by DiAnn Mills
Over eighteen months ago, he’d met a woman for dinner. It had gone badly. She’d wanted to come home with him, and he declined. Two reasons: one was his mother, and the second was the woman’s aggressiveness. He wasn’t sure why the incident crossed his mind now, except the idea of meeting two women for dinner had him shaking. He’d almost rather meet a couple of bad guys on the other side of town.
Kariss would have to see Tigo standing at her door before she believed he’d accepted the dinner invitation. She hadn’t been serious, and the idea of him meeting Vicki made her a little uneasy. More like nauseous. What if he slipped and talked about the danger she’d gotten herself into?
She picked up her cell and pressed in another text.
PLZ DON’T TELL VICKI ABOUT ARROYOS.
K.
Then he added,
WE NEED 2 LEARN HOW 2 TEXT LIKE KIDS.
Kariss laughed.
WE R FINE 4 OLD PEOPLE.
SZ WHO?
“What’s so funny?” Vicki said as she measured pecans for the food processor.
“Tigo says we need to learn how to text properly.”
“He’s not as bad as you first thought, is he?”
Kariss knew exactly where this conversation was headed, and she didn’t plan to dive into those waters. “I respect who he is and what he’s done for me. And he’s an outstanding agent.”
“How did you get hooked up with him to begin with?”
Kariss reached for a bag of mixed greens in the fridge. “Linc put us together.”
“I see.”
“What does that mean?”
“Maybe Linc had a little matchmaking in mind.”
Kariss snipped the top of the bag and dumped its contents into a colander. Just like she’d snip this conversation. “Special Agent Santiago Harris is not my type. And never could be.”
“Why?”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you ask a lot of questions?”
“Yep. So why wouldn’t you ever be interested in him?”
“He’s the problem-solver type. Wants to fix things, and those things have to be done right.”
“A perfectionist?”
“More than that. Different. Linc told me Tigo held back from taking a leadership role with his current case. But when he did, he weeded through facts and details and approached it like a bulldog. To him, all the solutions for a problem have to be practical and proven.” She sprayed water over the field greens and tossed them lightly. “Which is different from a perfectionist. Worse, I think.”
“I see. So your method of creating characters and stories is totally foreign to him?”
“Yeah. I doubt he’s ever read a novel. No imagination. If a book doesn’t serve a purpose, then he’d not waste his time.”
“Sounds like you understand him pretty well.”
“Only enough to know he’d drive me nuts. I run on feelings and intuition. He runs on theoretically proven facts.”
Vicki laughed. “You’ve gone to great lengths to understand a guy you aren’t interested in.”
“Trust me, you’ll know what I mean when you meet him.” He’d saved her life and acted like a counselor on more than one occasion. But Vicki didn’t need to know any of that. “He’s not a total pain. Just not my type.”
“What is your type?”
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out. For sure, the perfect man of my dreams is not Tigo.”
Within the hour, the man in question arrived wearing designer jeans and a light blue, button-down shirt. When Kariss invited him in, he carried a box of gourmet chocolates.
“Here I am,” he said. “Thanks for the invitation.”
“Sounds like your Friday nights are as interesting as mine.”
He nodded. “Hey, does my mouth look strange?”
She laughed. “In what way?”
He scowled, but she could tell he was faking it. “Had a dentist appointment this afternoon. Want to make sure I look normal.”
“And tell me, Agent Santiago, what is strange and normal for you?”
“Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked a writer.”
“Right.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing again. He could be charming if he put his mind to it.
“I remembered your sister is pregnant, so I brought chocolate instead of wine.”
“Wonderful,” Kariss said. “Dinner will be ready shortly.”
He sniffed. “Smells wonderful.”
“My sister’s the cook in the family. I got a pass on those genes.”
“I thought one of your novels was about a chef?”
How did he know that? “I did my research and flunked a cooking class.”
“Did I hear something about chocolates?” Vicki called from the kitchen. “I want any caramel-cream ones. Bring the notorious FBI agent back to the kitchen. I’m anxious to meet the man who puts up with my sister.”
“You have the situation backward. I put up with his fastidious ways.” Kariss turned to Tigo and lowered her voice. “She has no idea about what’s going on, the mess I’ve gotten into.”
“No problem,” he whispered. “Did you see that I’m nine points ahead of you with my latest word?”
“I just played, and you’re six points behind.”
He grinned. “Not for long.”
“I let you win the other game. Now we’re down to serious business.”
He walked to the kitchen, and she introduced him to Vicki. He lifted the lid off the chocolate box and pointed to one. “That one is caramel filled.”
Vicki wiped her hands on a towel and peered over the box. “How do you know for sure?”
“The lid has a diagram.”
How like Tigo. And her sister thought the two of them could become involved? If anyone was to play matchmaker, Kariss would be the one to hook up Vicki and Tigo.
Kariss observed how easily he talked to Vicki. He complimented her cooking, and the two exchanged recipes. This was not the Tigo Kariss knew. He asked all the appropriate questions about her pregnancy and even wanted to see the empty nursery. After dinner, Vicki showed him the sparse room.
“Kariss and I are going to paint the walls a pale pink.” Vicki’s eyes sparkled, and she looked lovely. “It’s called Blush.”
“And the paint’s the kind that won’t harm you or the baby?” Tigo examined a rose petal. “Of course not. You’re a nurse.”
His phone rang, and he snatched it up like a handyman reaches for his screwdriver. “Yeah. What’s up?” His facial expressions changed to the professional Special Agent Tigo.
Kariss studied him, and she wondered if the caller was Ryan. Tigo captured her attention, and in that moment she knew the call had something to do with the Arroyos.
“I’ll be there within the hour.” He ended the call. “Sorry, ladies, I have a situation to handle. Thanks for a great dinner and company. It’s rare that I have the pleasure of spending an evening with two beautiful women.”
Where had he hidden this gentleman? A second glance at his face showed that he was in think mode, complete with narrowed brows, and she recognized the agent she was accustomed to.
“Thanks for coming,” Vicki said. “Glad to meet you. I appreciate your taking care of my sis.”
He walked down the steps from the second floor and toward the front door.
Kariss followed. “I’m right behind you.”
“Curious?”
“My middle name.”
At the door, he turned to her. “That was Ryan. A fight between the Arroyos and Skulls broke out on the southeast side of town. Four men dead. A fifth man, an Arroyo, is listed in critical condition. I’m meeting Ryan at Ben Taub Hospital to question him.”
If only—
“No, Kariss. I can read your mind. You’re not going. The place will be infiltrated with gang members, drunk and out for blood. Your buddy, Froggie Diego, will be among them.”
She cringed. “I understand.”
He appeared to stare through to her soul.
“Do I have to tell Vicki what’s going on to keep you in one piece?”
“No. I don’t want her worried about a thing. She has enough to think about. I know what happens when an Arroyo is after someone.”
“Good to hear some common sense.”
She tilted her head. “Will you call me later or tell me on Monday what happened?”
“I might. Do you want another tutoring session at the shooting range on Sunday?”
“Yes. I need the practice.”
“I can pick you up around two.” He gave her a smile and brushed her nose with his finger. “If you learn to cook like Vicki, you and I could spend more time together.”
The teasing had returned, along with the charm. “I can speed dial Domino’s Pizza in record time.”
“Go figure.” He left her standing in the doorway.
The urgency to follow him sped through her veins. But the caution factor kept her feet planted inside.
CHAPTER 43
Saturday morning, Kariss woke to the sound of “Great Balls of Fire” on her phone. She moaned — eight o’clock. This was not a work day. Who could be calling at this hour?
The caller ID read “Security gate,” so she answered.
“We have a delivery from Brennan’s. Looks like breakfast, ma’am.”
Just like the incident with the flowers from the preceding night, she hesitated to give the guard permission to let the truck enter.
“I’ll be right there.” She groaned and forced her legs over the bed. Who was the mystery sender? Probably Tigo.
Ten minutes later, she pulled her Prius up to the gate. The boxes stacked outside security looked like a feast for a dozen. On the top box was a card. Dread washed over her. This reeked of another one of Wyatt’s maneuvers to win Vicki over. She tore into the envelope.
Hi Vicki,
I wanted your first morning in your new home to be a celebration. Hope there’s enough breakfast for you, our baby, and Kariss. Tell your sister I appreciate all she’s doing.
Thinking of you.
Wyatt
This had to stop. Her first inclination was to dump the food into the trash … but it smelled so good. And Brennan’s … Vicki would have to handle this. She stared at the boxes, wondering what delicacies awaited their taste buds. She and Vicki could discuss Wyatt’s motivation over this fabulous breakfast. Sort of food for thought.
Beside the delivery boxes stood a huge decanter of fresh-brewed coffee. When she bent to examine it, she saw the two boxes positioned on either side — two crystal coffee mugs from Tiffany’s.
Okay, she’d accept this on behalf of her sister.
“Why do you think he’s displaying such extravagance?” Kariss posed the question to her sister for the second time.
“I’m horribly suspicious. His idea of breakfast was a martini at ten a.m. with two olives.”
Kariss took a generous bite of a strawberry blintz crepe, her second. “Have you thought back through your married life for what he wants? Other than the obvious abortion thing?”
Vicki nodded. “He’s working through a list of how best to get to me. Intimidation by having me followed didn’t work.”
Kariss wouldn’t shatter that supposition since Tigo didn’t know the identity of the woman at the Galleria. “As our grandma always said, ‘Honey goes further than vinegar.’ “
“Not when it comes to my baby.”
Kariss smiled. “Hey, I’m proud of you.”
“Comes with motherhood. Look at how you felt about Cherished Doe. You didn’t give up until the right people got involved. We women are nurturers.”
Vicki had no idea how far she’d gone to help Xavier. “Yeah, I see where your courage is coming from.”
“I forgot to thank Tigo for approaching Wyatt about the Galleria incident. Would you take care of that for me?”
“Already did. Are you going to call Wyatt?”
Vicki nodded. “I won’t be ugly, but I am going to get to the bottom of this.” She took a sip of orange juice. “He’s bought his way through life, and I’m included in that venture. But no more.
I’m not going to abort this baby or give it up for adoption. So he can save his pennies for child support.”
“I wonder if Lissa knows about his … generosity?”
Vicki’s eyes brightened. “Trust me, I’ll use last night and this morning as ammunition. She’s demanding and possessive. I’m sure if she heard about the flowers and food, she’d have him sleeping on the couch.”
“Tell me why they’re attending church?”
“That’s simple. He has a new trophy. Two of them. I’m sure he’s making notes about business the whole time he’s there. I’d love to get someone to ask him about the sermons.”
“So he’s making sure everyone sees him in church and does the forgiveness thing. Then if they have need for a commercial real estate broker, they come to him?”
“Exactly.”
“Vicki, listen to me. I’ve heard you say you’re through with him before. Then he manipulates you into doing whatever he wants. Mom and Dad, me, and the rest of the family are here to support you.”
“Nothing’s going to stop me from providing a good home for my baby — without Wyatt. He cheated on me repeatedly, and he’s probably doing the same with Lissa. I could never trust him again. Not unless God sent a lightning bolt.”
Once they concluded breakfast and refrigerated the leftovers, which would last them a few days, Vicki excused herself to phone Wyatt. Kariss so wanted to listen in, but she wasn’t invited.
Vicki placed a dish towel beside the sink. “I’ll fill you in when I’m finished.”
“I hadn’t said a word about listening in.” Kariss took a deep breath. “But I wanted to.”
“Don’t worry. Taking notes is my specialty, and I’ll jot down things while talking to him. I might need them down the road with legal proceedings.”
Thirty minutes later, Kariss couldn’t wait a moment longer.
She stood at the bottom of the stairway leading up to Vicki’s suite, as she’d decided to term it. Not a sound resonated. “Are you okay?” she shouted up.
“Yes. Still wondering why he’s wasting time and money.”
“Can I be debriefed?”
“Sure. I’ll bring down my notes in just a sec. In short, he feels guilty about the way he’s treated me over the years. Wants to make up for it.”
“Did he toss out a dollar figure?”
“Nope. Just useless platitudes about what a good wife I was.”
“Note the word ‘was.’ “
“And he plans to change churches. Says it’s too hard on Lissa.”
Kariss shook her head. “Pardon me while I throw up. Say, how about pedicures today?”
“Not unless I buy.”
“Then I’ll flip for lunch.”
“Make it dinner. I’ll be stuffed until then.”
Kariss laughed. She’d treasure these special moments with her sister for as long as possible.
Cheeky swam to the other end of his pool and stepped out. Monika handed him a towel, her string bikini reminding him of their encounter earlier in the day, and he was ready again. “Why don’t you go on inside, and I’ll be right there.”
She gave him an alluring smile and disappeared. Women were his passion, and he usually grew bored within a month or so, but not yet with Monika. Not since Delores had he been this consumed with a woman.
He snatched his phone and pressed in Paulo’s number. He trusted Hershey about as much as he trusted a dog, but the man had brought him a legitimate business proposal, one he needed to rid himself of Bates and Masterson. The paper trail checked out — bank accounts, references, clients. But he knew how all that was done, and this could be a setup. Yet if he found a new supplier who saved him thousands of dollars, it was worth the risk. One way to find out, and that was to have a face-to-face with lots of muscle.
Paulo answered on the first ring.
“Got a Monday-night meeting
at the place we spoke about yesterday. I need heavy security.”
“Okay. Followed Bates and Masterson. The two argued about something.”
“Good. Plays into my plans.”
“I think one of them is tipping off the policía about our mules.”
“I don’t pay you to think.” Cheeky narrowed his eyes. He knew Masterson had been seen with a member of the Skulls. “After Monday night, I’ll decide how to dispose of him.” Both men would end up dead. They’d overcharged him long enough, and neither of them had given him the information he needed to eliminate Kariss Walker. Useless.
Saturday afternoon at home, Tigo studied the report from last night’s shooting on his Blackberry. The FIG had given him more information about the gang rivalry between the Arroyos and the Skulls. He still didn’t know what had caused the fight.
The Arroyo who remained in critical condition refused to comment, but Jo-Jack had said the two gangs were vying for the Gulf Coast gun-smuggling market. Although the Arroyos were a larger gang, the Skulls had gained ground by staying under the local law enforcement’s radar. They were like snakes, stealing through the night, silent with deadly intent. Tigo was certain Bates and Masterson were selling to the Arroyos. What would be the benefit of supplying both gangs with weapons? More money? Both smuggled across the border, filling the demands of cartels. Could the same cartel be buying from both gangs? Or did the cartels really care as long as they had their assault rifles and ammo? It made sense that if one gang was paralyzed, the other would fill all the orders. He’d find the answers as he wove into Cheeky’s small circle of business acquaintances.
A text from Ryan alerted him.
HE’S AWAKE.
ON MY WAY.
Tigo checked in with his mother’s nurse and left for the hospital. The victim had refused to give his name, but his prints were in the FBI’s database — José Miguel, wanted for armed robbery and assault in El Paso.
Ryan met Tigo outside Miguel’s room, where two HPD officers guarded the door. Inside the man lay awake. IVs and machines stabilized him after surgery.
