Lupe’s eyes widened, her lips forming a perfect O. Brow furrowed, her questioning stare swept over the group. “Susana?” she mouthed. Dora shrugged. Moni’s lips parted, but Lupe quickly shushed her, stabbing at the air as she pushed away from the desk and her son, craning her neck toward the hallway.
Intrigued, Moni set the bags down to watch the scene unfold. “I see,” Dr. Treviño continued in a calmer manner. “We’ll be there momentarily.” The muted click of the receiver settling into the cradle echoed in the quiet office.
Lupe straightened, trying to roll her office chair back to the desk with her tiptoes. Only the tension in the air kept Moni from laughing at the comical scene.
“Lupe,” Dr. Treviño called from his doorway.
“Yes, Doctor?” Lupe pasted a pleasant smile on her face as she launched herself out of the chair with an audible squeak.
“Please send for Andres. We need to return to the ranch immediately.”
“Yes, Doctor. Simon just came by. I’ll have him go.”
Simon took his cue, heading for the front door.
“When Dr. Vasquez returns ha—”
Moni pushed off from the desk. “I’m here.” She followed him as he retreated back into his office. “Good.” He paused. “I’m…I need to return to the ranch.”
“Of course.” Moni watched him shove papers into his bag with uncharacteristic disregard. “Is everything all right?”
Snapping the bag shut, he stepped out of his office and looked at her with something akin to resignation. “Yes.” He drew in a deep breath. “I’ll be in touch. I’m sure you’ll be brought up to date on the situation.” His gaze jumped to Lupe, then back. “For now, adios. I’m a phone call away if you need me.” He stood up straight and squared his shoulders, walking down the hall without a backward glance. “I’ll be waiting by the truck.”
“Of all the—” Lupe stood close to Dora, her shoulders thrown back as she spoke in a low, fierce tone, disapproval evident in the downward tilt of her mouth.
“What was that all about?” Monica asked, after the door latched shut.
“Susana Rueda,” Lupe hissed. “The nerve of the woman. Showing up like nothing happened, scandalizing the housekeeper.”
What had she missed? Who was Susana Rueda? What did Dr. Treviño have to do with this woman?
“Poor thing,” Dora chimed in.
Lupe scoffed. “I bet she didn’t go to her parents because her father wouldn’t have her.” Dora bit her thumbnail as she nodded her agreement.
“So who is Susana Rueda?” Moni asked, close to exasperation.
“She’s Andres’s…um…f-friend?” Dora shrugged.
“Friend?” Lupe spat. She crossed her arms, her mouth a slash of disapproval.
“Well, that was before,” Dora clarified.
“She’s still a strumpet,” Lupe added in dismissal.
Monica’s lips parted as she stared at Lupe. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Lupe shrugged. “Everyone knows about her. She disgraced her family running off the way she did with Andres.”
“I see.” Monica blinked. Her voice sounded strained, and she cleared her throat to cover the slip. Is this what Lupe meant when she’d warned her about the Calderons? And why did she even care? She knew she wasn’t the first to notice Andres or his delectable body.
Lupe glanced at her and frowned. “What is wrong with you?”
Some small sense of self-preservation took over. She had no intention of providing a new twist to the gossip mill. Mustering as much ice as she could, she leveled a stare at Lupe and used the one name she knew would make the woman back off.
“Dr. Treviño doesn’t approve of gossip, and I have no intention of breaking his rules.” Before Lupe could retort, Monica turned to Dora. “Please make sure the supplies in the pack are cataloged and placed in inventory. Let me know if any patients come in.”
She turned and made for the sanctuary of her office. Closing the door behind her, she sat at her desk and drew in a breath. She held her hands out, watching her fingers tremble. Ugh. Leaning back in her chair she crossed her arms, tucking the offending digits out of sight.
She was a grown woman, for crying out loud. What was wrong with her? Thank God she’d had enough of her wits about her to come up with that lie.
Fine, a few hours ago she’d been in the exam room, wrapped in Andres’s arms. He’d kissed her with abandon, making her feel as if she were the most important thing in his world, making her want to be the most important thing in his world.
She turned in the chair, fixing her gaze out the window as her toe tapped lightly on the wooden floor. So he hadn’t been forthcoming about a past female “friend” as Dora had so delicately put it. A newly arrived past female friend.
She didn’t think he’d been celibate all his life, waiting for her to show up. She certainly hadn’t. And she had no intention of talking about her failed engagement or her cheating ex-fiancé. Valdo’s face flashed across her mind, and humiliation shot through her. Neither of them had shared anything deep about themselves.
Still, what brought the woman, this Susana, back to Copas? And back into Andres’s life?
Monica took a deep breath. Andres didn’t kiss her as if another woman was on his mind, but she’d already learned her lesson all too well about how fickle a man could be.
What does it matter, Monica, you’re leaving soon, remember?
Could she enjoy his company without the entanglements of feelings? She hadn’t planned on getting involved with anyone here. It was for the best. She would stick with her plans, stay focused on her goal, and put this dusty, throwback-to-the-middle-ages town behind her soon enough, and any thoughts of Andres along with it.
Chapter Five
A woman’s laughter reached across the blanket of darkness. Her. The man swallowed the word with bitterness. Splashing. Too much for one person. She would be surrounded by her men.
The din led him downriver to the edge of the clearing by the men’s swimming hole. Three bodies engaged in a sordid dance. Slut. She was nude; a bald man fondled her breasts. A second man, his shoulders darkened with ink, swatted at her bare bottom as she slipped and slid out of the river.
“Lalo, come on.” Her breath escaped in a rush. “You’re missing all the fun.”
Whore. What else would one call a woman who compromised herself with three—three—men? He’d had such high hopes for Pablo Guerrero’s heir. She’d come to live with her father years ago. A young, innocent girl ripe with promise for the future.
“He’s got to keep his damn eyes open, baby.” Both men followed her out of the water. Their bodies were heavy with arousal, yet none showed a sliver of embarrassment over their nudity. “And they sure as hell shouldn’t be following your pussy around.”
She lay on the clothes scattered along the bank and opened her legs wide.
No. A scream curdled in his throat, but he managed to hold his tongue. How could she violate a place where the family had spent so many joyous hours playing with their children?
Her hips rolled back while her hand ran over her breast and belly to burrow through the curls on her mound. The tall one stared down at her offering. “I thought you liked my pussy,” she pouted.
A tattooed arm reached down between his legs, his hand curling around the jutting root. “Doesn’t this tell you how much I like your pussy?”
She crumbled first, coming up on her elbow. “I want it. But I can’t decide where.” Her giggle rent the silence while her hand continued working between her legs.
“How about you come take care of what you started.” He flexed his hips. “Then we can see how you’ll finish.”
She pushed up on her knees in one fluid motion, swatting away a garment stuck to her back. One finger curled, calling him closer.
The man’s self-assured smile mocked him from afar. Paloma’s dainty hand fondled his sack then ran along his length. “If you make me come like the other day, I’ll let you fuck m
e any way you want.”
His teeth glinted in the moonlight. “Here. Take it.” His hands went into her hair. She drew him in, her lips closing around him in a greedy gesture. “You’re gonna let me finish this time. Mmmm.”
His lip curled in disgust at the obscenities she allowed. The wickedness of her act taunted him. He didn’t want to watch—he closed his eyes against the sight. Moans, sucking, and the other men’s encouragement echoed in his ears, planting images in his mind, shooting his lids open.
Paloma certainly wasn’t the woman he thought she was. How could she allow such things?
“Fuck, that’s hot!” The voice came from farther in the shadows. Their sentry. His attention clearly centered on the spectacle before him instead of on their surroundings.
She collapsed, her breathing harsh. Her hands were at her breasts, fondling herself while the man fell to his knees before her. “You liked?”
Both men answered.
Her laughter rang out. The vicious sound scratched down his spine.
“No.” She pushed at a tattooed shoulder. “Flip over. I want you on your back, like the other day.” The ape followed her instructions. “This way Capo can get a little something, too.” Her coy suggestion had the fool trying to kick free of his pants to get to her.
The whore settled across his shoulders. Her hand went between her legs. “Oh yeah.” She hissed. “You worry about blowing my mind, lover. I’ll take care of blowing Capo.” Pulling her hair back, she reached out. “Bring your bad-boy self over here.”
He’d had such plans for her. Wife. Mother. A woman who could continue the family line in a place stolen from under them. She’d shattered the image he’d had and the plans he’d spent years cultivating. In one vile stroke, she’d ruined everything.
Led on by a dark hatred, he crept through the scrub brush, taking advantage of the noise raised by the whore and her men. Coming up behind the sentry was easy. The lust-blinded fool was on his knees, pleasuring himself while watching the others. Inch by inch he pulled out the sharp blade he kept as his constant companion. A single step brought him directly behind the man; a quick grab of the head to pull it back exposed the neck. The sacrifice never made a sound as the blade ensured he never would again. Dropping the body and the knife to the sand, he slid the gun from the dead man’s holster and took aim.
Fate offered up an unexpected opportunity to right a long overdue wrong.
Chapter Six
Andres squinted into the distance. Three vultures circled the trees, diving for a few seconds before returning to hold the pattern. Likely some animal had become dinner for the scavengers. The sight became more common as the summer days grew hotter.
Right now he felt much like carrion himself. Susana’s reappearance had blindsided him. What was she doing here? Obviously things hadn’t worked out with her baby’s father, and her father had probably shut the door in her face. But after everything, why would she show up at the ranch?
He’d been dumbfounded on the drive home. While he’d been trying to wrap his head around the news, Dr. Treviño had gone on about family and support. What about how she’d destroyed his relationship with his family and his friendship with Alex? He’d thought it couldn’t get worse, then he’d learned Susana and the baby would be staying in the main house. What was now Guerrero’s home.
Bile churned in his stomach at the memories. He buckled down, letting Bailarina set the pace on their return to the stable. Her hot pink mane danced in the wind. Paloma had an upscale stylist come in to do the dye job on a regular basis. News of the chief’s disappearance had spread within hours, so the prissy little douche had called to say he wouldn’t make the trip. As Bailarina’s groom, he’d have to take her up to Monterrey in a trailer the next time her mane and tail needed a touch-up.
He loved horses, regardless of breed or, in this case, fashion statement. He’d been able to talk Paloma into dying the mane instead of the entire horse. He hated to admit it, but the contrast in the thoroughbred’s rare white coat and the hot pink actually looked good. Though how the horse ended up named for a ballerina was still beyond him.
She slowed to a trot, wanting to enter the stable like a lady. Despite his thoughts, he smiled and patted her neck. No matter the species, a female was still a female.
Alex caught them at the door. “Where the hell’ve you been?”
The two ranch hands stacking hay ducked their heads and kept working. Much as he wanted to work things out with Alex, as usual, now was not the time. “I took Bailarina out to stretch her legs.” The wind picked up, whipping the words from his lips.
Alex glared at him. “Treviño is asking for you. Go find Manny, then get your asses up the hill.”
Andres didn’t appreciate having orders barked at him. He opened his mouth to utter a comeback when a baby’s wail cut the tension between them. Alex had probably been caught off guard, too. His angry retort died on his lips. He wondered what was up, but instead of asking Alex and making things worse, he rode Bailarina over to the bunkhouse.
Dismounting, he tossed the reins around the corner support in one fluid motion. “I’ll be right back, girl.” He made no effort to silence his footfalls on the uneven boards, the boots announcing his arrival at the long, shotgun-style cabin. Experience told him to make his presence known, or the guys might think someone was sneaking in. More than one ranch hand had gotten a gun pointed at him for trying to be considerate to those sleeping.
Several men looked up from their card game. A few men lay in bed, reading or catching up on sleep. One dismissed him, another pulled his weapon from under the pillow. Manuel, one of the night guards, returned his stare from the back corner. “Treviño wants you up at the house.” He turned and walked out, not waiting to see if Manuel followed or not. They already considered him an errand boy; no use giving anyone an opportunity to send him back with a damn message.
The screen door slammed shut. Manuel’s head popped out the collar of a T-shirt while Andres mounted. He ran a hand through his dark hair, trying to settle the rumpled cluster. “What’s he want?”
“No idea, man.” He pulled on the reins, keeping her from heading back to her stall. “Alex sent me to get you so we could both head over to the house.”
Manuel yawned, rubbing his eyes as he followed on foot.
Bailarina left the grassy area behind, then pulled up to the house before Manuel had even made it to the clearing. Alex stood out back trading words with Dr. Treviño. The old man looked tired enough to drop at any second. Barrios’s murder must be weighing on him.
“How does it matter who went to ge—”
“Andres.” Dr. Treviño left Alex midsentence. “I’m glad you joined us.” Andres dismounted, holding the reins behind him in a tight grip. “Pablo is concerned, my boy. Paloma didn’t come down for brunch this morning.”
Andres frowned. Why would he be called about Paloma?
“When the housekeeper went to check on her she found the room empty. Her car is here, so are her personal belongings, but she and her men are missing. Nobody remembers seeing her after dinner last night.”
Andres stiffened. “Shit.” A sick feeling rolled through his stomach.
“Pablo wants to question the sentry on duty last night.” He nodded toward Manuel, still on the far side of the quarter-mile clearing. “He was watching the back of the house. Maybe he has some information he can provide to figure out where the girl is.”
Pablo Guerrero asking to talk to you wasn’t a good omen. Likely why Dr. Treviño had been the one to send for them.
Bailarina’s nose bumped his back. He should get on the horse and go. If Paloma was drunk or high or shacked up with one of the guys, Guerrero would be furious. Regardless of her age, she was still his little girl. Whoever she’d taken off with was going to wish he were dead.
Dead…birds… A growing realization sent his blood pumping until his ears buzzed. “Let me…” He cut off his words and jammed his foot into the stirrup instead. Better to be sur
e before starting a panic. “Let me check on something.”
“Get back here, pendejo,” Alex hollered.
“Let the boy…”
Dr. Treviño’s words faded as he rode around the house, pulling wide to avoid the propane tank behind the kitchen. “Go on, girl.” Bailarina’s hoofs thundered against the packed earth. He searched the sky. Vultures. The scavengers could find an animal within hours of death. Please… He rode on, nearing the old swimming hole.
A coyote scrambled out of the trees, a bundle firmly grasped between his teeth. Andres pulled back, bringing the horse to a hard stop. A second, larger coyote, jumped out after the runt. They growled, teeth bared, mouths and coats bloody. The runt held his ground. They tumbled over each other in combat, but Andres became oblivious. His eyes were drawn to the thumb and two fingers remaining on the hand the animal had dropped.
Bailarina circled, adding to his urge to heave up his measly dinner. “Shhh,” he soothed, straining to see into the wooded area. “They’re too busy to bother with us.” A man’s shoe lay in the distance. Blood covered the rocks by the river. He couldn’t get close, not with the animals taking over the area. Better to have someone come with a weapon and scatter the wildlife.
A dire sense of foreboding intensified as he maneuvered Bailarina around and rode back to the ranch. “Sorry, girl. We’re almost done.” Hopefully the words wouldn’t be prophetic.
Guerrero’s thick voice reached him from around the corner. “…to tell anyone when she didn’t come back?” His blunt, deeply grooved features reddened as he pounded his beefy fists into his victim while the others watched. Manuel was on his knees, his face a bloody mess.
Why wasn’t anyone stopping the beating?
Tension engulfed him, adding to the horse’s skittishness. The run, blood, death, and wild animals. Now this. How could he expect her to be calm?
Dr. Treviño stood away from the thrashing. He waved Andres back while he scurried over.
Secrets and Seduction (Dangerous Desires) Page 5