Page 48 of Extraction

I leaned back and crossed my legs as I thought. “These people have spies everywhere, and endless funds. There has to be someone else calling the shots. Someone outside those families has that baby hidden, and I think Rafael knows who. We know that if you’re a Perez or Canos soldier and you cross over into the other’s territory, you’re dead. So, why is this guy attending a Perez party?”

“My thoughts too.” He rubbed a finger along his lip. “A guest list like that would be hard to come by.” He studied me like he wanted to know who gave it to me. I didn’t offer anything unless he asked me outright, and then I’d have to be honest that I couldn’t share. “Do you feel safe going to the party? What if Bruno Perez shows up?”

“His name isn’t on the guest list. I’ve double checked that. As for feeling safe, I’m not even sure I know what safe feels like anymore. But I can assure you that I’d attend the party either way. I don’t back down from a story, no matter what the risks. I have nothing to lose, and that makes running into a Cartel party headfirst kind of fun, don’t you think?” I tried to make a joke, but it came off as sad instead.

He looked away and nodded as he absorbed what I said. “I respect your dedication to your job, and to be honest, we’re at a standstill here. We need to find the child, so this’ll be our next play. Paul,” he said over my head, “you’ll be Nicole’s date for the party.”

“Copy that,” Paul grunted. I hadn’t heard him come out of the bathroom and wondered how long he’d been standing there.

“I’ll make a call and get some prosthetics here so we can alter your appearance. Sully and Bruno know what you look like, and I’m sure his facial recognition system is up to date, so we’ll have to play this one carefully.” He looked at me. “You’ll wear an earpiece so Paul can hear everything you hear and communicate with you from afar, plus you’ll wear a camera for us to watch. We’ll need as many eyes and ears as possible on this. The rest of us will be on standby, ready to leave the moment you get something.” Paul came around and sat in a chair near me. “This could be just the break we need, Paul, so use it wisely.”

“Agreed.” Paul nodded at Cole.

“Just a heads-up,” I glanced quickly at Paul then back to Cole, “Rafael has a reputation with American women. I want you all to know I can handle myself with him and don’t need anyone to intervene.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Paul cut in, and Cole nodded like he agreed.

“No,” I inched forward on the seat, “Sully and I have an understanding, and if you step in, it might set him off.”

“Would Sully know if you’re dating anyone?” Cole asked, and I shook my head. “If you act like you and Paul are together, so to speak, then it would be normal for him to step in and protect.” I stood. “Nicole,” Cole’s voice held a warning, “I know you two started off on the wrong foot, but we’ve agreed to be a team here, so if you need to act like you’re in love, you’ll do it because that’s the assignment.”

He’s right.

“Okay.” I sat back down and nodded as a yawn escaped. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Go get some sleep. I’ll catch the other guys up to speed later. We’ll run through everything one more time before you leave.”

I trudged toward the bedroom but turned around before I opened the door. I needed them to understand. “At some point, I’ll need to look available if I’m going to rein in Rafael, and if Bruno shows up…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Then I’ll make a judgement call when we’re in the situation,” Paul said over his shoulder. “Remember this is what we do.”

“As long as you remember this is what I do.” I glanced at Cole then headed inside the bedroom, flipped back the covers, and the moment I hit the pillow, I was out cold.

THIRTEEN

The previous night

BRUNO

Mama sat across from me, her fingers silently drumming against the arm of the chair. Her shiny black shoes were crossed at the ankles and were as expensive as her perfectly pressed Italian blouse. My office always felt smaller when she was in it. I tugged at my tie and wondered what brought her by without so much as a call or text.

“Bruno, I’m worried about you.” She studied me carefully, and I shifted in my seat.

“Worried about me? Why?”

She nodded at her right-hand man, Rio, and he handed me his phone. I looked at the photo of Nicole and me on the small screen. How the hell did he get that?

“You told me she wasn’t going to be a problem. You told me you could control her. Rio,” she nodded again, and he swiped to the left to reveal another photo. This one was of an angry Nicole as she yelled at me before I sent her away. “That doesn’t look like control. That looks like you’re thinking with your verga again.” Her voice held a note of steel, and I had to stop myself from reaching down to pat my crotch.

I pushed Rio’s phone away. “Photos can be interpreted a thousand different ways, Mama. What you see there is a woman with a temper. A woman who doesn’t like being told what to do, yet she’s out there doing it anyway.” I shrugged and made sure I seemed unaffected by what they showed me. Inside, though, I seethed with anger. I’d have to watch my men more closely and see who would take photos and send them to Rio.

She leaned forward and stared more intently. A shiver ran up by spine. My mother could always chill me to the bone with one of her looks. She was a woman to be reckoned with, and you didn’t want to be on her bad side.

“Mijo, you’re a smart man, but you should have killed that damn reporter long ago when you had the chance. No te engañes, mijo. Your little games don’t work—and you sure as hell can’t fool her,” she lowered her voice to just above a whisper, “but that puta will get you killed.” She held my gaze a moment longer before she eased herself to her feet.

A sudden movement made us both look toward the door as Armondo whisked into the room. He bent down to whisper in my ear, and my blood boiled as his words sank in.

“Where is he?”

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