by Cora Kenborn
“Right. So, I’ll just sit here and stay wide awake while you sleep.”
Rolling my eyes, I flopped back down and rolled over. “Just go.”
The bed dipped again, an unexpected flush spreading across my chest as he rolled against me, his unrestrained cock pressing against my ass. “No, it’s fine,” he said, his warm breath fanning across my bare shoulder. “At least I can keep an eye on you this way.”
He shifted, and I swallowed a groan. “If I hear you jerking off, I’ll dick punch you.”
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Nope.”
Brody’s deep throaty laugh was the last thing I remembered before drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
I woke to an empty bed.
I didn’t know whether to be grateful or pissed off that Brody ditched me like a drunken one-night stand and the fact that I even wasted time caring annoyed me more than anything.
After throwing on a pair of cut off jean shorts and a black scoop-necked top, I swept my hair in a loose messy bun, grabbed my newly-packed suitcase, and headed downstairs.
I heard their whispers as soon as I reached the bottom of the staircase. Indistinguishable words, but three voices I knew weren’t four for a reason. My blood heated with irritation, so lifting my heels off the marble, I shuffled on my toes toward the sitting room to find Mateo, Val, and Brody standing in a huddle. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but apparently it was serious.
Which meant I was just in time.
I placed my suitcase on the floor and flounced into the room with flair. “Hola, boys,” I announced. “I didn’t see a No Girls Allowed sign hanging outside the clubhouse, so I assume someone will fill me in on what all the secret whispering is about.” Three pairs of eyes turned my way, but when Brody’s dropped from my face to my feet, then slowly slid back up again, my smirk faded.
“That’s a lot more stuff than you came here with,” he said, nodding at the suitcase at my feet.
I shrugged. “Your sister brought me some things this morning.” Turning, I winked at Mateo. “She’s a chipper one in the morning, huh?”
As usual, Mateo just raised an eyebrow.
“Dios mío, will you all shut the fuck up?” Val motioned for us all to sit as he made his way to the bar tucked at the front of the room.
I cocked a hip. “Don’t you think it’s a little early for that?”
The suction from the tequila top released with a pop. “No.”
“Well aren’t you going to sit down?”
He lifted the glass of tequila to his lips with a smirk. “No.”
“Can you say anything else besides no?”
“No.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” It was all I could do not to roll my eyes as I sank into the same damn leather couch from last night. Mateo sat across from me, his finger rubbing back and forth across his goatee as he watched Brody’s eyes bounce between the empty seat beside him and the one next to me.
This was ridiculous. Tired and irritated, I motioned to the seat next to Mateo when a slow smile broke across his face, and he lifted a long jean-clad leg, stretching it across the length of the couch.
“What are you doing?” Brody asked.
Mateo’s grin widened. “Getting comfortable. There’s a seat over there. Have at it.”
They stared each other down, Brody scowling as Mateo smirked. Finally, Brody flipped his middle finger up and collapsed next to me muttering to himself. “Jackass.”
“Well,” Val said, moving in between the two pieces of furniture, a deep vertical line sinking between his eyes. “If we’re done acting like pinche idiotas, I suggest we devise a cohesive strategy before you two go off and get yourselves killed.”
Brody leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs and his hands clasped in front of him. “What did you have in mind?”
“Not fucking up.”
“I’m serious, Val.”
“So am I. This may be Adriana’s chance to prove her loyalty to the Carreras but consider it your chance too.”
Brody’s forehead wrinkled. “To do what?”
“To prove to me I shouldn’t put you in the ground right next to your predecessor.”
Mateo’s hand dropped from his chin. “Val!”
Val didn’t acknowledge him. Shoving one hand in his pocket, he lifted his glass again, his eyes locked on Brody.
“Fuck you.” Brody’s quiet response wasn’t out of fear. It was forced control. Like when a child turned the crank on a Jack-In-The-Box as fast as they could only to suddenly stop because they knew that one last turn would cause a puppet to explode in their face.
“Brody!” This time, Mateo’s shock was aimed at the man sitting beside me.
His game of chastise ping-pong grated on my nerves. “Seriously?” I growled. “Pick a side, güey.”
Val swung his drink in Mateo’s direction. “No, it’s fine. I’d be angry too if I were about to track down the man who stole seventeen million dollars of my boss’s money.”
I stiffened. “You know?”
Val cocked his head. “And so do you, apparently.”
There was a distinct warning in his voice that self-preservation should’ve heeded, but defiance took over, snapping my head toward Brody. To my surprise, I found him stone-faced except for the steady tick of his jaw.
His gaze flicked up to meet Val’s. “How did you find out?”
Val smiled, his lips stretching so tightly over his teeth they seemed to disappear. “I have eyes all over the world, Harcourt. You couldn’t take a shit in Somalia without me knowing. However, in this case, your friend Leo Pinellas thought a breach in my highest ranks would go a long way in funding his nose candy habit.”
Brody closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his steel composure cracking. “Motherfucker.”
He didn’t have to elaborate. I knew the words he bit back because they were the same ones sitting on my tongue. If Leo told Val about the missing shipment and the Chicago deal, what other information did he try to sell?
I wet my lips. “What else did he say?”
Val lifted a dark eyebrow. “Oh, you mean the part where you showed up at his office demanding information on one of my lieutenants?”
Shit.
I flinched, and the knee jerk reaction sparked Brody back to life, his voice as dark as his penetrating glare. “Yet you never said a word when I spent half an hour convincing you to let me bring her here.”
“And neither of you questioned why I was sending you to Guadalajara together. Interesting. I expect such careless bullshit out of you, but Adriana…” Val raised his glass in my direction before turning toward the bar. “You were raised to question everyone’s motives.”
“Great. You knew this whole time he opened up Chicago and lost your money, and that I used it to get here.” Holding Val’s gaze, I gave him an intentionally loud slow clap. “Do you want a cookie?”
“Adriana!”
Twisting around, I pointed a finger at Mateo. “Okay, just so you know, that’s getting really fucking annoying.” Ignoring his snarl, I shifted my attention back to Val. “So, what does this mean? This whole thing was bullshit, and you’re sending us to slaughter?”
Val’s lips twitched, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he was getting a kick out of watching this play out. “Quite the opposite, actually. You see, in an interesting turn of events, I now have leverage over both of you, and your success is even more vital to your position in this cartel,” he said, locking eyes with Brody. Then he turned toward me adding, “And in this family.”
I watched Brody with curious eyes as he flung himself off the couch and threw his arms out wide. “Then let’s do what we came here to do.”
I shuddered. Not because of Val’s accusation, or that we were moments away from walking into what was most likely a trap. But because for the first time since he held me against the wall of my motel room at gunpoint, I saw that flicker of darkness and
an overwrought need to break and control. The perfect combination of grace and civility packaged in a man whose veins coursed with poison.
God, we were both fucked up.
“You’re both to look for intel,” he said. “Adriana, I need you to sniff around your old contacts and see what you can find out about this Ignacio person.” I nodded, which seemed to appease him, or he lost interest because he turned his focus back to Brody. “Should you find someone of interest, your job is to secure him and call for backup.” Rocking back on his heels, he shrugged. “Or if needed, eliminate the problem. Be discreet and don’t raise any flags.”
Right.
Because the former queen of the Muñoz clan and a blond snowflake would blend in with no problem.
Brody and I exchanged curious glances as Val walked back to the bar and opened the lower cabinet. After retrieving what he wanted, he slammed it closed and crossed the room until he stood in front of us holding four metal objects.
“Two burner phones, and two revolvers,” he announced, handing one of each to both of us. Ignoring the phone, I went straight for the gun and opened the chamber.
“It’s not loaded. You’ll get your ammo and more weapons when you’re escorted off the estate.”
I slammed the chamber closed and scowled.
Brody tucked his phone and gun away. “Where are we supposed to stay?”
Still pissed off, I held the useless gun in my hand, tuning them out as Val rattled off directions and addresses. “They should be empty. If not, make them empty. When you get to Guadalajara, you’re on your own.” Pausing, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash and a set of keys, handing them to Brody. “You understand for security reasons, once you’re in Muñoz territory, the Carrera name doesn’t pass your lips.”
Brody pocketed the cash and twirled the key ring around his finger without answering. No one said another word until he glanced down at me. “You plan on getting up, or do you expect to be carried out of here?”
Rising to my feet, I found myself face-to-face with my brother. I started this, but he’d commanded control of it. Now, I had no choice but to trust him, but there was an air of uncertainty around him that I couldn’t put my finger on.
And feeling like I’d disappointed him really pissed me off.
“Val, I—”
He held up a hand. “Adriana, I told you last night I brought you here against my better judgment.”
“I know.”
“I also told you to never pull the same con twice. It makes you predictable, and I don’t give second chances. Are we clear?”
“Very.” Picking up my suitcase, I pushed all the unfamiliar emotions out of my head. I had a job to do and nothing would stop me from seeing it through.
“Adriana?” Pausing, I glanced back over my shoulder. Val opened his mouth to say something, only to close it and shake his head. “Don’t die.”
Chapter Nineteen
Brody
Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
Adriana propped her legs up on the dashboard and groaned. “How many times are you going to mess with that thing?”
I ground my teeth, turning away from her smirk while pressing the tuner button on the radio for the tenth time. “As many times as it takes.”
“Okay, suit yourself. But, look around you, counselor.” She waved a hand beside me, gesturing toward barren fields. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. If you think you’re getting anything but static on this piece of shit,” reaching over, she gave the decrepit dashboard a firm pat, “you’re dreaming.”
I turned the damn thing off and squeezed the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. “Fine, but I’m not driving three and a half hours to Morelia in silence. It’ll drive me batshit.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
I shrugged, doing my best not to stare at her bare legs. “We could play I Spy.”
She rolled her eyes. “What are we, six?” Drumming her fingernails against the console, she chewed on her lip for a moment before slamming her palm against it. “Oh, I know. Let’s play truth or dare.”
“In a car?”
She turned to me, a glint in her eyes. “Are you scared?”
“I’m driving in a piece of shit Toyota into Muñoz infested territory with a woman who I’m fairly certain is the antichrist. What do you think?”
She pursed her lips. “A simple no would’ve sufficed.” She was quiet for a moment, and I thought she let it die until a slow grin pulled at her lips. “When we get to where we’re going the loser has to do whatever the winner says, no questions asked.”
I wasn’t stupid. I knew a con when I heard it. “Your rules are flawed.”
“How so?”
“What’s to stop either of us from lying?”
“One,” she said, holding up her index finger, “I don’t have to lie, counselor. I’ve led a very full life. And two,” dropping the first finger, she lifted her middle and smirked. “I’ll know if you’re lying.”
I decided to ignore the fact that she was still flipping me off. “How?”
“You have a tell.”
“What is it?”
Folding down her middle finger, she waved her hand. “Telling you would ruin all my fun. Now stop stalling. I’ll even let you go first.”
“No, I insist, ladies first.” I cocked my chin. “However, since there doesn’t seem to be one around, you can start.”
Her cocky smile faded into a scowl. “Fine. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Boring.” She stared out the windshield in deep thought. After five minutes of silence, she twisted in her seat, her eyes flashing. “Have you ever had sex with a sicario?”
“That’s not fair. All my sicarios are men.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you discriminate.” The smug grin on her face was almost enough to make me slam on the brakes just to watch the seat belt slingshot her back into the seat.
“Truth or dare?” I growled.
“Truth.”
“Well, look who jumped on the boring express.” I rolled my eyes as I racked my brain trying to think of something to knock her down a couple notches. Then I remembered when she barged into my office, and I smirked. “Have you ever gotten yourself off to the thought of someone in this car.”
I was staring out the windshield, so I couldn’t see her reaction, but I felt her body shift, and from the sudden silence, I knew I had her.
“Funny, you never stop talking, but you’re suddenly really quiet, Adriana.”
“Shut up.”
“You have, haven’t you?” I couldn’t resist anymore. Turning my head, I saw that her cheeks were the color of fire, and the moment we made eye contact, she turned away. Shit, this was better than any radio station, and I wasn’t about to let it go. Keeping one hand on the wheel, I grabbed her chin with the other and forced her eyes on me. “Oh, no, princesa, this game was your idea, remember? Tell the truth. Have you touched yourself while thinking about me?”
She jerked her chin out of my hold. “Maybe. It’s not a big deal.”
“Oh, I think it is. When did this happen?”
It took her a few moments to find her voice. “After you left my motel room, all right?”
“You mean after I had you pinned against the wall, completely at my mercy?”
Her lips thinned but she didn’t respond.
Stubborn-ass woman.
“I walked away because two more seconds and I would’ve kissed you while ripping that little lace dress off,” I admitted, pushing her defenses a little harder.
That earned me a sharp glare. “I don’t kiss.”
My tongue burned with a dozen questions but asked none of them. Instead, I kept myself in check and forced her hand.
She sighed. “You kiss someone you love. I fuck, Brody. I don’t kiss.”
I was stunned but focused on proving my point. “Fair enough, no kiss. Want to know what I would’ve done after that?”
“I’m
on pins and needles.”
“I would’ve run my hands down those curves you keep throwing in my face. You wouldn’t have had to get yourself off, Adriana, because right up against that wall, I would’ve made you shake so hard, you would’ve collapsed.”
She curled her lips and stared at the roof of the car. “Uh-huh, right.”
“Don’t believe me?”
“Oh, I’m sure the socialites you’ve been with have no complaints, but we’re talking apples and oranges here.” She tossed out one open palm and then the other to demonstrate as if I were a complete moron. “I’m not saying your vanilla way is bad, but we’d never be sexually compatible.”
I was fucking with her before, but now I was pissed.
“How would you know?”
“Let’s just say my sexual appetite is like a car’s engine, and yours is more like a bicycle.” Again, she demonstrated holding on to invisible handlebars as if I were a chimpanzee who’d just learned to eat with utensils. “You strike me as more of a candlelight and roses by a four-poster bed type of guy. That’s not me, counselor. I’m more of a dirty fucking on the hood of a car type of girl.”
I should’ve let it die. My brain knew nothing good could come of taking this any further. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my brain that was in control.
“Who are you trying to convince, princesa? Me or yourself?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think for once in your life, you want to hand over your coveted control and know what it feels like to submit. Only nobody has ever had the balls to make you do it.”
There. I said it, and every word was true whether she wanted to admit it or not. I saw how she responded when I had a gun to her head and my hand around her throat. I understood her better than she thought. Maybe I was the only one who’d ever come close.
Our lives paralleled, forming an extremely warped yin and yang. Adriana grew up in darkness, fighting for respect, blood and death her closest childhood friends. I, on the other hand, grew up in what I thought was the light, freely given respect and adoration, ignorance and justice my most trusted confidants. Somewhere along the way, our worlds imploded and reversed. I fell into darkness while Adriana, whether she saw it or not, desperately sought out the light.