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The TV in the living room played a news report, scrolling text along the bottom with a vacation town she recognized. An anchor struggled against wind and rain, the sound muted but subtitles showing up one word after the other.
“What’s going on with the weather?” She glanced at Maizie.
“The hurricane changed direction. It’s headed inland.”
Okay, not super high on her priority list, but it could present a problem. “They always lose power the farther inland they come. It won’t hit hard here, just over on the coast.”
Maizie didn’t need to look so worried. Although, probably her expression wasn’t completely about the hurricane.
Navarro said, “I’d invite you to sit…”
She twisted around, still holding Maizie’s hand, and glared at the cartel leader. Then she realized Navarro had probably killed people just for looking at him wrong.
Half a dozen men stood around the room, all armed. Not the first time she’d faced down something like this, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. Ramon had conveniently disappeared again.
Traitor.
Kenna gave herself a second, so she didn’t say something she shouldn’t and get them all killed. “Maybe you could get me a drink, considering I just saved your nephew’s life.”
“You did lead my men to find Javier. For that I suppose I should be grateful.” Navarro stared at her. “And yet Kart remains at large?”
“So how about letting us go? We can find him for you. Eliminate the problem.” Both Maizie and Stairns stiffened at her words, but Kenna would be happy to turn Ian Kartom over to the feds—or even the police in Cielo Ardiente.
Navarro settled onto the couch. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He sat with his elbow on the back, his knees splayed out. Studying them with the eye of a hungry man at a meat market.
“If any of you touches her”—she nodded in Maizie’s direction—“I will kill that person.”
“The three of you are my guests here. My men know how to keep their business elsewhere, and not in my home.” It almost sounded like a threat.
“Guestscan leave whenever they’re ready to go.” Not that she knew a whole lot about social norms. “In that case, we’ll be going now.”
Navarro nearly grinned. “Stay. Listen to my proposition.”
“I’m not for hire, and you have nothing that I want except a door for me to leave through.”
He sighed. “Sit. Please. You are my guests until I say you can leave, and what happens to you is at my discretion.”
She didn’t move.
“For the time being, the three of you will remain here.” Navarro’s expression took on an edge. “I have a shipment coming in tonight at midnight. I got word Ian Kartom plans to intercept that shipment with the help of hired assistance from America. You’ll be there with my men to ensure that doesn’t happen. Another layer of…protection, shall we say.”
Kenna’s clenched down on her jaw so hard that it ached. “No, thanks.” She didn’t want to go up against a group of armed men. Especially not to protect drug money, or illegal substances—or whatever this “shipment” was.
“The health of your friends here depends on your cooperation.”
“I’ve had enough of being a victim and being kidnapped.” It was literally all that’d happened to her since she got here, and she wasdone.
“Be that as it may, you have the skills to ensure my delivery gets here on time and your loyalty will not be in question.”
“You think someone in your circle is working with Kart? So sad. Why not just go ensure the shipment gets here all by yourself.”
Navarro glared. “I’m not leaving my nephew.”
“So you’ll put this shipment in the hands of someone you definitely shouldn’t trust?” Made perfect sense to coerce her. After all, she’d be completely neutral and have no intention of calling the FBI to intercept. “Why would Kart grab Javier and then me if he has his eye on this shipment?”
“Merely a distraction from his true purpose.”
“Right. He just wanted to irritate you before he stole from you.” So Elliot still wanted her, and it was up to Kart to deliver her.
