Alex stood and stepped away from Nate. Had she invited Ben along for the ride, or did Nate have Joe to thank for that? In any case, their conversation was over.
“Great,” Nate muttered under his breath.
Chapter 12
IT WAS LATE morning by the time they pulled out of the campground and headed toward Nogales. Joe had texted the rendezvous point a few minutes ago. There’d be plenty of time to cross the border, blending in with the Friday afternoon tourist crowd. After they met up, Joe would want to make sure Alex was familiar with the plan and had a contingency for everything that could possibly go wrong. Right. Good luck with that.
Alex sat on the sofa with her legs drawn up beneath her, leaving the front passenger seat open for Ben. She should have ignored the dismayed frown Nate directed her way as Ben settled in, but she couldn’t resist the urge to grin. Nate’s sad eyes held her gaze for a moment, and then he swiveled to face the front.
It was obvious Ben wasn’t on Nate’s list of favorite people, but that wasn’t Alex’s problem. She would have to talk to him eventually—explain her decision and why it was the best thing for both of them, but she wasn’t ready yet. For now, Marco deserved all of her focus, so Nate would have to figure out a way to coexist with Ben.
Relief at the temporary respite gave way to guilt—for disappointing Nate, for hurting him, for being a total coward—and left her feeling like a first-class bitch. None of this was his fault. So what if he’d whispered something in his sleep that set her head spinning. If she’d acted like an adult for once . . . If she’d talked it out with him . . . Instead, she’d purposely avoided him ever since Ben interrupted them by the lake.
Truth was, in the light of day and with benefit of hindsight, the whole incident seemed like a childish game. She’d placed way too much importance on those whispered words, and then she’d made it a hundred times worse. She’d told him they were through, and she’d seen the hurt settle into his eyes.
Traffic was heavy, and they reached the city limits in a caravan of four RVs headed south. Nogales reminded her of Hong Kong in many ways. A shiver stole over her before she caught herself. Today was not the day to show weakness, but a premonition had been born and darkness seemed to invade her soul.
The closer they came to the border, the more squalid were the living conditions. Mexican families seemed to be in the majority, their beautiful children playing in fenceless, grassless dirt pits outside each ramshackle home. Many of these families had probably crossed the border, which was literally less than two blocks away, in search of a better life on the American side. Her heart ached for them even as she applauded their determination to find something better for their children.
“You’ll want to park in one of those lots up ahead.” Ben leaned forward and gestured for Nate to turn.
“You’re kidding, right? We’re not driving over the border?” Nate heaved a sigh and swore under his breath.
“We’ll walk across. Just a family going over for a day of shopping. They won’t look twice. If we drive, and they decide to search the vehicle, that could be trouble. Guns, and even ammo, are taboo. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in a Mexican prison?” Ben waved a hand toward the parking lot and Nate pulled in, handing the attendant a five-dollar bill.
Once Nate found a place big enough to park the motor home, the next few minutes were spent with Ben dictating what they should and shouldn’t bring with them. Basically, it boiled down to the weapons they could conceal on their bodies and a tote bag that could be mistaken for Alex’s purse. She was fine with that. All she needed was the knife secreted in her boot.
Nate grumbled, but shoved his forty-five in his back waistband and handed two extra clips to Alex for her bag.
“I hope everyone brought a passport. If everything goes right, we won’t need them, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.” Ben turned to look at them, his hand on the door latch.
“Mine’s not exactly . . .” Alex shrugged and looked away. Hers was as legitimate as it was likely to get when you didn’t know who you were and had no proof you were ever born.
Ben grunted. “If Joe got it for you, it’ll pass inspection.”
Alex smiled slightly. She appreciated Ben’s vote of confidence more than he could know.
“Now, remember,” Ben said as they left the RV and strode toward the turnstiles ahead. “Happy family—shopping trip. You guys think you can handle that?”
Nate scowled, stepped alongside her, and slid his arm around her shoulders. “No problem. Right, honey?”
Alex clenched her jaw against the guilt that washed over her and chose not to engage. He appeared to be looking for a fight and all of her energy was already spoken for. She even gave him a smile and a hug as they passed through the turnstiles. The border guards didn’t look twice.
Nate dialed a number on his cell phone, spoke briefly, and five minutes later, Jimmy pulled up alongside them in a Jeep. His big grin and friendly face were a welcome sight. She climbed into the front seat and gave him a huge hug.
“You okay?” Jimmy threw a curious glance her way.
“Never better.” Alex smiled and squeezed his hand. It wasn’t quite a lie, since seeing him did lift her spirits.
Nate and Ben jumped into the back. Nate made the introductions and Jimmy pulled onto the narrow roadway. The street was lined with pharmacies and small shops painted in bright colors. Vendors followed the new visitors and pitched their wares. It was a trap for tourists, and any customers who purchased items here would no doubt be sorry later when they found the more low-key shops a few blocks away.
The busy streets distracted Alex until they left it behind for the peace of the countryside. After a few minutes, Jimmy turned down a long drive, surrounded by lush, green pastures. A large hacienda loomed ahead of them.
She hitched an eyebrow. “I see you and Joe have been slumming.”
“Well, someone had to take the shit detail.” Jimmy slowed and parked beside Walker’s Jeep and a white SUV.
Joe and Walker emerged from the house as Alex stepped out of the Jeep. A tall, dark-skinned, well-dressed man, about forty-five, followed them out. Joe shook hands with Ben, slapped Nate on the shoulder, and chucked her under the chin. She resisted the inclination to kick him in the leg. Might as well get used to it—he would probably always treat her like a child.
“Meet Ramon Batista. He’s our host and an old friend of mine.” Joe nodded toward the dark-skinned man.
Ben and Nate introduced themselves and shook hands with Ramon, and then his curious gaze came to rest on her. “Sí, por favor, make yourselves comfortable in my home while you’re here.”
Ramon stepped toward her, amusement dancing in his dark eyes, and reached for her hand. “And you must be Alex. Joe speaks highly of you, and I was hoping to get a chance to meet you.”
Alex’s spine stiffened and she cast a reproachful glance toward Joe. What would he tell this stranger about her? Her past wasn’t exactly appropriate conversation for polite company.
Walker obviously caught the mortification on her face and tried to cover the awkward moment. “Careful, Ramon. You’ll get Joe in trouble with talk like that.”
“Aw . . . don’t be angry with my old friend. He didn’t tell me anything I can’t see for myself.” Ramon winked, leaned closer, and lowered his voice. “The rest I will learn when we have a chance to get to know each other better.”
Good Lord! Was he coming on to her? Obviously, Joe didn’t tell him enough or he would have known to keep his distance. In any case, it would take a whole lot more than smooth talk to impress her. All his verbal ooze did was make her lips twitch in an effort not to laugh. The words poised on the tip of her tongue would have deflated his sizable ego and probably pissed Joe off, but that wasn’t what stopped her.
In her peripheral vision, Nate stood with hands on hips, his ches
t puffed out, and a severe scowl making his thoughts obvious. He shot daggers at their host, and the poor man was oblivious. Normally, she would never have stooped to playing games, but Nate had no claim on her, and the sooner he got that through his head, the better off he would be. Some harmless flirting with Ramon might drive her point home.
Alex smiled as Ramon raised her hand to his lips. “I’ll look forward to it. Thank you for your hospitality. Your home is beautiful.”
“It would be my privilege to show you the rest of it.” He kept her hand and turned her toward the house. “Joe, I won’t keep her long. Just a short tour, por favor?”
“Ten minutes.” Joe waved them off.
Crap! Ramon wasn’t supposed to call her bluff immediately, nor should Joe have been in favor of a friggin’ walkabout with their mission looming on the horizon. Now she was stuck alone with this guy and she didn’t give a damn about a tour of his house. Jimmy rolled his eyes and shook his head at her beseeching stare when she passed him. He wasn’t about to throw her a lifeline. Obviously, he’d seen through her sham and figured she’d gotten what she deserved. The worst part was, he was right.
Regardless, the hacienda was gorgeous. From the indoor courtyard, to the Olympic-sized swimming pool, to the grand staircase leading to twenty-two guest bedrooms, each with its own veranda, the design and layout of the mansion was opulent and lavish. Compared to the impoverished homes a short distance away, its wastefulness made her nauseous. Even so, she might have been able to conjure some appreciation for its grace and elegance if only her mind hadn’t been otherwise occupied with Joe and the rest of the team, Marco and the mission, and Nate and the abysmal way she’d treated him. An ache started behind her eyes and grew until surely her head would burst if she didn’t get some peace and quiet soon.
Alex smiled and nodded in all the right places as Ramon pointed out each grandiose embellishment. He was their host, and as such, was due a large measure of respect and appreciation, but she checked her watch often and, when the ten minutes were up, he seemed in no hurry to cut their tour short.
“I really should get back. Joe will be anxious to get started.”
“One more thing I would like to show you before we go downstairs.” Ramon didn’t give her a chance to protest, a firm hand on her back guiding her toward the end of a long corridor on the second floor.
“Alex?”
She stopped and spun toward the voice.
Nate appeared at the top of the stairs and started down the wide hall toward them. “Joe wants us all in the courtyard. Are you about finished?” His gaze swept over her and Ramon, and a muscle ticked in his jaw.
With a wave of dismissal, Ramon resumed his trek down the corridor. “We’ll only be a few more minutes. Tell Joe I’ll bring her back as soon as I can.”
Embarrassed, angry, and frustrated, Alex couldn’t take any more. She probably deserved this caveman treatment, trying to use Ramon to discourage Nate. Her face flushed with heat at the adolescent nature of her actions. It hadn’t been fair to Ramon, and odds were pretty good Nate had already figured out what she was trying to do.
When Ramon tugged on her again, she planted her feet and jerked her arm from his grasp. “Thank you for the tour, Señor Batista, but I really have to go now.”
Ramon swept his gaze from her to Nate and back again. His bronzed skin turned a shade darker and he laid a hand on his heart. “My apologies, señorita. You are right. I’ve kept you long enough.” He executed a slight bow and continued down the hall without a backward glance.
Ramon’s abrupt departure was stiff and hurried. No doubt she’d humiliated the man in his own home, irreparably damaging Joe’s relationship with his old friend. When Joe found out why, there’d be hell to pay. For now, though, she was immensely relieved to be free of Señor Ramon Batista.
She fell in beside Nate, and they descended the stairs together.
When they were out of Ramon’s hearing, Alex stopped and turned to Nate. “Thank you. I didn’t want to offend him. I appreciate you coming to find me.”
“Like I said, Joe wants to get started.” His blue eyes blazed with anger. “You think I don’t know why you were hanging all over Batista?”
“Hanging on him? Why you—”
“Save it, darlin’. You knew exactly what you were doing. Anything to keep from having to finish the conversation we started outside Ben’s store. The one where you were going to tell me what went wrong.” His bitterness crackled like a high-voltage current. “But since you’re obviously set on getting yourself killed today, I guess there’s not much sense in having that discussion.” Nate whirled and strode out into the courtyard.
The crushing weight of regret gripped her. She crossed her arms in an effort to ward off the chill that suddenly washed over her skin. Alex barely resisted the urge to glance down and see if the knife he’d just thrust into her heart was visible. Oh yeah—she so deserved that. She’d wanted him mad enough to realize they weren’t good for each other, but it’d been easier than she imagined. What she hadn’t counted on was the instant prickling of tears behind her eyes, or the emptiness in her heart, or the sense of loss so strong it threatened to buckle her knees.
For a few seconds, she concentrated on nothing but breathing. When she’d mastered that, she straightened her spine, pasted on the semblance of a smile, and followed Nate into the courtyard.
Rayna was the first person Alex saw, and by her expression, she’d guessed that Alex’s smile was merely a façade and that all was not well. The scathing glance her friend shot at Nate was further evidence. As Rayna hurried toward her, a deep frown pulled her brows together.
Alex hugged her warmly. “Stop that, Rayna. I swear, one of these days you’re going to regret those worry wrinkles.” That earned her the bare minimum of a smile, but the concern was still there in Rayna’s eyes.
“Yeah? Well, when we have more time, we’ll talk about all the things you should probably stop doing.” Rayna stepped back and studied her. “Are you okay, Alex?”
“Whenever you two are finished, we’ll get started.” Joe stood beside a large glass table in the center of a tiled patio, his arms folded across his chest. Walker already sat in one of the half-dozen chairs that surrounded the table, and Ben took a seat beside him.
Rayna smirked and rolled her eyes. “Later,” she said, and then scurried to where Ty leaned against a brick enclosure that surrounded a large gas barbecue grill.
Alex watched her friend slide in next to Ty and the possessive way his arm went around her, pinning her to his side. The joy on Rayna’s face told the story of her happy ending, and Alex couldn’t be more ecstatic for them. Her happiness, however, didn’t preclude her being slightly jealous as well.
She would never have what they had. Short-term, shallow affairs, snatched in the heat of the moment and extinguished before the flames could get out of hand—and before she had a chance to do permanent damage with her instability—were what she had to look forward to, if that. Her gaze drifted to Nate as she slid into a chair beside Jimmy.
Nate sat off to the side, away from everyone else, the brim of his hat pulled so low she couldn’t tell where he looked or even if his eyes were open. His aloofness created a virtual force field around him that no one seemed inclined to breach. Getting involved with Nate had probably been a mistake for both of them. If Nate didn’t realize that yet, he would soon, judging by the look of him. Alex understood it only too well, but she still couldn’t bring herself to regret their time together.
“Okay, listen up.” Joe’s gaze settled on her for a moment, and she felt the assessing weight of it.
He would read nothing. She’d already retreated behind the mask that had served her so well in captivity. Emotions didn’t exist there. They couldn’t if she planned to survive.
“Diego’s estate is about thirty minutes south. His house and courtyard are surr
ounded by an eight-foot stone wall. He’s got men and surveillance cameras in strategic locations.” Joe turned and pointed to a map on the table, and everyone except Nate stepped forward to get a look. “Walker cased the layout and located a rock outcropping with vantage points for snipers. We’ll need long-range weapons, which Ramon has agreed to supply.” He nodded toward the arched entryway between the courtyard and the enclosed part of the hacienda. “Señor Batista provides weapons for the Mexican military and law enforcement. He’s just received a shipment that he’s willing to let us try out.”
Alex glanced over her shoulder to see Ramon appear, flashing his vote-for-me smile, and she couldn’t help speculating what Joe’s friendship with the man was based upon.
“I’m guessing Diego and his men will meet us outside the wall and demand we send Alex in alone for the boy. Marco is his bargaining chip, and he’ll be prepared to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He also likely knows that if he kills Marco, he’s suddenly very vulnerable, and he’s not going to want that.
“We’ll insist they bring the boy into the courtyard. Alex won’t go to meet Diego alone. Jim will go with her.”
Nate sat forward in his chair.
“I made that decision because they’ll no doubt be searched. Jim can get by without a weapon going in, and if he needs one later, he can take one from Diego’s thugs.” Joe glanced toward Nate, but Nate only sat back again and crossed his ankles.
“As soon as Alex can grab Marco and get him out of the way, we’ll back them up until everyone gets outside the wall. Rayna and Walker—you’re on sniper duty. If necessary, take out the men on the roof first. Then protect our people. Don’t forget we’ve got a man on the inside. Ben, you’re the only one who won’t recognize Sanchez, so you’re going to coordinate things from outside and be there when the local authorities arrive.”
Whatever It Takes Page 18
