Page 111 of Cartel King

“I said that’s where the IPN was from, but that I didn’t think it was someone there. I didn’t mention that when I traced the IPN, that’s where it went to.”

I grit my teeth as I take the phone back from Enrique and go back to the original message thread. I reread the posting and all the correspondence between the man in front of me and his mystery employer.

“Motherfucker. Enrique, it’s my Registered Agent. That’s who posted this.”

“The one who handles your LLC?”

“Yes, but he has nothing to gain because I tucked all the financials away behind enough walls he can’t easily get to them, even as the Registered Agent. He’s doing this on somebody else’s behalf.

“Do you think they’re coercing him into it?”

“Possibly. I don’t know why he’d do it voluntarily. I’ve paid him well for his silence and discretion, but it’s possible somebody’s paying him even better.”

In this world, people will sell their mother’s souls to the devil for the right amount of money. I can’t help but wonder if that’s what happened. Somebody discovered my connection to him, and they’re using it against me. I pay him an exorbitant fee for what he does, so he must be making a fortune if they’re paying enough to convince him to betray me. Or they have something more powerful to coerce him with.

I go through a rapid process of elimination to consider who else might want me dead. Then I think about who has the resources to figure out who I am. The list isn’t that long. I can wager some solid guesses who it is.

“Enrique, I don’t think we need them anymore. You need to go.”

“Alejandro, Javier, and Jorge will come with me. Joaquin and Pablo will stay with you.”

“No, we’ve been through this before. You’re not separating your family because of me. I’m fine on my own. You have men here you trust to protect you when you’re alone. If you trust them, then I do too. My skills are obviously enough that I can easily add to my own defense if necessary. The more of you together, the faster it will go and the greater likelihood you’ll all come home.”

“Chiquita—”

I lean over and whisper in Enrique’s ear.

“Daddy, you can punish me later. You can command me to do whatever you want. But we already know you won’t convince me to back down on this. Save yourself the time and energy rather than arguing with me. Just give in now, and I’ll gladly do whatever you want later. I promise.”

His skepticism is obvious, but practicality wins when he nods.

“All right, but I wouldn’t get used to having your way all the time,chiquita, or you will find yourself disappointed.”

“I know, Daddy. Hurry and bring your sister home.”

We gaze at one another, and now that we’ll be apart rather than working together, the temptation to tell him how I feel nearly gets the better of me. His fingers channel through my hair as he pulls me close and gives me a potent kiss that sends me reeling as it intoxicates me.

When we pull apart, we look at each other, and we don’t need words. We smile and each dip our chin to acknowledge our feelings. We want to express them now, but we want to say them in private. Enrique and I look back at the men in front of us.

“Little one, I’m not convinced their usefulness is over.”

“All right, if you think there’s reason to keep them alive, then do so.”

“I’ll have men take them to our place.”

I know what that means, so I don’t need an explanation. I’ve never been to the Vizzinis’ place. I don’t know for sure where it is, even though I have an idea. I’ve never wanted to know that about the Vizzinis, and I don’t want to know it about Enrique’s family either. The less I know, the fewer nightmares I can have.

The men who’re holding Catalina—their nightmares haven’t begun. But they will when Enrique and his family get there.

“I better show you the panic room if you’re going to be here without any of theniños.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Enrique

“If anything happens while you’re upstairs, you come here, Ellie. Hit this button, and the alert will go out to all of us.”

I point to the panic button in my panic room.

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