The throbbing in her body began to dissipate. Settle down and breathe deep. Half a dozen patients still waited for care.
Monica bent over the sink, turning the knob to let cold water flow. She cupped her hands under the stream then splashed her face until she banked the fire in her cheeks. Grabbing a few paper towels, she blotted her skin dry. The stiff paper didn’t soak up the moisture quickly enough. She chased a droplet down her jaw…where he’d caressed her with his thumb.
Stop it. She tossed the napkin in the wastebasket. Back straight, coat in place, senses more or less reined in, she reached for the doorknob. With a little luck she’d be able to ignore her overly sensitive nipples leading the way.
Andres stared at the far wall, gritting his teeth as Lupe tied a rubber strip around his bicep and ran a swab over his vein.
“You’re going to feel a twinge.” The needle pierced his arm with a hard sting. Damn, the woman had a heavy hand. His blood pooled into the clear container as Lupe stood there, tapping her foot. The sour look on her face made him feel like a misbehaving kid who’d been sat in the corner. He should have made his getaway when she left to grab a clipboard.
Lupe switched out the tubes, writing his name on the first one.
What stupid impulse had driven him to slip in and try to score a few minutes with Monica?
What would he do with her if he got her alone? The door to the office had opened, and he’d started pulling at his shirt like a fourteen-year-old boy. So fucking stupid.
But he could still feel her hands on his skin, taste her on his lips. She’d said her hands were cold, but she’d burned a trail down to his thighs. His dick had taken control. He’d run his hands over her, enjoying every curve and valley. Even dragged his rough fingers along her face.
“Don’t make a fist,” Lupe snapped. She was writing his name on another tube.
“Sorry.” He opened his hand, uncovering the hard pads along his palm and fingers. How could he not run her off? He wasn’t an aristo who could sit back and order other men to do the rough work. He was a freaking ranch hand, and she was a doctor. What the hell was I thinking?
Touching Dr. Monica Vasquez would be his downfall. But not touching her would be a thousand times worse.
Chapter Four
“I’ll get the prescription written—” Frantic knocking stopped Monica midsentence. “Excuse me, Mrs. Ramos.”
Moving to the door, she opened it and found Dora standing there, wringing her hands, her bottom lip quivering. Monica’s gut clenched. “Doctor Vasquez, y-you have to…come.” The dusting of freckles on her nose stood out on a face as pale as the medical scrubs she was wearing.
Monica stepped out, leaving a curious granny trying to peek around the door. “What’s wrong?”
Dr. Treviño came out of a nearby exam room. His brow furrowed as he took in the assistant’s distress. “Is everything all right?” Dora pressed her hands to her stomach, a glassy sheen covering her eyes. “It’s the chief, Doctors. He-he’s…” She struggled to swallow. “Th-they want you over at the station.”
Doctor Treviño turned on his heel. Monica put a steadying hand on Dora’s shoulder. “The emergency room needs to be cleared, Dora. You tell Lupe to make sure it’s ready when we come back.”
Monica ducked into the office and grabbed her doctor’s bag before rushing to catch up to Dr. Treviño. The police station was two blocks away. Her short legs made the distance seem twice as long. The heavy pack bouncing at her back, threatening to tip her over, didn’t help.
Over a dozen men, both officers and civilians, stood outside the plain-faced building, their unease reaching Monica even at this distance. One man doubled over, emptying the contents of his stomach at the edge of the sidewalk. She glanced toward Dr. Treviño, expecting the calm façade he always presented. Instead, a stiff slash of his mouth, beads of sweat on his upper lip, and a fixed stare met her gaze.
The morning’s coffee churned in her stomach. What had Dora learned to leave her in such a state? Why hadn’t she been able to provide more details? What were they walking into? A beat-up pickup crawled past them; the grizzled driver craned his neck to catch the scene instead of watching the road. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to deal with an accident also.
Monica’s heart raced, more out of concern than the two-block sprint. As expected, the group’s attention centered on Dr. Treviño. “David?”
“There.” One of the men pointed toward the entrance. Everyone stood back from the doorway; those standing along the sidewalk allowed him through before closing ranks. She reined in her annoyance. At her height, even with the heels, she wasn’t able to see the chief.
Doctor Treviño’s voice carried over the crowd. “Monica, I need you to go back to the office.”
Moni put the backpack down, her hand tightening around the strap at the top. Dr. Treviño had never blatantly dismissed her as if she were in the way. She wasn’t budging. “I’m here to help.”
“You need to get the patients cleared out as quickly as possible. I’ll take David in by the rear entrance.”
Footfalls echoed behind her. The officers murmured amongst themselves. Some hung on every word, others pretended their attention was elsewhere. Doubt pierced her irritation. If there was a chance other patients would be in danger, she had to consider them first.
“Get her out of here,” he said to someone behind her.
She didn’t need to glance back to know who stood there. “Come on, Doc.” Andres took the backpack out of her hand, slinging the strap over his shoulder.
She did not need a sitter. In her haste to avoid him, she stepped back, and her heel landed on an oddly shaped rock. Her foot rolled to the outside, stretching the ligaments surrounding her right ankle with a sharp pinch. Andres and one of the uniforms steadied her. Heat erupted from her cheeks.
“Sorry, Doc, I must have caught you with the bag.”
Her eyes darted to the officer. “Thank you.” He nodded once before he turned his back, taking the typical wide-legged cop stance.
“You okay?”
She flexed her ankle, doing a quick evaluation with no pain or pinching. Sustaining her weight would be another matter. “I’m fine.” She placed her foot on the ground, shifting forward a bit before pulling back, then trying again.
“Let’s have a look.” Andres squatted, running his hand over the top of her foot, around the anklebone, and up her leg. Her pulse sped up, and she had little choice but to use his shoulder to steady herself. Deft fingers eased over the ligaments on the outside and inside of her foot. “Everything seems to be okay, but I’m used to horses, not women.” With that, he slid his arm across her lower back, hooked it around her hip, and grabbed her under the knees as he stood.
The yelp escaped before she could stop it. She clutched at hard muscle, holding on for dear life. “What are you doing?”
“Getting you back to the office.” He managed to swivel around without hitting anyone. Someone snickered, and she glared over his shoulder. Several men turned, some doing a double take as Andres’s long stride put distance between them.
Mortified, her fingers dug in to his back while she hid her face against his collarbone. Sunshine, fabric softener, and Andres filled her senses, sending a lick of heat across her breasts. “I’m fine, Andres. You can put me down.”
“Yeah, ‘I’m fine’ didn’t do me a whole lotta good, either, Doctor.”
She pressed her lips together. Damn. Thwarted by her own words.
People stood watching, hopefully interested in what was happening behind them. Kicking her way free would only draw more unwanted attention. She’d be better off waiting until he put her down instead of throwing a tantrum—though no one could stop her from sulking during the trip. With nowhere else to turn, she studied his profile.
Soledad kept a jar of honey on the windowsill for her lavender tea. When the sun was at the right angle, you could see yellow, gold, and a little red shining through at the center—just like Andres’s irises.
How could the man not fascinate her? He was just like the prince she used to fantasize would sweep her off her feet. But she knew better than anyone that princes didn’t really exist.
She gave an exaggerated sigh. “You didn’t have to carry me back to the office.”
“Didn’t wanna wait. You woulda taken too long to limp two whole blocks.”
“I didn’t feel any pain.” Well, hardly any. “I’m sure my ankle is fine.”
“Let’s not take any chances.” He winked at her. “As I see it, I can either carry you in my arms or toss you over my shoulder.”
Typical Neanderthal mentality. She settled back to sulk, unwilling to rise to the bait.
“As much as I’d like to have your cute little ass in the air, I’m not willing to share the view with those morons.”
Maybe at this distance her glare would singe his eyebrow. The jerk grinned, without sparing her a glance. The man had some damn nerve. Never mind the thrill that raced through her when he’d swept her up against his chest. Why him? Why now? She didn’t want the complication of a man in her life. She’d had enough of that for a lifetime.
“You’re going to give yourself a headache if you keep glaring at me so hard.”
She chose to ignore him. “What did your people do—”
“They’re not my people.” He cut her off with a cold edge he’d never used before. “I hope they burn in hell for whatever they did to my friend.”
Her heart squeezed. Until Dr. Treviño got back to the office, all she could do was pray.
A muscle worked along his jaw, sending a ripple through his closely groomed beard. “They’re maggots, feeding off my family’s stolen land. Impossible to get rid of when you can only get to a few at a time.”
Get to a few at a time?
“It’s my heritage.” The words bled past his lips. “That’s not something I’m willing to walk away from even if it’s a lost cause.”
Before she could ask him what he meant, they’d arrived at the office. She shifted in his arms, more than ready to put space between them. “You can put me down now.”
“Will do.” He set her on the sidewalk with care, his hand riding up the slope of her back. Her throat constricted, yet he seemed oblivious to the havoc he wreaked.
She gingerly tested her ankle, rotating it slowly before putting her weight on it. Once she was able to take a few steps without limping, he nodded, satisfied she was okay. “I gotta go find the doc before he disappears on me again.”
She took the bag from his shoulder before meeting his eyes. “Thank you.”
The twinkle was back, along with a teasing wink.
The world shrank around her again. Her gaze cut to the triangle of skin at his open collar before she did an about-face. She walked slowly to the door, unwilling to push her luck with the ankle, but paused when his booted footsteps took off, growing quicker as he got farther away. She stole a glance over her shoulder, enjoying a view of his perfect ass. Strong arms to support him. Solid core for power. Firm, tight glutes for thrust. Sex with him would likely be incredible. She stifled a whimper before ducking inside.
“What happened?”
“Is it the chief?”
“Is someone hurt?”
The avalanche of questions descended as soon as she entered the waiting area. They’d created a scene by running through the office, and anxious faces waited for answers.
“Doctor Treviño is seeing to the matter.” She put one foot in front of the other, not allowing herself to slow down. “I’m certain everything will be fine.” Her voice, strong and sure, was the polar opposite of her true feelings. She went back toward her office, intent on dropping her pack.
“Is it true?” Dora asked over the thumbnail she was biting.
“We need to get the office cleared out.” Moni put the bag down.
“What happened?” Lupe demanded.
“I don’t know. We need to get the office cleared out. Now.”
“What? Why don’t you know?”
The shocked tone surprised Monica. “Dr. Treviño sent me back. We need to clear everyone out as soon as possible.” Lupe knew the drill. They didn’t have time for this.
“I should go help Dr. Treviño.”
Dora’s worried stare bounced from one to the other, her teeth still holding her thumbnail in a vise.
“He’ll be here shortly.” Monica turned to Exam Room A, pulling the file from the bin. “Dora, I need you to man the front door while Lupe—”
“He sent you back because you couldn’t—”
The side door opened. Monica gasped while Lupe’s scream filled the hallway. The file went flying as she caught the nurse’s limp form before she hit the floor. Apparently Lupe’s years of experience hadn’t quite prepared her for everything.
Dr. Treviño stood in the doorway, a weathered fruit crate in his hands. A legion of flies buzzed around, landing on the thin, blood-soaked, wooden planks. Between the slats, a moustache, nose, and eye were visible.
The chief had been found.
Andres held his breath as Dr. Treviño stepped into the office. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking around at the people waiting for him. Not even a cricket dared break the silence weighing heavily on the group. Andres’s fists tightened to the point of pain. Barrios didn’t deserve whatever those animals had done to him before ending his life.
“Chief Barrios was decapitated post mortem.” The doctor’s voice, surprisingly strong for his haggard appearance, boomed across the room.
“What does that mean?” One of the three remaining officers whispered to the man next to him.
Monica stood at the end of his desk, lost in thought. Lupe cocked her head, staring at the officer until the younger man squirmed. “It means”—she spat—“they killed him before they cut off his head.”
“Oh.” The guy crossed his arms, slinking back a step.
Grinding his teeth, Andres glared at Lupe. How the hell had she ended up in healthcare? She had no sense of dealing with people.
“The men are nervous.” Mario Villa, a twelve-year veteran of the police department, spoke up. “This is a message to us—all of us.” He folded his arms, looking around to the two officers who’d followed him. “We all know the danger involved in our jobs. But this is way past the line.” His gaze turned back to Dr. Treviño, pleading for understanding. “I don’t know how many are going to want to risk their lives to end up like…” His lips compressed, unable to utter the chief’s name.
Dr. Treviño absently rapped his knuckles on the desk. He sighed, settling into his chair. “I understand you are scared.”
Andres hung on every word, his chest feeling like a hollow gourd. He’d seen the fear in their eyes when he’d gone back to get Dr. Treviño. The fact that only three of the men stuck around to hear the doctor’s findings was concerning, but not completely unexpected.
“You men have families to worry about,” Dr. Treviño continued. “Wives, children, parents—they’re all dear to us. They’re the reason we do our jobs every day.”
“You’re living up at the house with them.” Claudio, the third officer, spoke up. “What are you hearing about this?”
The doctor shook his head. “I’m not privy to discussions about their…business. My conversations with my patient only go as far as his health is concerned.”
“Who else could do something like this?” Claudio voiced what everyone had been thinking. Decapitation was the cartel’s favorite form of intimidation. Their brutal message traveled far and wide. Fear rippled through the legal community and civilians alike. “And why go after Barrios?”
Why indeed? Andres scrutinized the three officers. None of them offered a suspect. Barrios had been after someone. After the rodeo he’d been restless, expecting something to happen. If only Barrios had mentioned what the problem was or who he’d had in his sights.
They’d been friends most of their lives, worked together on numerous occasions, but why would Barrios want to share information wit
h him? More importantly, why didn’t he share it with his uniforms? Could one of them be involved in whatever Barrios was expecting? He did a mental review on the guys. The original crew were all family men. The new guys were single when they’d started. Apparently Barrios hadn’t wanted to put another family man at risk. But they were young and from the area.
If circumstances had been different, he might have signed up. But since he lived under what was now a cartel roof, he couldn’t even consider law enforcement.
Mario stepped up to the desk. “I thought I’d be able to do it.” He pulled the badge from his uniform, dropping it on the doctor’s desk. “I’m not going to risk my life or my family. I’m done.” The last two officers followed suit. With the final metallic clink, Copas lost all of its law enforcement.
Despite the lack of traffic, Monica looked both ways before crossing the street. Not a soul ventured along the sidewalks besides her and Simon. He’d walked her back from the general store, helping carry the gauze, tape, alcohol, and various supplies she’d purchased. God only knew what might happen in the coming days. Lawlessness might take over.
Monica shifted a bag to her left hand and pulled the key out of her pocket. “Let me get that for you.” Simon reached around her, taking the bag from her hand. Muffled voices filtered out from the office as they entered.
“You have a call from the ranch, Doctor. I’ll transfer the line.” Dora put down the receiver, her sparkling eyes darting to Simon as she swiveled out of her chair to open the door leading in from the waiting area. Moni slowed her pace, glancing back over her shoulder to find Simon’s full attention on Dora.
Oblivious, Lupe turned from the filing cabinet, offering a cheek for her son’s kiss while her gaze sought out Dora. “The housekeeper,” she supplied without missing a beat. Simon put the bags on the desk then leaned in to greet his mother.
“Lourdes—Lourdes, wait.” Dr. Treviño’s exasperated voice filtered out of his office. “Who is this Susana woman?”
Secrets and Seduction (Dangerous Desires) Page 4