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“Ah yes, that will need to be properly dealt with, Jorge,” Jaguar says. His voice takes on that guttural, authoritative quality only he can master. “As well as why none of youpendejosseemed to notice anything odd about our dear friend. I’ve let you all scurry around in obscurity for now. Pretending that I’ve been too distracted to notice. Ah, but I miss nothing. Remember that.”
All of the men react differently to the accusation, but my attention is fixed squarely on Leo Corleon. He turns the reddest, and once again, his eyes dart to me.
“Jefe, if you brought us here as a test of loyalty, you need to look no further than the fact that we all showed. Braulio was a snake. And you should know that anyone around him was just as twisted. Like the woman on your arm, for instance.”
“Oh, you’ve recognized her, then?” Jaguar makes a show of smoothing the hair back from my face. “Tiena here has kept me company these past few days. You wouldn’t believe some of the stories she’s told me. Though, perhaps you’re right, Leo. Why don’t you go play with the other girls?” He pats my ass, ushering me unceremoniously from the room.
I obey, smothering any outward signs of irritation. The bastard. He never intended for me to help him discover information regarding his men. He merely aimed to use me as bait. Again.
I know how irrational it is for me to feel angry or disappointed, but I do. Trusting in Jaguar’s money is one thing. Putting faith in the man himself? Impossible. He is transactional, focused only on the next enemy on his hit list.
I could always see his shortsightedness as a good thing. Even more proof that I shouldn’t believe that he has my best interests at heart.
I try to keep that skepticism at the forefront of my mind as I wander through the maze of hallways and wind up near the pool. Gazing into the water, I feel a sense of helplessness so profound it guts me. God, I wish I could leave this place and return to my shitty apartment. I miss the squalor and obscurity. I miss Pedro with his witty banter.
Pedro…
He still hasn’t called me yet to say that he returned to the city okay. Suddenly, hearing from him takes precedence over all else. Without giving a damn as to what Jaguar might think, I go searching for my phone and find my purse near the front door. When I finally fish out the device, I discover a handful of missed calls, all from Pedro. My attempts to call him back result only in a blunt text in response.
Need to talk to you now.
Damn it. Without him as an outlet, I feel so small. So damn weak. I start to find a room to compose myself in—think—but as I head for the staircase, I change my mind.
If Jaguar wants to play this game, I won’t curl into a ball and hide.
I’ll aim to win.
Pivoting on my heel, I return to the office but find it empty. A raucous burst of noise draws me to the atrium at the center of the villa. There, Jaguar and his men linger around the pool while half-naked bimbos dance in between them.
“Ah, Tiena,” Jaguar calls when he sees me. “Come—” He pats his lap in a silent command, but I don’t rush to him. It is again Leo Corleon who has my attention. Standing nearest the pool with his back to Jaguar, he doesn’t bother to hide the scowl he directs my way.
Interesting. I kick off my heels and saunter to the pool’s edge, wetting the hem of my priceless gown as I sit with my feet in the water. From his position on the terrace, Jaguar’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t rush to berate me publicly. Even as a blond bimbo slithers his way, he stares past her, his gaze on me.
Forcing a swallow, I turn away from him. Then I wait, and I watch. If Corleon was working with Braulio, I doubt he’s the only one. If they suspect Tiena may have known more about their plan than she should have, they’ll be anxious to strike. But how?
And will they have Jaguar’s blessing should they try?
It’s impossible to smother my paranoia. I’m too jumpy. Antsy. Every time I sense Jaguar’s gaze flit in my direction, a building curiosity drives me crazy. I can’t stop fidgeting and adjusting the straps of my dress. When he runs his tongue along his bottom lip while eyeing my constantly shifting cleavage, I know he has me right where he wants me.
Damn him.
I make a show of smiling and mingling with his nearby bimbos to stall for more time to think. I don’t miss, however, that in stark contrast to their giggling counterparts, Jaguar’s men remain tense. Whatever transpired in that meeting has them giving their master a wide berth and only pretending to take part in the festivities.
Why?
“Hey—” Someone nudges my shoulder. “He wanted you to have this.” I look over to find the blond who’d simpered around Jaguar earlier, offering me a glass of champagne.
“Who?” I ask, though it’s not a hard mystery to solve. My eyes go right back to Jaguar, but he isn’t watching to see his minion carry out his order. He’s being entertained by two other women instead, not that he seems very engaged in their attempts to seduce him. As one of the women tries to sit on his lap, he forces eye contact with me. Those damn dark irises gleam, and he tilts his head as if to say,Come claim what is yours.
“Who do you think?” the blond snaps in my ear. “Just hurry up.”
“Fine.” I snatch the glass and down it in one go. Only as I swallow it down does Jaguar look over. He smiles at me, but there is no mirth in his expression. Whatever transpired in that meeting after I left has him on edge again.
I feel like a rat who hasn’t realized she’s caught in a maze. My only way out? Confront the captivity head-on rather than go around and around scratching for an exit.
I stand and hunt for Corleon. He’s still watching me, seemingly unconcerned by any of the ditzy trappings around him. If he knows Braulio or the real Tiena, I doubt he’d be content to sit and wait, unsure of what I may have told Jaguar about his plan. He’ll want to corner me soon enough.
I should stall long enough to make him restless.
