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“Thanks for the introduction, guys. I think you scared her more.” David gave her a gentle smile and grabbed her hand and kissed it gallantly. “You are even more beautiful in person, Miss Lopez. I have seen many of your pictures.”
Anna blushed and whispered her thanks. “Please, call me Anna.”
Blake pulled Anna’s hand out of the way and told David to sit way across the room, making him laugh.
“What do you mean pictures?” Victor questioned.
“Santiago Martinez is a wealthy man. He owns two of the most successful casinos in Reno and is constantly followed by the media. As his live-in girlfriend, so is Miss Lopez. She can’t go places without guards or reporters following her. So far he has explained her absence by saying she is on a vacation but I think the press is wondering why you have disappeared from the scene.” He pulled out a newspaper clipping of her stepping out of a limo with Santiago and his guards and one of her cutting the ribbon at the new medical center Santiago helped to fund. He loved any publicity that made him look good.
They all looked at it except Anna. She didn’t want to be reminded of Santiago, even in a picture.
“I know a little bit of basic information about you, Anna. You are twenty-six years old and the live-in girlfriend of Santiago Martinez. You run a lot of his charities and the people you deal with speak highly of your kindness. You make him look good and people tend to forget he is nothing but a crook.”
“Ex.” She stressed that word but he wasn’t telling her anything new.
“Of course, sorry,” he corrected. “Are the charities on the up and up?”
She looked anxiously at the men seated around the room then at Blake. “Can I speak freely?”
Blake nodded and held her hand waiting for her to speak.
“Yes, because I am in charge. I insisted they be legal and Santiago finally agreed. It made him look good with the press and he has the money to spend. I know not everything in his business dealings is legal, but I did my best to stay out of the way. That was the only way to stay alive. I admit in the beginning I saw Santiago through rose-colored glasses. As time went on I saw the real him but by then I was stuck in the relationship. I was never allowed to go out alone, only with him or his guards,” she said sadly. The choices she had made in her life led her here and she had only herself to blame. She didn’t have time to sit around feeling sorry for herself. If she could, she had to get out of this and make better choices in the future.
“Do you have any evidence? Blake told me you witnessed one of his men gun your friend down but it will be hard to pin that on Santiago. His men are known for their loyalty,” David said, looking at her with sympathy when she agreed.
Anna stood up and paced. She bit her nails while thinking about something. She finally looked at David. “I do have some copies of papers of shady deals and recordings in my safe deposit box back home. Ben kept an account open for me in his name. I have money and information that I planned on using to get away from him. If I go to Reno, I can give it to you. It might be worth the risk.”
“Do you know Benito Morales?”
Anna shook her head. “I know the name but I never met him. He’s Santiago’s business partner but he also deals with drugs, big shipments. Whenever they had a meeting together, Santiago would send me away with some guards. He said Benito was ruthless and untrustworthy and he didn’t want me around him.”
David nodded. “That’s true.”
He looked at Blake as if knowing Blake would refute his statement. “Guess me and Anna are headed to Reno. This is the only way for her to have something against Santiago. If the information is good, then I can involve my bosses and do this the right way.”
“Or we could just go to Reno and just shoot his ass,” Sam volunteered seriously. “He has so many enemies they won’t know who did it.”
Anna smiled. “I like Sam’s plan. Simple and quick.”
Blake rolled his eyes. “Don’t encourage him, honey. Sam loves using his guns way too much.”
David laughed. “Let’s try the legal way first. Then I’ll help Sam with his plan if plan A fails.”
“I’m going with you to Reno. No way is Anna going alone,” Blake stated firmly.
Anna hugged Blake around the waist, leaning into his warm, hard body. She would love to have him near her but she also didn’t want him to get in the crossfire. “Maybe you should wait here for me where it is safe. If you want, I can come back.”
“Anna, believe it or not I can take care of myself. You are putting a dent in my macho image.” He seemed amused at her worried look.
“I know you’re tough, Blake. I was actually scared of you that first day and wondered if you worked for Santiago. I could easily see you as one of his muscle men. But a bullet can kill anyone, even big muscled men like you.” She crossed her arms across her chest stubbornly. “Santiago’s men won’t hesitate to kill anyone or fight without honor. I already lost my best friend. I don’t think I can stand to lose you, too.”
“What if you’re in disguise, Anna?” Sam interrupted with an idea. “Melody can fit you into a wig and make you look different. If you go as is, your ex will know within two minutes. Wouldn’t it be easier for all of us to sneak in as tourists?”
David nodded excitedly. “That’s true, Anna. If you are in disguise, it will be better and Blake can accompany us to the bank. Since I am here off the clock, I can’t exactly call my boss and ask for back-up. Sam can come, too. He is quick and accurate with a gun. He can be our outside lookout.”
“Hey,” Victor protested, standing up. “I might not have been in the military but I can shoot a gun just as well as Sam.”
David looked at Blake and Blake sighed. “Fine, you are both going with us. But Vic you better not breathe a word to mom or dad or I will kick your ass.”
