Page 46 of Boulder's Weight

No wonder Python looks ready to murder someone. "What a piece of shit."

Python looks right at me. "What’s the deal between you two? Kelsey. Gonna be a problem for us?"

I have the decency to look slightly ashamed. "It’s complicated… we had some shit to work out."

"Clearly," Amara says dryly. "Whatever's going on between you two, sort it out on your own time. For now, I need you focused on this assignment."

"I'm focused," I assure her, grateful when the food arrives to disrupt our conversation.

The tacos are incredible—tender carne asada, fresh cilantro, and a sauce hot enough to make my eyes water.

We eat in silence for the most part, the seriousness of the situation weighing down on all of us.

"So, when do I start watching the café?" I ask between bites, wiping sauce from my chin.

"Tonight," Amara says. "You and Brick will take shifts. Keep it casual, don't draw attention. I want four-hour rotations, round the clock. And yes, that means even when they’re closed."

I nod, already thinking about how I'll approach this.

The café has a bookstore across the street with a good view of the entrance – perfect for surveillance without being obvious.

"What do we know about Andrés's background?" I ask, wanting as much intel as possible.

"Ex-military," Razor supplies. "Dishonorable discharge. Been floating around Chihuahua for about six months, slowly building a crew of local thugs."

"He's smart," Python adds grudgingly. "Keeps his distance from the actual dirty work. Hard to pin anything directly on him."

"But he's getting cocky," Amara says. "Coming into the café himself, making direct threats. Either he's stupid, or he feels protected."

"Which brings us back to Sally," I muse.

Amara nods grimly. "Exactly. If Andrés is working for Sally, this just got a lot more dangerous than a simple protection racket."

As Python and Axel debate the best way to handle Andrés if he shows, I find myself distracted by thoughts of Kelsey.

I can't stop thinking about the look on her face when I discovered her lie earlier today.

The flash of fear in her eyes wasn't just about being caught.

It was deeper, more primal.

She's terrified, and that’s why she’s running.

And now, with Sally possibly making moves in Chihuahua, I wonder if Kelsey's presence here is just a coincidence.

Why did she move here permanently?

Why was she recommended specifically by Tara?

And why is she lying to me about it all?

I’m not a fool. Earlier, I called her out on still lying to me because I have this unsettling feeling in my gut… but why? Why is she lying?

"Boulder?" Amara's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "You still with us?"

"Yeah, sorry," I say, refocusing. "Just thinking about surveillance strategies."

She doesn't look convinced, but continues anyway. "As I was saying, we've got lookouts at all our businesses. If Andrés makes a move on any of them, we'll know."

---