Sweet Collateral

I glance at him. “Why? Either way, he’s dead.”

He points at me. “Because of that look on your face. Your priorities have already shifted, and you’ve seen the girl for all of two minutes.”

“My priorities are the same as they’ve always been.”

He snorts and scoops his rifle up from the ground. “Please. You might be able to lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me.”

He walks away in the direction of the gate, and I trail after him, unable to form words about the situation. He’s right. Anna is here. In Mexico. And she’s not only in the firing line—she’s walking right at it. I wanted her as far away from this shit as possible. This feels like all my worst fears realized, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified. For her. And for myself.

I’m not sure I can survive losing her.

As soon as we’re in the car, I call Nero. “Rafael.”

“I’m hoping you are unaware of the fact that your girlfriend is currently running around Mexico killing off cartel members. Though somehow I doubt it.

He sighs. “I’m aware that she has gone to Mexico to aid her sister.”

“You didn’t think to give me a damn heads up?” I’m seething, but trying to keep a lid on it. Emotions are nothing but weakness when dealing with men like Nero.

“I told them I can’t get involved in the politics of it. It’s bad for business. So no, I didn’t tell you because you were never supposed to know they were there.” So they thought they could hide from me in my own city.

“Well, now I do.” I hang up and toss my phone on the dash.

Samuel clears his throat. “I’ll send guys for the guns and to torch the warehouse.”

I’d normally just leave his brother’s body for Dominges to find, let him know it was me. But it wasn’t me, and I’m now worried about inciting him too much with Anna this close. She shouldn't be here. Tension contracts my muscles until my entire body screams with it. The lights of the city pass by the window in a messy blur.

“What are you going to do about Anna?” Well now, that was the question. I sent her to New York to keep her safe, and instead, her sister turns her into some kind of…assassin, and brings her head first into my war. I want to hunt her down and lock her away from all this because if my enemies get even a hint of the fact that she’s here, it will be open season, and that’s without the fact that she’s just killed off the boss’ brother. I’m mad, but I’m also terrified for her. But this is my city, and nothing happens here without my say so. Not even her.

62

Anna

I sit at the tiny table in the run down motel room and watch my sister pace, peering through the bedraggled curtains every so often. She decided that we needed to come here instead of going back to our hotel, in case Rafael has compromised us. Whatever that means. Rafael would never do anything to hurt me. I know that much. He was never supposed to know we were here though, and his appearance caught me off guard.

“Fuck,” Una swipes her gun off the tiny coffee table and goes to the door, yanking it open. She fires a single shot into the night, and I leap up, grabbing my own gun.

“Walk away!” she calls into the shadowy parking lot.

“Can’t do that,” a familiar voice drawls.

“Carlos?” I go to move past Una, but she yanks me back, her finger twitching dangerously over the trigger.

“You need to come with us, Anna.” I still can’t clearly see him, only the cloud of smoke that drifts out of the shadows hidden from glow of the sign.

“Or what?” I dare, my temper spiking. Who the hell does Rafael think he is to just send his man after me? “How did you find me?"

He steps forward, and the neon red light bathes his form, making him look demonic beneath that hood. “This is cartel land, Señorita. You can’t run, and you can’t hide. It would be easier if you just come.” A small smirk touches his lips before he places a cigarette between them.

“I’ll take that as a threat,” Una takes aim.

“No!” A car door is thrown open before a figure scrambles in front of Carlos. Lucas.

“Stop.” I force Una’s gun away from my friend.

“Please, just come with us, Anna,” Lucas begs.

I take a few steps out into the dirt-covered parking lot. “Tell Rafael that this doesn’t concern him.”

Carlos sucks on his teeth, exhaling a cloud of smoke on a laugh. “Somehow I don’t think that will go down too well.” Carlos pushes his brother out of the way and takes a few steps towards me until we’re only a few feet apart. “You see, he’s not rational where you’re concerned. But do not mistake his weakness for you as weakness in general. You forget who he is, Anna.”