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On the other side of the police cars, a Jeep pulled up and several soldiers jumped out. Something was definitely going on, he realized, zeroing in on the assault rifles they carried.
“Why don’t I walk you inside?” He laid a hand against her lower back and quickly guided her into the hotel.
Shit.People were swarming the place—cops and soldiers filled the lobby and they were questioning guests and tourists. Keeping his hand on Aubrey’s back, he leaned in and whispered, “What’re they saying? What’s going on?”
Aubrey squinted, listening to the surrounding conversations. “Somebody killedthe ruling cartel leader’s son.”
“El Escorpión?”
She blinked in surprise. “Yes, and he’s furious. Out for blood.” She listened a moment longer then her eyes widened. “They’re questioning anyone who looks suspicious.” She gripped his arm as uniformedPolicíaapproached them, spewing a couple of rapid questions in Spanish.
If anyone looked suspicious, he did—single, traveling alone, hair and clothing that screamed former military. Between his height and general appearance, he stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the locals and tourists. Then there was the gun in the holster at his back he’d have to explain. Plus, he just beat up a few local thugs.Fuck. Way to keep a low profile.
Gray brought his arm up over Aubrey’s shoulders, pulled her against his side and loudly said, “We should probably go up to our room where it’s safe. C’mon, honey.”
As he turned her toward the elevator, the Policía repeated whatever question he’d asked a moment ago and Gray tensed. They slowly turned back around, and Gray just prayed she’d play along with the ruse he’d started.
“No, we’re together, down here visiting family,” Aubrey answered. “This is my husband.”
After saying it in English, she repeated it in Spanish and the Policía waved them away. Breathing out a long, slow breath, Gray bypassed the elevator and guided her straight over to the stairwell.
Once they were safely inside and out of view, he asked, “Where’s your room? I need to lay low for a little while.”
Chapter Six
Lay low?Why would he need to do that?Aubrey wondered, her common sense and suspicions finally kicking in. Finally overriding the alluring sight of his muscled body and whiskey-soaked eyes.
They climbed up to the third floor, and she paused, clasped her hands together and wondered if she was making a huge mistake. This man was a complete stranger. And, suddenly, he looked even bigger than before. Like a mountain. Swallowing hard, she realized he could overpower her with minimal effort.
Did she really want to be alone with him in her room?
“I won’t hurt you,” he murmured, as though reading her mind. “I just need to call my team and update them. Then I’ll leave.”
“Your team?” she echoed. Before he could respond, she shook her head. “Look, um, I don’t usually invite strange men into my room and—”
Gray reached around, removed the gun beneath his shirt and handed it to her. “If you feel threatened, shoot me.”
“What?” she squeaked. Did he really expect her to take his gun and potentially use it on him? And why was he carrying a gun, anyway?
“Go on,” he encouraged her, and she slowly reached over, fingers wrapping around the grip. “It’s a Glock 19, so there’s no safety. You ever shoot a pistol?”
Aubrey nodded, her hand dropping slightly. It was much heavier than she expected. “I took a firearms class before coming down here.”
“Good girl. It’s important to know how to protect yourself.”
Feeling slightly more comfortable, Aubrey began to walk forward again, but her imagination started running wild. Who was this man? Why was he carrying a gun and what kind of team did he have to call? Would he really have just saved her out on the street to now take advantage of her himself? Could she trust him?
When they reached her room, she plucked the keycard out of her pocket and swiped it. The moment they were safely inside, Gray immediately locked the door and swung the top bolt over to provide extra security. Then he pulled his phone out and stalked toward the window, yanking the drapes shut.
Watching him closely, Aubrey sank down on the edge of the bed and laid the gun beside her. Deep down, she knew she wouldn’t need it. Not against Gray, anyway. But all the rebels and soldiers gathering outside? That was a different level of threat she wanted to avoid.
Even though her room didn’t face the street, she could still hear all the commotion and it was making her edgy. She’d been down there for a year now and had never seen so much unrest. She’d encountered the Policía and soldiers before when they’d brought patients to her at the Doctors Without Borders base camp, but their interactions had been brief and non-threatening. This was a whole new level of frightening.
She’d heard all the rumors and stories about Alvaro “El Escorpión” Mesa and his brutal cartel. They were the stuff of nightmares and she knew, without a doubt,that whoever killedEl Escorpión’s son would be hunted down and made to pay.
“Pharaoh,” Gray said, looking down through the slit in the curtains, “I ran into some trouble here in town…Yeah, they’re pissed about Mesa…I’m actually hiding out in a third floor room at the Rosario Hotel.”
Gray turned and met Aubrey’s gaze.
