Page 58 of Fixed Asset

“Done,” Tom quickly answered while staring at Jack. “One day you’ll understand why I did this. You should also know Catarina was never in any danger. She had a man on her at all times until she met up with you. Then I knew she was covered and pulled him back.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Jack muttered.

Something hit me.

“I cut the tracking device out of my hip. How’d you find us?”

“Your burners. There are trackers in those too.”

Son of a bitch.

I had three burner phones in my backpack.

I glanced at Pete. “Oops?” I offered.

Total rookie mistake. I’d led Tom directly to us.

“Yeah, Catarina, oops,” he returned dryly.

Tom stood, looked around the room, didn’t offer handshakes or any gesture of the kind, but he did pause on Berta with a thoughtful gaze.

“Everyone is safe?”

“Indeed,” Berta returned.

Tom declined his chin. “Thank you.”

Why in the world was Tom thanking Berta?

I didn’t get a chance to question Tom before he swiftly made his exit.

Then it was Berta and her men who were on their feet, looking impatient to leave.

“Here, lovely.” Berta held out her Desert Eagle to me.

“Berta, I can’t accept that. It’s too much.”

“My gratitude for your help.”

Well, shit. I couldn’t say no to that without being rude.

“I’ll take good care of her,” I promised.

Berta leaned in close and quietly told me, “You don’t take care of her. She will take care of you. Use her wisely with the purest of intentions and think of me every time you pull the trigger.”

This woman was something else. The Angel of Death with a kind spirit and heart.

“I’ll never forget you.”

“We’ll see each other again, Catarina.”

I hoped she was right.

Berta and her men left. Ryan and Aiden came back into the house and were briefed.

Pete was no less on edge when he mentioned Rafael’s name. Fallon and Jack had also picked up on it, but it was Fallon who questioned it.

“What really happened in Juárez?”