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Rachel leaned closer, her breath hot against Pablo's cheek. She could feel the tension in his body, like a rope pulled to its limit. "Tell me more," she demanded, her tone allowing no room for refusal.
Pablo's lips parted, hesitation flickering across his face. But he seemed to realize a woman had cornered him in a dark alley. A woman who wasn't going anywhere and who'd managed to overpower him.
Men like this weren't fighters.
Not when they were matched.
Then, defeat sagged his shoulders, and he whispered, "There was a group... a cartel. They bankrolled the whole damn thing. But I don't know much about them."
"A cartel? You're sure?"
"Hell yeah. I don't mess with cartels."
The revelation hit Rachel like a physical blow, her heart pounding a fierce rhythm against her ribs. A cartel—this was bigger than she'd imagined. Her mind spun, circling the new lead like a shark scenting blood in the water.
"Which cartel?" The question was out before she could weigh the danger, but she didn't care. Answers were within reach.
"Doesn't matter now," Pablo coughed out, grimacing as though the words caused him pain. "They're shadows—you won't find them."
"Which cartel," Rachel spat, conviction steeling her voice.
Pablo hesitated, his eyes darting around the alley as if searching for an escape route. But Rachel's grip held him firmly in place, her strength overpowering his feeble attempts to break free.
"Las Serpientes," he finally whispered, his voice barely audible. "But you can't say who told you. You can't!"
Rachel's heart skipped a beat. Las Serpientes were infamous, a ruthless cartel known for their brutality and their iron grip on human smuggling across the border near Nuevo Laredo plaza, the most lucrative smuggling channel.
"Tell me everything you know about Las Serpientes," Rachel demanded, her voice low but firm.
Pablo swallowed nervously, his eyes flickering with fear. "I've only heard what most know," he admitted. "But they're involved in everything—drug smuggling, human trafficking, even political assassinations. They control it all. Like I said, they were before my time. Who are you? A fed?"
Rachel's mind raced as she processed the information. Las Serpientes had their tendrils in every dark corner of society. But could they be involved with her parents?
It sounded so farfetched. But now this was two criminals who tied her parents' name to this apparent heist.
Pablo hesitated once again before speaking cautiously. "They orchestrated it," he revealed, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Blackwoods were part of it, but I don't know much more."
"Who told you all this? Benny?"
He sealed his lips now, just staring at her, his eyes full of anger. He was struggling again.
But she could tell she'd struck a nerve.
Benny Carter had told him.
Benny Carter had also told her.
Which meant... what?
Benny Carter was the only source of information. But she needed a corroborating voice.
Las Serpientes?
It was a dangerous game to tangle with a cartel.
She spat in derision and pushed to her feet.
In the distance, she thought she heard a siren. She didn't need to tangle with local PD. Not this early in the morning.
