Had Emily’s crimes been remote enough to keep her from being sullied by the darkest sins of Los Zares? Were my feelings for her enough for me to overlook her past and all the lies?
Normally, I had no problem deciding where people stood on the spectrum of good and evil. Whether their lives were more valuable than the bounty on their heads. When it came to Emily, the lines were blurred and foreign. Between the haze of my own emotions and the veil of her lies, I wasn’t sure what to think.
“Did your father go to prison?”
She nodded. “He and many others. My testimony was just the final piece of a much larger case the feds had been working on for months.”
“You know they’ll never let something like that go. They’ll hunt you forever.”
“I know. It’s my uncle, in particular, who will never quit searching for me. He somehow evaded all the charges.”
“Do you think he’s the one who sent people after you?”
“There’s no doubt in my mind. To him, this was personal.”
I could debate the options all night, but I knew in my gut what needed to happen. I had to take her back there. She’d fight me and try to run if I told her what I planned to do, so I’d have to be careful what angle I used. I could drug her and force her back, but it was a long trip cross country. Having her cooperation would be enormously helpful.
I folded my arms across my chest. “Your uncle is the answer. We can’t stay here forever, and you’ll never be free with them hunting you. The only way to be certain we end this is to kill your uncle. You have to go back to Texas.”
Emily jerked to her feet, eyes wide. “You can’t be serious. They’ll kill me for sure. There’s no way I’m going back there.”
“This is one of those things you can’t run from. If you’d been a simple girlfriend running your mouth, that would have been one thing. But as a protected part of their inner circle? They can’t let you turn on them and not suffer consequences. It sends a message to other members that they could do the same. Your uncle will hunt you until the day he dies. You said so yourself.”
“He can hunt, but he won’t find me. I’ll leave the country—go somewhere remote.”
I stood from the kitchen chair and cupped her face with my hands. “They found you once; they’ll do it again. I know these types of people, Emily. You have to listen to me. The only way to end it is to put your uncle in his grave. The others will eventually forget you, but your uncle never will.” It was time for all of it to end, one way or another.
Tears slid down her cheeks. She appeared so innocent and lost—wrapped in her blanket, hair wet and matted—but she was far from it. Lost maybe … but not innocent.
She didn’t like her options, but she had no one to blame but herself. She made her bed, and she would have to lie in it now, even if it was her very own death bed.
Placing a bittersweet kiss on each of her cheeks, I tasted the salt from her tears. I didn’t like seeing her upset, but my feelings were irrelevant. Facts were all that mattered. Her ties to Los Zares. Her willing participation in their organization. There was no escaping what that meant for her, regardless of how much I cared for her.
I hardened my resolve, forcing myself to stay firm. To keep with my convictions.
“I need you to trust me,” I whispered against her lips, well aware that I was lying to her just like she had lied to me.
She nodded, her gaze hardening. “Promise me, if I do this, you’ll help me kill him.”
I’d spent more than a decade perfecting my ability to deceive, so when I smiled and lied to her face, there wasn’t the faintest hint of uncertainty. “You have my word.”
Chapter 22
Emily
We closed up the cabin for winter, and two days later, we were on our way to the Minneapolis airport. Being in a public space brought out the worst of my paranoia. I looked over my shoulder constantly, and everyone seemed suspicious. My palms were clammy, and my stomach a tangled mess of nerves. On top of it all, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a horrible mistake.
I wasn’t certain I agreed with going back to Texas, but at least I wasn’t keeping any more secrets. I’d offered Tamir the last of my ugly truths, and he hadn’t turned his back on me. It was an enormous relief, but I could still feel the intangible presence of a barrier between us, and I had no idea why. I had hoped that if my confession didn’t send him away, that it might give us a chance at something real. A connection. I wasn’t sure I was bold enough to call it love, but whatever it was, I wanted it. I wanted him.
He was protective and passionate. Capable of anything he set his mind to and possessed an understated confidence. He was observant, understanding, and exceptionally patient. He had drawbacks, just like anyone, but nothing overshadowed the collective brilliance of his overall person. My sincere regard for him was the only reason I agreed to go back to Texas. I trusted him.
If only he felt the same way about me. I had hoped that after I’d laid myself bare to him, there would be nothing left between us. But when his hands were on my face, our breath comingling and lips only inches apart, I could feel that barrier in the air between us, keeping us from one another. For a second, I thought he might topple that wall with a single kiss. Instead, he fortified its moorings with the touch of his lips upon each of my cheeks. So close to what I wanted yet so very far away.
I didn’t know what else I could do to redeem myself in his eyes but to lay my life in his hands. It was the ultimate sacrifice, and the one I made by allowing him to take me back to San Antonio.
No more running.
No more lies.
Either Tamir would kill my uncle to keep me safe, and we’d have a chance at a life together, or my uncle would kill me and put an end to the ordeal. One way or another, it would be over.
Tamir told me we’d discuss the plan once we were at the rental house. Considering his past, I had no doubt he could do the job. I just hoped I lived to see it through.
When we stepped off the plane in San Antonio, I couldn’t get my hat and sunglasses on fast enough. I probably looked like a battered woman hiding her black eye, but I didn’t care. Anything was better than being spotted by Los Zares.
“I’ve called in a couple of my friends to help us,” Tamir told me as we walked. “They arrived a couple of hours ago and have a rental car waiting for us out front.”
Help was good. In fact, help made me feel significantly better, but I was curious about who he would feel comfortable pulling into such a dangerous situation.
“Who are we meeting that would be crazy enough to help us? I assumed you severed all your military connections when you fled Israel.”
“Not exactly. It was risky, but I couldn’t leave without reaching out to Uri. I discovered that he and some of the others who knew me well supported what I’d done. I told him where I was going, and when he got out of the service not long after, he followed me to America.”
Tamir led us to a black Escalade parked by the curb at passenger pickup. The front passenger door opened, and a broad-shouldered man slid out, giving Tamir a nod and opening the back door for us.
He was rugged looking with hair buzzed close to his head. He had a beautifully savage aura to him—like he could have walked straight out of a zombie apocalypse edition of an REI catalog. He wore cargo pants with a fitted T-shirt and leather boots and a knife strapped to his belt. His eyes were so squinty, I couldn’t tell what color they were, and his jaw was lined in scruff. The odd thing about him was the sense of familiarity I got when I looked at him. He reminded me of Tamir, in a way, and I could only assume that was the source.
I tore my gaze from the man and cautiously eyed the interior of the vehicle from behind Tamir, noting the driver and one man in the middle row.
“I’ll sit in the back,” I quickly offered.
“Uri, Asaf, Alon, this is Emily.” Tamir introduced me, and all three men tilted their heads in greeting.
I gave a small, half-hearted smile and clim
bed in, shuffling between the two captain’s chairs to the third row. It felt odd to jump into a car full of men I didn’t know, but none of us were interested in a public meet and greet. As soon as Tamir was seated, we left the airport, and the mood in the car eased.
“Tam, it’s good to see you,” said the man in the back seat, holding out his hand for Tamir to shake. “What’s it been, a year now?”
“I think you’re right. Not since I was in LA.”
“It wouldn’t be so long between visits if that asshole would leave the city more,” the driver interjected.
Tamir chuckled. “Just because I don’t come see you three doesn’t mean I don’t get out.”
It was easy to tell they’d all been in the military together. The looked the part with their muscles and serious demeanors, that was, until they dropped their guards and were teasing one another. Their comfortable familiarity eased my tension, especially seeing Tamir smile and joke.
“Emily, this asshole next to me is Alon. He was in our unit but only got out a couple of years ago.”
“Only because you dicks didn’t tell me how great the money was outside,” the man grumbled playfully.
Tamir only shook his head. “Up front is Asaf,” he said, pointing at the passenger, “and Uri is our driver. He’s the one I mentioned earlier.”
“I appreciate y’all coming to help us. To help me. Not many people would be willing to stick their necks out for someone like this.”
“I’m just hurt Tamir mentioned Uri and not me. That’s just wrong, man.” Alon was clearly the comedic relief in the group. He glanced back at me and winked, bringing a genuine smile to my face—the first one I’d worn since our dinner date back in Wisconsin.
The four men launched into an easy conversation about soccer, leaving me free to observe them. My eyes continually wandered back to Asaf, the man in the front passenger seat. He contributed the least to their discussion. Every time my eyes were drawn to him, the little hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
I racked my brain, trying to figure out what it was about him that made me uneasy. Not until he turned back toward Alon did the pieces click into place. The car was angled in just the right direction, facing into the setting sun. When he turned, I got a perfect profile view of him with the sun behind him.
It was the man who had attacked me back in New York.
He wasn’t wearing a hood like he had then, but I would never forget the glimpse of his profile I’d seen that night. I was certain it was the same man.
Adrenaline surged through my veins, spiking my heart rate. I fought to keep my breathing steady and calm as I grappled with the implications of my discovery.
Did Tamir know it was Asaf in that alley? I thought back to that day and recalled how the two men had fought while I’d stood a good ten feet away. They’d been face-to-face, and even in the dim light, Tamir would’ve seen Asaf’s face. These men were like brothers. Tamir had to have known who my attacker was, and if that was the case, the most logical conclusion was they were working together.
Had Tamir set up my attack? Why would he do that? How had he known I was on the run? Did he somehow know my uncle? No, there was no way. It would have been too great a coincidence. But it wouldn’t have surprised me if my uncle had offered money to whoever could find me. Maybe even kill me. Had Tamir somehow learned about the money and decided to collect?
My emotions stirred together in a dangerous cocktail of anger, heartbreak, and fear. I’d spent weeks with Tamir, learning about him and coming to care for him, but with the realization of one lie, I now questioned everything. Had it all been a ruse? Why keep me in the cabin if he intended to turn me over to my uncle? Was it all a ploy to get me to trust him so that I’d march myself straight to my own death without a fight? If so, he’d done a masterful job.
I thought I’d been fooling him, but it was nothing compared to the con job he’d pulled.
Betrayal was a hard pill to swallow. It left the bitter aftertaste of pain and regret swirling around on my tongue. I wanted to hate him. It would have been easier to hand myself over to the emotion than to wallow in the alternative.
Grief.
For what could have been. For what I’d imagined was blossoming between us. With the utterance of a couple of words, it was all gone. My heart constricted so painfully, and I felt a sickening crunch as it collapsed in on itself.
The hour-long drive to the rental house gave me time to collect myself and gather my courage. I was going to need to remain calm if I had any hope of making it out of this alive.
The 1980s ranch-style home was well-kept on the outside and situated deep in a suburban neighborhood, where the houses lazed under enormous oak trees like well-fed cows. The interior had been updated recently, doing away with what had likely been popcorn ceilings and Formica countertops. Instead, white tile floors and granite gave the place a modern feel that I hadn’t expected when pulling up to the curb.
There were three bedrooms and two baths. The guys paired off in two of the bedrooms, leaving me the third. I took a few minutes to freshen up, then joined them in the living room.
“What’s the plan for food tonight?” Uri asked.
“I say we just order takeout,” said Tamir. “We won’t be here long enough to warrant a grocery trip.”
“Sounds like a plan. Tell me what to get, and I’ll go pick it up.”
Tamir glanced at me with a glint of humor in his eye. “I’m told TexMex is delicious, so why don’t we do that? Emily, you have any recommendations?”
It was a sweet gesture, which only twisted the knife in my gut that much deeper. I didn’t let it show. I kept my features schooled and feigned excitement. “One day you’ll have to try a quality sit-down place, but for now, Rosa’s will do. I noticed one not too far from here on our way in.”
Uri took our orders, and within a half hour, he was back. I could hardly eat, but considering our reason for being there, I didn’t think it was all that suspicious. Tamir didn’t mention my lack of appetite as the guys wolfed down their food. I got the feeling it could have been doggy kibble, and they still would have eaten every bite.
“I’m pretty wiped out,” I said as I threw out the remnants of my dinner. “Think I’ll call it a night, unless y’all need me for anything.”
“Go ahead and rest,” Tamir replied. “We’re going to discuss the details for tomorrow. I can give you the rundown in the morning.”
“Sounds good. Thanks again, guys.” I smiled and waved to their chorus of good nights, then made my way back to my bedroom.
The second I was out of sight, I put in my AirPods and flopped onto the bed. Relief and anxiety coursed through me as I listened to the conversation in the living room with perfect clarity. It was a trick I’d learned about from Olivia back in New York. The iPhone had a listen feature that allowed you to use your phone as a listening device, broadcasting whatever was said near the phone to your AirPods. As long as the guys continued their conversation near my phone in the living room, I would hear every word they said.
Thankfully, I’d charged the phone before we left Wisconsin, just in case I needed it. Before I came out of my bedroom, I had turned it on and activated the listen feature, making sure to pull out the sim card first so I couldn’t be tracked. I then nonchalantly stashed the phone on an end table while we were eating.
If they were surprised I didn’t stick around to hear their plan, they didn’t show it. They probably just assumed it was a testament to my absolute trust in Tamir and were glad they didn’t have to answer my questions.
I didn’t want to just hear the plan as they spoon-fed it to me. I wanted to hear the unadulterated version. I wanted to hear what those four men would say when I wasn’t around, and now, I had a front row ticket to the show.
Chapter 23
Tamir
“She certainly doesn’t seem like the standard mark, especially considering the pretty penny they’re willing to pay for her return,” Alon observed after Emily left
the room.
“There’s a lot more to her story than you might think,” I explained.
“You’ve got my attention.”
“Does any of that even matter?”
Alon sat back and grinned. “I don’t know. You tell me.” He was goading me about my feelings for her. If he thought he was going to get a rise out of me, he should have known better.
I breathed deeply through my nose. “No, her past is irrelevant at this point. We’re going forward with the plan like we’ve already discussed.”
Uri interjected, not allowing me to redirect our conversation. “She seems awfully cooperative with all this.” His eyes bore into me, searching deep beneath the surface to questions that had nothing to do with Emily’s level of cooperation. He knew me better than anyone, and he wanted to know just how deep my feelings for her ran.
“She doesn’t know what we intend to do; that’s why she isn’t putting up a fight. I told her we were here to kill her uncle. It was just easier that way. She doesn’t even know about the bounty on her head.”
“It’s a lot of cash,” he pointed out. “Don’t beat yourself up about all of this. Someone would have found her eventually.” He must have detected the guilt I’d been carrying. Only Uri knew me well enough to see past my façade.
I appreciated his sentiment, but it didn’t change anything. “The cash is irrelevant to me. I just want it over.”
“I’m loving this little heart-to-heart,” Asaf grumbled. “But if it’s all the same to you three, I’d like to shower before we get into the nitty-gritty details for tomorrow.”
“Fine, just don’t pass out before we have a chance to go over everything,” I grumbled.
Asaf just grunted in reply.
After food and showers, we reconvened in the master bedroom so as not to disturb Emily. We spent hours going over every piece of intel and all manner of scenarios in excruciating detail. We never went into a mission without doing our homework. It was especially important in this instance since there was such a high probability our actions could result in a gunfight.
Where Loyalties Lie Page 17
