you dare,” I breathed out. “I have to go and I’m not going to let anything get in my way.” I let the threat hang in the air.
“Nothing, Mr. Viceroy.”
“Give me some time and stay with the agents. Do you hear me? Don’t you dare leave their sides. If you do, I’ll handcuff you and bring you back wherever I damn well please.” The line disconnected and I hit Gaige’s number for the first time since he left. Straight to voicemail.
“Gaige, it’s me. I need you to call me, it’s important.” I hung up, feeling like someone had stomped right on my heart. Where was he? Why hadn’t he called?
Towns passed and I kept going, only realizing when I got into San Francisco that I had no idea where the fucking airport was. Jesus. I tapped my brake at every exit, looking for some sort of sign, but nothing so far. There was no way I was calling Mr. Viceroy back. As if my mind was being read, lights flashed behind me and I watched the agent’s car zoom past, only to get in front of the truck. A smile came to my face and I followed as they led me straight to where I needed to go. Parking in the narrow spot in the garage had been a challenge, but I managed just like Gaige had taught me.
“Sullivan is going to be pissed. You know that, right?”
I shoved my gun under the seat and turned to see the agent in the passenger side of the car close his door and cross his arms over his chest. “Mexico? You’re walking into a trap, Ms. Tanner.”
My door slammed, sounding deafening in the enclosed space. “You let me deal with Gaige. As for my decision, it’s mine to make. You can gladly stay here.”
“Right,” he said, tilting his head. “Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. Our orders are to protect you. We take those very seriously.”
I hefted the bag over my shoulder, along with my purse, and began walking toward the elevator. I could vaguely remember talks of shuttles when we were at the airport last time. That had to be what I needed to do. Footsteps trailed behind but I ignored them as I pulled my phone back out and tried Gaige’s number again.
The whole way, I repeatedly tried to call, praying the result would change. Even as I sat in the chairs and waited for Mr. Viceroy to appear, I continued. Nothing. It was pointless.
“Got it.” The agent sitting across from me stood and the other one joined. I looked around, not noticing anything had changed. “This way, Ms. Tanner.”
If there was a time to argue, it wasn’t now. I grabbed my bags and followed as they led me deeper into the airport. Even for it being so late, the place was crowded, but they settled in on my side and took me to a door that led down to the tarmac. A jet was in the near distance and Mr. Viceroy was already bounding up the stairs that led inside.
My steps increased, impatient to see if he’d learned anything else. The moment I reached the inside, he was already sitting forward in a white leather chair, his head lowered, a glare aimed my way. The anger couldn’t have been any more obvious. I didn’t care. I sat down, placing my bags at my feet.
“Any news?”
The agents walked past and I moved my head to the side to get around them so my focus wasn’t interrupted.
“Nothing.” The door was closed and I shifted on the matching sofa. Take off was barely even noticed as I continued to stare at Gaige’s boss.
“You said he got into some trouble last night. What happened?”
One of the agents came from the back to sit down with me, leaving a cushion in between us.
“That’s confidential.”
The two words sent me to the edge of the seat. “Try again. I didn’t give you all that information for you to blow smoke up my ass now. What happened?”
Red tinted his face and he reached down, opening the briefcase at his feet. “You want to know. I’ll show you. But don’t say I didn’t try to spare you the gory details.”
I glanced at the agent next to me and braced myself for the worst. I’d seen some fucked up shit. It couldn’t have been worse than that.
A folder was thrust in my direction and I took it, placing it on my lap. It took a few seconds, but I forced myself to open it. What I was faced with had my eyebrows drawing in, confused. It was aerial shots of the warehouse. A red X was placed just outside the fence and a yellow line was drawn up toward the building.
“I don’t get it. What is this?” The stack wasn’t too thick. I picked it up, starting to flip through the different angles.
“That’s an underground tunnel Sullivan found. It leads about two miles along the edge of the mountain and comes to an end at a shack. That shack housed fifteen girls from the ages of ten to seventeen.”
My head jerked up. “So, he did it? He found proof?”
“Not necessarily. It’s complicated. The shack isn’t registered to Marco and they were all blindfolded. They claim to know nothing.”
“What…?” Unbelievable. “No. They have to know something. They have to remember being in the warehouse. They…” I wanted to scream in frustration. I flipped to the next picture and nearly got sick on the spot. Blood was pooled around a body. One that was unrecognizable. The hole in the back of the head was graphic enough, but the missing fingers, the flies on the dark skin of his lacerated cheek...
“Who is that?” I managed to get out.
“Here.” The second agent was standing in front of me, holding out a bottled water. I took it, sipping past the need to expel everything in my stomach.
“That’s Agent Crux,” Mr. Viceroy said, lowly.
Water splashed over my hand as I squeezed the bottle. “That’s who Gaige was staying with. They…took him, then?”
He shook his head. “No. That happened in Crux’s home. I caught Sullivan in time. They were still there and shot up the car pretty good. From the blood inside, it appears he was hit. But he got out and sounded fine when he ditched the rental and got a new one.”
“Shot?” I flipped through the pictures stopping at one that showed a sedan’s door open and blood along the bottom part of the seat. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to leave me uneasy. “What about satellite video? I’ve read about something like that. You have to have to feed or recordings. What kind of car did he get into? Where did it go?”
A laugh filled the small room and he pointed to the papers I held. “Keep flipping through.”
More pictures of the car went by and then a black and white photo of Gaige climbing into a black, older looking model sports car. I took in his face. He looked aware, staring into the distance as if he were watching out for people. The next was a shot from pretty high up of the car on the freeway. Two more of the same. Then nothing.
“What happened? Why is that the end of them?”
The seat reclined and he leaned back, closing his eyes. “The only reason we could track him that far was because of the watch he wore. He got rid of it shortly before the last picture was taken. You have to understand, we didn’t take those in real time. There was a delay. By the time we got around to trying to pull him up, he’d exited somewhere and lost us. His phone is unreadable too, so that’s out of the question.”
“Gaige did this intentionally?” My fear was fading into anger. “What the hell was he thinking?”
“No clue. Your guess is as good as mine, Ms. Tanner. Now head to the back and go to sleep. It’s going to be a long flight. You might as well kill some time.”
It wasn’t that long, but I obeyed, laying the folder down where I’d been seated. My brain couldn’t wrap itself around what Gaige had done. Why? What could he do better on his own, without the men who had his back? It didn’t make sense. Yet, Mr. Viceroy didn’t seem to be that worried. What did he know that I didn’t? If Gaige was washing his hands of the law in the regard of not wanting to be seen in what he was doing…I stopped short of the door, my eyes widening. Oh…shit.
He was going after Marco. And not to have him arrested. He was going to kill him.
Chapter 17
Gaige
Three miles away and I had perfect view of Marco’s balcony from where I sat on one of the surrounding hills. The binoculars I looked through could reach up to five miles and I didn’t even have to strain as I watched him sip his coffee a
nd lounge in the morning sun. The white shirt he wore was half way unbuttoned and his feet were propped on the ledge. He looked as relaxed as could be. Like the billionaire he was, without a worry in the world. All it did was piss me off even more.
Sounds of the shot repeated in my head. Crux was dead. I knew he was. I’d seen it for myself, early the next morning. Marco’s men were long gone, but what they’d left behind was nothing short of a bloody disaster. The house had been completely ransacked. The torture had taken place right there in the kitchen. Right next to the table we’d eaten at only hours before. I’d never been responsible for the death of a fellow agent and although I’d taken plenty of lives, there wasn’t any getting over a good man being killed because of me. Maybe I’d lost it temporarily—still—but I wasn’t going to stop until Marco had paid for what he’d done to not only Crux, but Elle.
Movement tore me from my thoughts and he reached over, grabbing his phone from the small table that sat next to him. A smile pulled at the side of his lips and his hand rubbed down his smooth face. I focused on his lips, trying to detect what he could be saying. I was no expert, but I did have training. Unfortunately, I wasn’t doing much better than I had when I’d taken the class.
You’re sure? He stood, saying something as he turned around to pick up his glass. No, keep watching. Call me when…over. Call me when it’s over, I pieced together. What was he up to? When what was over?
He laid the phone back down, his teeth becoming exposed at the large smile that stretched across his face. Juan! That one was harder to make out, but I knew that yell. Had seen him do it when he’d called for the man after he drugged me.
A few seconds passed and he came out to the balcony as Marco sat back down. The speaking was so fast my fatigued brain fought to make out the words. Get ready. Something I couldn’t understand. Elizabeth…home.
I ripped the binoculars down, glancing down at my bag. What the hell had I missed? Had they found her? Had she been taken? I scrambled through the contents, sliding the battery in and powering it on. I’d been so focused, I hadn’t even thought to call.
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