Page 71 of Enthrall Secrets
The hit man jabbed his gun harder against my temple. “Come any closer.”
“Not that it’s any of my business,” said Cameron. “But that mole on your wrist…might wanna get it checked out. Again, none of my business. Not sure why I brought it up. I’m an idiot, apparently. Need to work on my boundaries. This shit’s making me nervous.”
The pressure left my temple as the man glanced at his wrist.
A gunshot rang out, and the stranger released his grip.
I heard a heavy thump behind me, and turned to see my attacker lying on the floor…dead.
I bolted toward Cameron and he opened his arms.
“Scarlet.” He hugged me tight. “Jesus Christ.”
I followed his gaze and saw Ethan still pointing his gun at the man.
Cameron let me go and went over to our attacker, kicking the gun away from his hand. He knelt close to him and placed two fingers on his carotid. Then he gave Ethan a nod of reassurance.
Ethan staggered backward against the wall and slid down it.
“Where’s your first aid kit?” asked Cameron.
“Kitchen,” said Ethan, staring dead ahead at nothing. “Last cupboard on the left.”
“I’ll get it.” I went to search for it, my hands still shaking.
When I came back, they both looked like they were in the middle of a standoff.
“What’s going on?” I broke open the first aid kit.
Cameron slipped on a pair of non-latex gloves, ripped open a package of gauze and dabbed Ethan’s forehead laceration.
“It was self defense,” he told Ethan. “You have witnesses. Scarlet, call 911.”
Ethan pushed himself up. “He shot my wife.”
Cameron gestured toward my phone. “Scarlet, make the call.”
“Ethan, you were unconscious,” I said. “We need to call an ambulance.”
“Wait,” snapped Ethan as he glanced over at the dead man. “That’s Leon Quintono, of the Quintono Cartel.”
Cameron paused for a second and stared up at me as though the name should mean something.
“It’s not like I can prosecute him,” added Ethan.
I lowered my phone. “What are you saying?”
“If the cartel find out I killed one of their own, they’ll send someone else for me. Look, I just need a minute to think this through.” He shoved Cameron’s hand away.
“What about police protection?” I said.
“Shit,” whispered Cameron. “Once it comes out we were here and we’re witnesses to a cartel hit…”
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Would the cartel come after us, too?”
Ethan glanced up at me. “That’s a certainty.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked.
