Page 107 of Wicked Intention

She hated that she didn’t know what was happening.

The Puerto Jardinese Army might have decided to crack down on drugs in the quest for more US aid. Bianchi, Al’s rival, could have chosen to launch an attack against the hacienda. Or there was a chance it was Finn and his team trying to fight their way onto the compound to rescue her andTia Izel. She hoped like hell the battle wasn’t because of option three.

It probably wasn’t. Finn’s team was small, and this sounded like a hell of a lot more people involved than that. But some of Ramos’ men weren’t what Finn called the A-Team. They could be shooting wildly, affecting her ability to judge how many troops were involved.

Damn, she wanted to do something.Neededto do something.

As the assault continued, Zo decided she couldn’t hide out any longer. If there was a chance to get Tia Izel off the estate, she had to take it, because something was seriously wrong. She didn’t want to be a sitting duck should the wrong side win.

How many times had Finn told her to have a plan? To never act without running scenarios first? She took a minute to think things through logically. When she ran out of contingencies, Zo blew out a long breath. In chaos, there was opportunity. Time to take advantage of it.

Creeping as quietly as she could to the door, Zo put her ear next to it and listened, trying to detect if her guard remained on duty.

Between the gunfire and the way her heart pounded, she couldn’t tell.

Okay, then. Zo banged the heel of her hand against the wood and called out, “What’s happening? Señor, what’s going on?”

No response.

She studied the lock. It should be easy enough to pick. With luck, the men monitoring the security cameras were gone. Pulling a couple of the bobby pins that were helping to hold her braid in place, Zo crouched in front of the door and maneuvered them into the lock. It took about twenty seconds to pop it.

As she straightened, she drew another deep breath andtried to slow her pulse. It didn’t help. When she opened the door, she discovered the hall was empty.

Zo stayed close to the wall, trying to move as soundlessly as possible to the stairs. She almost vibrated with tension by the time she reached them. How the hell had Finn done this for years? The stress was incredible.

She began to sweat as she made her way down to the main level. If someone started firing, there was nowhere to hide.

Her breath shuddered when she reached the first floor.

She’d only made it a few feet when the sound of running had her scurrying for the nearest door. Wrenching it open, Zo dashed inside and silently eased it back into place. The room was dark, windowless, and reeked of stale cigar smoke. The footsteps receded, but she counted to sixty before opening it a crack and peeking into the hall. Empty.

Tia Izel must be terrified. Zo needed to reach her, to protect her. She slipped out of the smoking-room and dashed toward the side door that led to the casita.

Zo rounded a corner in a rush and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened as they focused on the muzzle of an assault rifle. Pointed at her. Terrified, she could only squeak.Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God.She raised her gaze to the man holding the weapon.

The air left her in a rush. “Señor Otero,” she said. The words came out as shaky as she felt. “What are you doing here?”

Before he could answer, a voice came from inside Al’s office, “Is that Zofia I hear?” Señor Garcia stuck his head out, spotted her, and smiled. “Luis, we do not need to rescue Zofia. She has saved herself.”

The door to the office opened, and Tio Luis, Tia Izel, and Señor Garcia emerged. “Come, Zofia, we must leave.”

“Do you know what’s happening?” Her voice remained unsteady.

Tio Luis nodded soberly. “Ramos has been assassinated.His top men are now fighting to be the new leader of evil. We must leave before they realize the hacienda is not secure.”

“Assassinated.” Zo couldn’t breathe. She grabbed Tio Luis’ arm, squeezing hard. “Finn! Have you heard anything about Finn?”

“Reports say only Ramos was killed.”

With a long sigh, Zo closed her eyes. It didn’t mean Finn hadn’t been hurt, but if Tio Luis said no one else had been killed, she could believe him.

But Al was dead. The need to cry surprised her.

“We must leave now,” Señor Otero said urgently.

Zo opened her eyes and nodded her head. “I’m right behind you.”

Instead of following them, Zo glanced at the door. Al’s office. She was standing directly in front of Al’s office.

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