Page 23 of Cartel Cobra

“Yes. I found out today. I told Josue and Enrique. They sent me to the party to guard you.”

“They let me go anywhere with Domingo?”

“He doesn’t know anyone found out.”

“Then what the hell was that?”

“I don’t know for sure. Something Humberto orchestrated.”

“I heard Paco.”

“And I saw him. I don’t know if Domingo’s in on it or joined in once he recognized the Hierros. He didn’t put up a fight. He took one of Paco’s guns, and neither Chuy nor Cokie did anything about it. Paco just drew another one.”

“He shot at me.”

“I know,chiquita.”

“He knows the car’s bulletproof.”

“He did it to make a point. He will kill you before he lets Humberto kill him.”

“Why would mytíokill him? Because he’s loyal to?—”

I stop myself when I realize the error in my thinking. I tremble and wring my hands. Then I slide my left hand down my right arm as though I’m wiping off something invisible.

“God, I want a shower.”

“You told me?—”

“I didn’t fuck him today!” I scream but then take a breath. “He’s touched me. Period. I feel filthy. We haven’t had sex since before the cafe. I’ve made excuses.”

I finish in barely more than a whisper. Esteban rests his gun on his left thigh as he fishes out his cell phone. I know he glances over at me, but I’m staring out the window. When I realize he’s going to make a call, I shift my attention and watch him hit a contact’s name I can’t see before putting it on speaker. I pretend disinterest until a voice answers.

“Esteban?”

“Papá!”

“You’re on speakerphone,jefe.” Esteban might usepapá’sname when he talks about him, but he would never use it when he talks to him.

“Ana, are you hurt? Ricco said Esteban hit him and drove off with you.”

“Esteban trusts no one.”

“I don’t,jefe. If the man’s not in your family, then I don’t trust him with Lucy.”

Mierda. Fuck.

“Lucy?”

¡Qué mierda de vida! Fuck my life!

I don’t want to explain that, and I doubt Este does either. I’ll contemplate why I came up with a nickname for him later. I need to distract my dad.

“Papá, Domingo shot at us.”

The line goes silent for a moment.

“The gate will open long enough for the car to get through. Drive straight into the garage. I’ll be waiting for you.”

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