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Ruben nods. “He would.”
I drum my fingers on the counter. “Billie tracked him down through his new girlfriend. Apparently, this girlfriend wasn’t taught to keep her mouth shut. I want you to see what you can find. Figure out where Demarco is now. If he knows he was made, he’s on the move.”
“I can do that. Do you want anyone else involved?”
For a few moments, I consider it.
There aren’t many people I trust entirely in the cartel. I don’t want to have to worry about people Demarco has planted feeding information about my search back to him.
There is no doubt in my mind that he has at least one person in the cartel who feeds him information. People are easily bought when they think there is something better out there.
“No. Keep it to yourself for now. I don’t want more people involved in this mess than there have to be.”
“What other information do you want?”
I get up from the island and pour myself a cup of coffee.
Once Ruben leaves, I won’t be able to go back to sleep. “Dig up everything you can. I want to know every single thing that has happened during his life. Anything could be relevant to how he is going to come after me. I need to be able to get inside his mind.”
“I’ll see what I can find on him, but if he’s been able to hide for this long without us finding him, I doubt it is going to be easy to do so now.”
I nod, taking a long sip of my coffee. “See what Billie knows. She might be able to go back to the woman and dig up some more information. I’m sure that she’d be more than happy to coordinate with you.”
Ruben pulls out his phone and sends a message to Billie before looking back at me. “Demarco is going to be a problem. Now that you know he’s alive, he’s likely going to be planning a big move soon.”
“I know. Make sure that the security detail with Zoe is made up of the best men we have. Between her father and now Demarco, there are going to be more people coming after her. I want to make sure that there isn’t the slightest chance that any of them can get to her.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“See that you do.” I finish the cup of coffee and pour another. “Make sure that Camila is protected too. Double her detail. If Demarco can’t get to me, he might try to go after Camila.”
“You’re the one he has the problem with.” Ruben gets up from his seat and yawns. “He used to have a soft spot for her when we were all growing up. If there is anyone you don’t have to be worried about, I’m sure it’s Camila.”
“I’m still going to worry about her.” I sigh and lean against the counter. “I want this all dealt with. I don’t want to spend another year of my life worrying that I’m going to die or that Camila is. Track down Demarco as fast as possible and end this.”
Ruden nods before heading for the door.
I watch him leave before dumping the rest of the coffee down the drain. My stomach ties itself into knots as I think about what’s going to happen next.
I have to find Demarco before he finds me. Before he takes away the only people left in the world that I care about.
14
ZOE
“I still can’t believe that Joe was able to hook me up with this job.” I look over the contract again. “Performing at La Neige has been a dream of mine since I started singing in Nashville.”
Christian nods and glances at my signature on the bottom of the paperwork. “I still wish that you would stick to one bar right now. I’m happy for you, but there is still the threat of whoever it was that broke into the house.”
“And whatever else it is you’re not telling me. Like who that man was you met in the bar the other night. Or why you got up in the middle of the night and had Ruben in the kitchen.”
Christian’s jaw clenches. “That was about the men who are after me. They’re getting worse. There’s more to be worried about. I want to see you succeed, but not if it puts you in more danger.”
“This is a big chance for me,” I say, taking a deep breath. “But if you really think that this is a terrible idea, I won’t do it. I can tear up the paperwork, and we can leave right now.”
If Christian really thinks that being at two bars a week is that dangerous—even with the security detail—then I’ll take a step back from performing. I’ll stay home and work on writing more songs.
It will kill me inside, I won’t lie, but truth is to perform, I need to be alive.
