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“So’s not getting answers,” she shot back and tried to move away. I locked my grip on her hips.
“I’m in a very dark place,” I admitted, selfishly wanting her body. “I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. I just need time.”
“There you go,” Cole said to someone, and I quickly pressed Ivy away before he saw us and opened the back door for her.
“Thanks.” She took a seat in the back, and I followed. Once settled, I rested my hand on her thigh. She didn’t respond but didn’t move it either.
We had just pulled up to the house when I felt my phone buzz again. I waited until I was inside the door then glanced at it.
Moore: I have news. I’ll call you later. But the son of a bitch has people watching you.
Eric
I stood on my patio and looked out over the city below. I had orders from Castillo that there was another shipment of girls on the way. I would need to contact Chili. He was the only one I sold to.
“Eric!” Alejandro hurried through the door and handed me a letter. I didn’t have to see who it was from. I could tell by his pale face and urgency it was from the boss Castillo himself.
I turned over the sealed envelope and slid the card partway out.
“All good, boss?” He struggled to catch his breath.
“Have the car ready. I need to change.” I handed him the card and raced inside.
The Castillos’ summer house was a three-hour drive, just enough time to figure out what to do if something was wrong. I had two brothers who worked his security team, and they owed me. They once had a sister in trouble, and I was able to get her out of the country. She now lived in Belize. It wasn’t the best situation, but it was better than being married and beaten up by Castillo’s ruthless cousin. They never traced it back to me because I was that good at making people disappear.
“Any idea why he’s asking for you?” Alejandro scanned our surroundings. “Why he’s made it personal by having you come to his home?”
“No.” I really didn’t, and it made me wonder if I should have gone to church first. I glanced at my watch and ran my finger around the band as I read the time.
We pulled off the road and stopped at a set of obnoxious gates, well-guarded and well-armed. I rolled down the back window and handed a guard the card that Castillo had sent to me.
“ID.”
I handed him my ID and my weapon, knowing that was next. He studied the picture and looked at me. I removed my glasses and acted like he wasted my time.
“Can we pass?” I gnawed my toothpick.
“Go,” he ordered, and I plucked my ID from his fingers and pointed at my gun.
“I want that back when I leave.”
“Go.” He hit the butt of the car as Filippo drove through the gates.
“Keep your eyes forward,” I warned him. “If you look nervous, you’ll make them nervous.”
“Yes, boss.” He tried to listen, but I knew he was scared shitless by the way he kept using his shirt to dry his forehead.
“Park over there.” I pointed to the stairs and motioned for Alejandro to step out first. “Stay here, keep the car running, and don’t say shit to anyone.” Filippo nodded a bunch of times as I slipped out, and I threw a curse at the heat that beat down on my head.
“Arms up.” Another guard pointed his weapon in my face while his buddy patted me down and then did the same to Alejandro. “They’re clean.”
Castillo stood at the top of the stairs and watched as we climbed toward him.
“Welcome, Eric. Come. I have someone I’d like you to meet. But you,” he looked at Alejandro, “you need to stay here.” I nodded for him to listen.
Once inside, I felt better in his central air. Christ, I missed air conditioners. I took note of the cameras pointed at me and how many armed guards there were in each room. I knew I had Castillo’s trust, but that didn’t mean I trusted him. Martín Castillo had good reason to be paranoid. Our business was always in the limelight, especially with Americans.
“Drink?” he asked. I nodded, and he snapped his fingers at a woman. Normally, I would decline liquor, but I needed to act like I was comfortable with him. The fact that I wondered why in the hell I had been suddenly summoned to his place, in the middle of the week, had me on edge, as it was unusual that he hadn’t just sent word through his normal channels.
