Entrusted: A Drug of Desire Novel

by Sidney Bristol

  “Because, before a few months ago, I’d never heard of you. Victor never mentioned José, not even once. And why?” Oscar’s pointedly not looking at Victor made the question more ominous.

  What trap was Matías caught in?

  He considered his words carefully before replying. Victor might not be his ally in this situation as he’d assumed, but neither did Matías want to throw the man under the bus. “I would assume that if Victor is doing his job and everything is running smoothly there wouldn’t be a need to mention me. I’ve never caused a problem for you, have I?”

  “Hm.” Oscar shrugged. “I think not. I think Victor has been keeping you to himself. Such a resourceful contact to have in his pocket when he needs to move product. You’ve been valuable to him. So why not mention his star customer?”

  “Star customer?” Matías shook his head. “I move a couple thousand kilos, a few times a year. That’s hardly worth mentioning.” He hadn’t touched his food. This exchange had him too nervous to eat.

  “It’s your resourcefulness we can put to use. It’s getting harder to move product in and out of the States. Yet, you seem to know how.”

  Shit. He didn’t move it, he delivered it to the DEA, who destroyed it. There was a budget for straight buy busts each year, where the drugs were just trashed.

  “I have decided we will to go Panama City. There, we can talk business. Victor put in a flight plan for you to take him and yourself there.” Oscar had it all figured out.

  “Today?” Matías rubbed his chin. On one hand, he needed to get Raven out of this mess. On the other, he couldn’t appear too eager. “I don’t think so.”

  “What’s not to like? A little sun, some tequila and women.”

  “I was supposed to deliver the goods yesterday. I’m already a day behind, and now you want me to take a pleasure trip to Panama? This is highly inconvenient. What game are you playing me at, Victor?” He turned to glare at the other man who shrugged, fingers spread. Victor had also not touched his food.

  “It isn’t a game, José,” Victor said.

  Of course it was. Victor flew him here to knock him off balance. It wasn’t uncommon to use a new airstrip for a meet, but with the greater plan unfolding, Matías could almost count the rising and falling beats of the story. This breakfast was supposed to knock him off balance, then they could take him to Panama, where they would closely observe him to see if he was an enemy in disguise—which he was. These tactics were older than Matías. If all he had to worry about was himself, he’d do it. But he had Raven to think about.

  “We just need a good faith showing, for the others. A day, maybe two. No more,” Oscar said.

  “I will need to make arrangements. This throws all of my deliveries off.” Matías scowled, pulling out his acting skills. Maybe he could figure out a way to take a commercial flight and allow Raven to go home. Get away from this. Him. He didn’t want Victor anywhere near her.

  “Of course. Your flight is not until this afternoon. One o’ clock,” Oscar said.

  One o’ clock?

  Matías glanced at his watch.

  It was nearly ten.

  “If that is the plan, then I must go now. The plane isn’t even prepared.” And with so little time, he might not be able to get a backup plan rolling. He knew without having to ask that his handler and the suits would want him to move forward with this deal. If they knew what was good for them. There was always the chance that something could be amiss back in the States and have everyone in a lock-down tissy.

  “Fine. Victor will have the car brought around.”

  Matías took his leave of the assembled puppets. The only people who really mattered in that room were Oscar and Victor. The rest were there to look important and perhaps throw in a line, given permission, which Oscar had not granted.

  Fuck and double fuck.

  All Matías wanted to do was leave, fly home and say it was a crap job where nothing had gone right, but the truth was—he was more than capable to handle the challenge. The snag came in the form of a woman with dark hair, a luscious ass and more gumption than five women. What was he going to do with her?

  Chapter Seven

  Raven paced the hotel room. From the sound of it, her stomach was about to make a meal of her spleen. Níłch’i was investigating every corner on the off chance he might find something edible and Matías had still not returned. She knew his meeting might take a while, but it didn’t make it any easier to wait. What was worse, she had no way to get back to the airport to make arrangements for a return flight. As the minutes ticked by, her nerves rattled louder and louder until she didn’t know if it was in her head or the door.

  “Raven, open the door.” The hinges squeaked as Matías pounded against it.

  She scampered over and pulled the chair out from under the handle. It swung open immediately. So much for the locks keeping anyone out.

  Matías looked exactly as he had when he left, except there was a tenseness to his face.

  “We need to go now. Don’t ask questions. I’ll tell you when we get to the plane.” He grabbed the dog crate and held it open.

  Raven was so caught off guard she couldn’t even form a single question. She nodded and ushered Níłch’i into his crate. Besides the little dog, she hadn’t brought anything with her. He guided her out with one hand pressed to the small of her back and into one of the same SUVs that had carted them around before. No one said a word as they began the drive. Matías took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze, but no more of an answer about their fate. As they went farther, bits of the terrain became familiar. Were they going back to the airport? Why wouldn’t Matías say anything to her? She didn’t dare break the silence, in case it would bring about some sort of horrible catastrophe.

  They drove for an agonizing half-hour trip back to the airstrip. Every so often, Matías would brush his fingers across her skin or bump her knee with his. Little gestures that broke up her overactive imagination, but were not enough. By the time they unloaded, her teeth were on edge, and every shift and bump in the road made her whole body hurt, especially her tailbone.

  The hangar was already open and a crew was pulling up to fuel the plane. She tamped down on her irritation. The Cargomaster was her plane. Who the hell was giving orders for it?

  Raven strode to the door and unlocked it, eyeing the crew on either side. Matías followed her, carrying the dog crate while she climbed up into the plane. He was right behind her, crowding her in and pulling the door mostly shut.

  “Has the crew cleaned in here?” he asked, glancing around.

  “No, no one could have gotten in here without the keys.” She twirled them on her finger. What the hell was going on?

  “Really?” He held his finger up to his lips and peered around the interior.

  Did he think someone had broken into her plane, and what? Planted a bug? It was an outlandish thought, until she took into consideration who she was traveling with.

  “Why don’t we run over to the food truck I saw on our way in? Bring Níłch’I,” he suggested.

  “I’ve got to stay with the plane while they fuel it up and get a flight plan in.”

  “Don’t worry about the flight plan.” He glanced out of the door.

  “Don’t worry about a flight plan?” She stared at him. Had they served him crazy for breakfast?

  “Yeah, come on. Let’s get something to eat.” Matías nodded toward the door, his eyes large, as if he were trying to communicate without words. Except they were clearly not speaking the same language.

  He really wanted her to go with him. Was it because she hadn’t eaten since last night? Or was there something else going on?

  “All right.” She opened the crate and snapped the leash on Níłch’i, who was starting to look a little tired of their transcontinental travel. The dog was well into his senior years. She knew she’d have to give up flying with him soon, but she wasn’t ready for that yet.

  Matías led the way out of the plane and across t
he tarmac, toward the security building. A food truck had parked outside the chain link fence and a line of airport staff were waiting for food.

  “We’re going to Panama City at one o’ clock. It’s already been planned and everything taken care of,” he said, voice pitched low.

  Raven stared at him, completely clueless. They were going to Panama City? As in, Panama City, Panama? Or Florida? Why? What had happened during breakfast? And what about her?

  Matías glanced at her. “What?”

  “Do I get to ask questions?”

  “Probably better if you didn’t. I met Victor and his boss’ son this morning.”

  “Why do I take it this isn’t a good thing?”

  “He’s a…character.” And from the flat tone of his voice, she doubted he was a Mickey Mouse type character. “Something bad is going to happen, but I don’t know what it is and there isn’t time to call Eddie. Victor will be here soon to ride with us to Panama. Can you make that flight?”

  “I…uh, I’ve never flown that route. Probably. I just, I’m not used to making long hauls.” She wiped her hands on her jeans. She’d studied the maps for hours to make this leg of the journey. She had the ability, but it was her nerves that might give out on her.

  “Wait…what?” Matías slowed, gawking at her. “I thought you and your dad…”

  “No, remember? Hokee and Uncle Danny kyboshed that.”

  “But I thought…you also flew the cargo plane.”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t. Only when Hokee or Uncle Danny can’t. I do little hops.”

  “What are you saying?” Matías stopped and stared at her.

  “This was my longest flight in that plane.” She pushed her hand through her hair. If she could go back and keep those words to herself, she would. But she couldn’t.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. Very serious.”

  “Shit. Are you licensed to even fly it?”

  “Of course I am. I helped fly it from the factory home with my father.”

  “Can you fly to Panama City?”

  “In theory, yes, but I haven’t. And which Panama City are we going to?”

  “Fuck me. Panama, Panama City.” Matías scrubbed his hand over his face. “Fine, let’s get some food, and then what do you need?”

  “I just need to look at my maps. I can do this, I just wish you could have given me more of a heads up.”

  “Did Eddie know?”

  “Know what?”

  “You didn’t know how to fly a cargo plane?”

  “Hey.” She grabbed him by the arm, but he was too strong for her to jerk around, so she just held onto him. “I can fucking fly. I’ve logged plenty of hours in that plane, but I thought I should let you know surprising me with a trip to Panama City wasn’t the greatest idea.”

  “I don’t need surprises right now.”

  “You don’t?” She laughed and let go of him. “Talk to me when you pull your head out of your ass and realize you aren’t the only one screwed over here.”

  She stalked ahead of him. The heat radiating up from the pavement had nothing on her anger.

  They stood in the line, silent, neither looking at each other. Matías could be angry at her all he wanted. She was licensed to fly the cargo plane, and she’d been flying for nearly fifteen years. Going a new route made her nervous. So, what? She was entitled to her emotions, and damn him for only thinking about how it impacted his precious mission. She was caught up in a situation she wanted nothing to do with.

  She ordered and stepped aside, taking a detour to a bit of grass for Níłch’i. Matías took forever talking with the truck cook. By the time they left, they had three large bags of food. She wondered if it was necessary, but she wasn’t about to strike up conversation.

  Halfway back to the hangar, Matías sighed and actually looked at her. “Look, I’m sorry I’m being hard on you, but this is a sensitive situation.”

  “I get it, just try to be a little less of an ass, okay?”

  He glanced at her and the corners of his mouth curled upward. “Deal. I was out of line. I just…thought… Forget it.”

  God, why did he have to be so cute when he smiled?

  He slowed his pace and she matched him. “How are you doing after last night?”

  “Fine. I have questions, but they can wait.”

  “I’ll make sure we have decent accommodations, tonight. I know people in Panama at least. It’s a pretty popular place for deals like this. I’m surprised we’re going there, since the DEA has such a big presence there.”

  “At least I’m getting an education.” She pointed at his bags. “What all did you get?”

  “Supplies.” He stared straight ahead when he said it.

  Had she just missed a super spy swap? Was that what he was doing? She wanted to turn around and stare at the truck, see if there was anything special about it, but she didn’t. Anything she did could be a tip off to someone watching them, and as she’d learned that morning, someone was always watching.

  “Raven?” Matías paused at the foot of the stairs.

  “Hm?”

  “Thanks.”

  Thanks for…?

  He bent and pressed his lips to hers, stealing her breath and shocking her down to her toes. She’d dreamt about kissing him. It’d been one of her top five fantasies of all time. And now…here he was. He was warm and his mouth moved against hers, teasing. She leaned into the kiss and opened her mouth, drinking him in. Finally!

  “Don’t let me bother you two love birds.”

  She jerked away from Matías and stared at the man she’d met yesterday. Victor.

  It was a show. For Victor.

  He hadn’t really kissed her to kiss her. It was an act. Part of their cover.

  God, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. This slinging back and forth between drastic emotions was tearing her up inside.

  Matías stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body.

  “Here, let me take that for you,” she said, and reached for his bags.

  Matías handed them over and she scurried up the stairs, casting about for a place to stash whatever he’d picked up, and tried to ignore her bruised ego. It looked like she’d gotten her wish—she was now an unintentional undercover something, and it sucked. Now, if she could just figure out how to get them to Panama City in one piece.

  Matías strode through the busy streets, staring through the fashionable shoppers of Panama City, searching for a woman with cinnamon skin and blue-black hair. If he had to be stuck with anyone as his sidekick for this op, he was glad it was Raven. Not only was she quick on her feet and spoke fluent Spanish, he didn’t have to coddle her. Being able to turn her lose in the relatively safe retail area with a list of clothes, supplies and toiletries to purchase was a relief. And yet, every moment she was not by his side made him want to tear through people until he found her.

  He wanted to be near her, brush his fingers on her arm, her hair whispering across his skin, anything to know she was there. He was fixating on her. She’d become important to him, first over time as a friend, someone he enjoyed being around and now…he didn’t know what they were. What they could be. If they should even be anything. Sure, he knew that the stressors of the job and having only each other to rely on out in the field forged a bond of necessity, but he gravitated toward her. And therein lay the problem.

  He liked her.

  More than liked her.

  It’d been there for ages, simmering just below the surface. He could ignore it when he’d only seen her on occasion. She was a breath of fresh air. Something good. And he wanted to hold onto that.

  He sure as hell respected her. How many things had he thrown at her? And she’d adapted and moved on. Most women in her situation would have at least had one bout of hysterics.

  Matías paused on yet another street corner and peered around. Though he’d bought them both new burner phones, the last message he’d received from her had been a wa
rning that the pre-charged battery was dying. Lot of good a dead phone was going to do him. Unfortunately, they couldn’t keep the old phones. The risk of being tracked was too great. Victor would undoubtedly have someone at work to tap their phones, just to keep tabs on them.

  He strode down the main avenue through the shops. To his right, an archway led into a courtyard with a fountain and a bit of grass.

  Grass.

  Fuck.

  Why hadn’t he thought to look for that sooner?

  Sitting on the edge of the fountain, surrounded by shopping bags and a deflated wiener dog, was Raven. She’d changed into capris and a T-shirt. At a glance, he might have passed her by. With her hair up in a bun and sunglasses hiding half her face, she blended in well.

  She waved at him, but made no move to get up.

  “Any luck?” she asked him as he neared.

  “Found a place not far from here. How’d your day go?” He stepped over the bags and sat next to her, close enough that his knee touched hers. Sleeping next to her last night had calmed the demons that haunted his dreams and for the first time in months, he’d rested in relative peace.

  “I think I got everything. Hope you like what I picked out for you.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine.”

  She wrinkled her nose and he chuckled. José had to dress with certain flair. It wasn’t how Matías would chose to dress himself, but they weren’t the ones who mattered. Victor—and now Oscar—were the ones they had to continue to convince they weren’t feds, which was proving to be a harder job than Matías had expected.

  “Can we go now? Or is there something else we have to do?” She was getting good at being circumspect and vague with her questions, as if she’d been born to be in this life. It made his job easier, but he hoped this didn’t appeal to her. His time on this gig was running out, and then he was done.

  He glanced around the courtyard, but they were alone save for an elderly couple playing chess. It was a quiet little haven in the middle of all the hustle and bustle.

  “No tail?” he asked.