All Tied Up

Should she support him? Try to convert him to the straight and narrow? But then, a man like Constantine could make a woman forget herself. Maybe she should run like hell before she was the one to get converted.

Chapter Ten

CONSTANTINE CLUTCHED the steering wheel of the Mustang Coupe he’d nabbed about twenty minutes outside of the trailer park. Had Flores—one of the few people he trusted—betrayed him? He didn’t want to believe that. Flores had been like a brother, a close friend, one of the few he’d ever called a friend in fact. But then, his world was corrupt; his life, riddled with enemies.

“No answer,” Nicole said, dialing one of the disposable cell phones they’d bought at a twenty-four-hour, touristy-type store. They had both gotten T-shirts and cleaned up. Nicole had even bought a pair of tennis shoes. “Not from my boss or my sister. I can understand my boss. He’s probably at the hospital with his wife, but I’ll feel better when I hear he’s keeping me on this case. I’m more prepared than anyone to put Alvarez away. Even with a slight delay of the trial from all of this I can be back in Austin and started in a week. If it goes well, we can keep the jury already selected.”

“I’m sure your boss will see that,” Constantine said, his reply weak, distracted. Nicole’s concern for her family proved how different their lives were. Back at the cave he’d almost convinced himself they were alike, that maybe he was ready for the kind of connection they shared. He was already leaving the agency, after all. But that wasn’t the case. His enemies would always be in the shadows, a threat to him and anyone near him. Hell. Carlos would kill Nicole just to prove Constantine couldn’t protect her. If he knew Constantine had feelings for her, that would only give him more satisfaction.

“I hope so,” she said of her boss’s understanding, drawing him back into the conversation he’d all but forgotten. “I mean, what’s the point in putting another D. A. in danger. I’m already a part of this, and I’ve accepted being in hiding until the trial.”

Nicole had asked him a million questions about where they would hide, and how they would pull off getting back for the trial. She tried to control things when she felt uneasy, he’d figured that out, both in and out of bed. It didn’t bother him. In fact, he rather liked knowing he’d broken the barrier in bed. But why the idea of doing so outside of it appealed to him, he didn’t know. Not that it mattered anymore. He had no business getting close to her. At this point, he had to stop the bond that was only beginning to take form between them before it was too late. He was a one-night stand and nothing more. She needed to know that. Hate him if she had to, but do so alive.

He cast her a sideways look; her hand was shaking ever-so-slightly as she punched the cell numbers again. With a jerky movement, she shoved hair behind her ear. “My sister—”

“Is in Hawaii celebrating the results of her bar exam,” he told her, his voice full of a calm certainty. “She’s safe.”

A frustrated sound slid from her lips. “I’d feel better if I heard her voice. I told you my father would refuse security. It figures he’s the only one I’ve been able to reach.”

Constantine tried to comfort her. “At least he agreed to send your mother away, and he’s trying to reach your sister, too. Even though Alvarez is standing trial, his reach is far and deep. And his crew know what’s expected of them.” He switched gears. “Dial Flores again, will you?”

She thumbed through the list of numbers and did as he asked, handing him the phone. After several rings, Constantine gave up, grinding his teeth to keep from cursing.

“You’re worried,” she said, and he could feel her looking at him.

He focused on the white lines of the highway rather than her, not sure what she wanted him to say. He was worried and he didn’t want to lie to her. Before morning he planned to be a long ways from here. He’d already told her he had a boat at Padre Island that was well-stocked with supplies, and even plenty of cash.

When he didn’t answer, she probed. “Can’t you call someone else?”

“I could,” he agreed reluctantly, “but I’d rather not until I figure out where the leak is. Carlos found us somehow.”

“Could they have followed Flores?”

“Maybe.” Of course, he’d considered that option, but Flores was careful—too careful for stupid mistakes. Constantine didn’t say anything more, didn’t want to add to her concerns.

“Try to get some rest,” he suggested. “We have a few hours before we stop.”

He needed to think. If Flores had betrayed him, where did that leave him? There were higher-ups he could go to, but again, who did he trust?