The Perfect Stranger (LOS SANTOS Cartel Story #2)

by Melissa Jane

  Two women in the forties, tourists, recounted the events, arms pointing in every which direction until they landed on me. Their accusatory faces met mine, knowing that somehow I was involved. The agents watched me as I started to back away, knocking into those keen to get off this particular street. One narrowed his eyes, recognition registering. He knew my face and couldn’t quite place me. While the other took notes from the women. The agent dialed a number and held the cell to his ear.

  I had to get out of there.

  If I was apprehended, I stood no chance of seeing Nina alive again. They would action too slow, and by the time they found her, she would be dead. I made to run, taking a corner down 23rd while dialing Zero’s number.

  “Yo,” he answered, voice hushed. He still had his own charade to maintain.

  “I need a trace on a number plate.”

  “Go for it.”

  I rattled off the number of the car that had driven off with Nina. Before I could thank him, a brutal blow to the head knocked me forward, the cell smashing to the ground. The pavement became a haze, the buildings surrounding me swaying from side to side as I fell heavily to the ground. Blood dripped down my temple and splattered onto the concrete. A pair of boots came to a stop in front of me, before I felt myself fall for the last time, the world turning black.

  Footsteps crunched on the ground.

  I was barely awake.

  My brain felt like exploding, my skull thudding in pain.

  I could smell blood. Lots of it.

  The world was still black even though my eyes were cracking open.

  I was wearing a hood, hands tied around the back of the chair I was sitting on.

  Somewhere behind me was an incessant drip, the cold air biting.

  I stilled, waiting for whoever was lurking to make the next move.

  He doesn’t keep me waiting.

  The hood is pulled off roughly, my head wound sticking to the fibers and screaming as a new raw layer is exposed. I was in a warehouse, an abandoned one that had turned almost derelict. The walls on the far side had been knocked out exposing the cloudy afternoon sky. Exposed beams both horizontal and vertical were the only things keeping this place up.

  I heard him before I saw, his boot splashing in a stale puddle of water.

  I didn’t move. I didn’t have to. His face stood in line with mine, a smirk reaching his eyes.

  Gabriel Santos was alive and well.

  “Brother,” he greeted, almost mockingly. “It’s good to see you again. You’re looking… well.”

  “Where is she?”

  He nodded, a glimmer of satisfaction that I had asked the question he wanted.

  “See for yourself.” He pointed to his left, and my heart broke before the remaining pieces pounded hard in my chest. A fiery anger almost had me exploding as I awkwardly shuffled the chair on a better angle.

  “Nina?” I swallowed hard fearing the worst. I took in the sight, loathing myself and Gabriel equally. She was completely naked. Strung up, hands high above her head to a rope attached to a beam. Her body had paled considerably, lips, fingers and toes blue from the freezing conditions. “Nina, can you hear me?”

  And then it occurred to me with a sickening dread in my gut.

  “Is she alive?” I barely breathed, eyes trained on her like a hawk, waiting for any sign of movement.

  “Would you like to find out?” Gabriel practically bounced, keen to display the next trick up his sleeve.

  He approached her, circled her, mauling her with his preying eyes, making me itch with need to kill him once again. His hands touched Nina’s waist, sliding over her bare skin until he reached her breasts. He groped, pinched and pummeled until red marks remained over her icy body. He turned to me and smiled knowing what it was doing to me.

  One hand slid into her hair, pulling, tilting her head back enough for him to claim her blue lips. He kissed, rough, without care and only with the need to show off. He kept his mouth on hers and when she still didn’t rouse, Gabriel pinched her nose.

  I grew panicked, fearing if she didn’t wake, he would kill her.

  “Stop! Stop! Stop!” I practically begged.

  After a few seconds he released her altogether, her sharp inhale followed by several that dragged while she recouped her breath. Inside I smiled. Tears prickling my eyes knowing that she was still alive. Her eyes were barely open, her chin started to quiver with the cold.

  “Nina,” I begged her to look my way. She turned her head the slightest degree at the sound of my voice. Eyes widening that little bit. She was coming to.

  “Nina, it’s me, Antonio.”

  “Well, isn’t this just a lovely reunion,” Gabriel interrupted, and Nina flinched at his words. He swung her around so now she faced me head on.

  “Let her go. You’ve got me now, you don’t need her.”

  He considered my words. “Yeah. Yeah, I do need her. You see, I fell for the scam once, I’m not gonna let her get away with it again. But you see the tables have turned. Now I know for sure that you two actually give a shit about each other. You’re the leverage I need to get this bitch to complete the transaction properly this time. And consider it payback. Since returning back to her office, your little girlfriend here spends her time auditing my US investments. I’ve lost men in the field because of her, so you can likely assume I’m not very happy. And you…” he walked slowly toward me, “…you. You’re the biggest traitor of them all! You will see first-hand me destroy the only thing you care about.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “That we will.”

  Footsteps, steady and even paced sounded behind Nina. Shortly after, Luis came into view. He was dressed all in black with a thick gold cross hanging from his neck.

  He pulled a wooden chair, similar to one I was in, and positioned it in front of me. He sat down, cool and collected, hooking one knee over the other.

  His face was blank as he stared, refusing to give anything away.

  “I don’t have time to waste,” Luis began. “So let’s get to the point. You came into this as a lone operator who played his cards right. And, from what I hear, convincingly so, until pussy led you astray. I thought about it for a long while, and I have to give it to you, Antonio, whoever you are, I can’t quite determine the connection. The obvious… she’s FBI, your special forces. There’s a possible and somewhat plausible connection, but I’m not convinced…” he paused waiting for a reaction from me. I gave none. “What is it that you wanted from us?”

  “Cut Nina down. If you leave her there any longer, she will freeze to death and be of no use. Cut her down.”

  Luis seemed none too interested. “Let her freeze.” He waved dismissively. “Is it the money you were after? Or, are you tainted with Baja blood?”

  “Neither.”

  He considered me a long moment.

  “Señor Suárez, I can assure you that you will not be leaving here alive. Neither will she, for that matter. But how you die can be determined by your cooperation.”

  “I can assure you, Señor Santos, that just as I’m about to kill you and your nephew, I will be happy to inform you of my motives.”

  He watched me for a few seconds a small smile played on his lips. “While I admire a man who speaks with such confidence, I will remind you of your current situation.” He glanced to Nina who now awake and aware of her environment, was shivering uncontrollably. “I will give you some time to think about it.”

  He pushed the chair back, and it scraped along the concrete floor. He stopped just shy of Nina, who raised a defiant chin.

  Luis turned back to me, this time wearing a smile that reached his eyes. “She looks a lot like Ana…” he paused, waiting for the threat to have its effect. “A shame really… what happened to her. Don’t you think?”

  Without waiting for a response, Luis Santos walked out followed by his nephew.

  Our window of opportunity was narrow.

  It was now or never.

  “Nina, are
you hurt?” I silently pleaded for the better answer. She met my gaze, sad eyes glistening with tears.

  “Just cold.” She shivered.

  “I know, baby. I know.” The rope binding my wrists was tight and left no wiggle room. It was also connected to the frame of the chair. “Nina, I need you tell me something.” She nodded, a small spark of hope lighting her face. “Is the backrest of the chair, the same plank of wood for the back feet?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed quickly.

  I searched for the nearest pole that looked sturdy enough to take the force.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked, wanting to help.

  “The closest pole.”

  “Behind you…” she pointed with her eyes, “…only a yard away.”

  Shuffling back, I met with the single pole and stood as much as the restraints would let me. Tilting on a severe angle, I pushed hard. The force of the pressure on the backrest of the chair against the pole caused the wood to creak. The aim was to snap the backrest and legs away from the seat. When that happened, I could slide the rope off. Again, I leaned forward, using every muscle I had to force the snap.

  “Keep going…” Nina encouraged, “…the join is separating.”

  With a roar, I plunged forward, hard, knocking the frame until I heard the delightful crack. The base of the chair fell away, allowing me to stand straight with only the backrest to contend with. Looking around, I found a door that connected to an office. It still had the round door knob attached and would be sturdy enough for the next task. Hooking the hollow of the backrest over the knob to keep it from moving, I wiggled the rope down the planks. It was tedious, and I feared the movement was only tightening the knots. The rope cut into my wrists tearing the skin.

  In front, Nina watched on. She was the strongest woman I’d ever met, and I owed it to her to ensure she made it out alive. I dropped to the floor like a dead weight, my biceps bulging under the strain, veins popping, until finally, the rope slipped the last two inches, and I was free from the chair. I threaded my hands underneath me and over my legs until they were in front.

  Quick stepping it over to one of the few windows, I found the sharpest edge of broken glass and started the sawing motion. Once I cut the first link, I turned my wrist over to avoid veins and started again. There was no way of avoiding being shredded to pieces, the glass slicing to skin while simultaneously cutting the rope. When the last thread gave way, I ran to Nina.

  Her skin was like ice, and any longer exposed to these temperatures she would have died from hypothermia.

  With the now broken piece of glass from the window, I cut through her restraints until finally, she fell free. I caught her weak body in my arms and held her close allowing my body’s temperature to warm her. She gripped the front of my shirt holding me as tight as she could manage. Kissing the top of her head, I carried Nina to a chair. Lowered her down, I removed my jacket, hooking it over her small shoulders. She nestled into it, craving the need for warmth.

  Picking her up, chair included, I relocated her to the small office and closed the door.

  “Nina, I’m sorry for everything.”

  “Don’t be.” Her icy hand cupped my cheek.

  “They were after me. When you left, I spent my days targeting their US assets. Plus, it was me who fooled them in Mexico with the masked funds, not you.”

  “I need to end this and make it right.”

  Her beautiful eyes softened with sorrow. “I know you do.”

  I brought her in close, our foreheads touching. “I will be back for you. I promise.”

  “I don’t know what lies behind that door,” she said cautious of the muscle and armory they might possess beyond the walls.

  “Here,” I pulled the jacket away slightly so she could thread her arms through. “I need you to get warm.” I wound a long tendril of hair through my fingers. “I’ll see you soon, cariña.”

  I made to stand, but she pulled me down with urgency into a soft and tender kiss.

  When she pulled away, she spoke four words.

  Four words that would be my ruin.

  “I love you, Antonio.”

  I searched the area looking for prospective weapons. Already in my possession was a slender piece of wood shorter than the span of my arm. It had six nails hammered into one side, but without a joining piece, the sharp ends of the nails were exposed.

  I also carried in my back pocket the shard of glass I’d used to cut through the ropes.

  It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

  The door pulled open easily and the hall was quiet. It was strange to not have a sentry on duty, and the idea of walking into a trap crossed my mind more than once. The rest of the warehouse resembled the floor we were on—dusty, derelict and the perfect place to kill.

  Taking to the stairs, I checked the third floor which came up empty. Only when I started the next flight did I hear voices on the second. I paused, listening to the terse conversation that followed.

  “How far away are they with the equipment?”

  “Ten to fifteen,” Gabriel responded to his uncle.

  “Why the fuck has it taken so long? They should have been right behind us?”

  “There’s a fatal accident before the turnoff, and they got blocked.”

  Something heavy was thrown, hitting a wall and thudded to the floor.

  “As soon as they get here, get the bitch to transfer the money and then end them both.”

  “I know the fucking plan,” Gabriel practically grunted in frustration.

  “Is that so?” Luis mocked. “You said that last time and if I recall it was an epic fuck up.” There was silence before he continued, “Listen here. She’s a fucking FBI cunt still on US soil. She has people looking for her. No funny business. She’s not your little play thing to sink your cock into, so sort her out as soon as the real money ends up in the account. In fact, kill her first, so Hunter can watch his bitch in pain. Then let the dogs have him for dinner.”

  “I. Under. Stand.”

  “This place reeks of piss,” Luis complained.

  The two bickered for a while longer which was more Luis reprimanding his nephew. I glanced outside into the darkness and saw the sentries guarding the perimeter. Small orange glows from cigarettes help me to locate five of them.

  Completing the stairs, I trod carefully on the rickety planks avoiding the creaks. Through the doorway I saw them. Both had their back to me, both distracted. Gabriel was sharpening a knife and Luis was retrieving a phone number off his main cell and entering it into a disposable.

  Attacking a man from behind was never honorable, but my mere plank of wood would not bode well against a firing weapon. Luis Santos was first. I wanted him weakened, but not dead. That time would come very soon. I advanced swinging, my strides long and fast. When the wood connected with the side of his face, the nails sunk deep. When I pulled the plank away, the nails tore at his skin, ripping the flesh wide open on his cheek. His cry sounded like that of a tortured animal. Luis fell to the left onto the ground, blood spurting through his fingers covering the wound.

  Gabriel, caught by surprise, stumbled to his feet in an attempt to create some distance.

  “What the fuck have you done?” His eyes were wide with horror taking in the damage to his uncle’s face. As I rounded on the two, I got to see the full extent of the damage. Even I was both suitably impressed at my weapon’s potential and equally as horrified at the wounds it effortlessly created. A messy tear from his nose to his ear exposed the mangled muscle and bone in his right cheek.

  Luis was in shock, stumbling and struggling, a massive pool of blood forming at his knees.

  “Jesus Christ!” Gabriel was stunned, and it occurred to me then that even though they rarely saw eye to eye, Gabriel was dependent on Luis’s leadership. Without him, he was weak. Vulnerable. Just like now.

  “Your turn,” I threatened, taking a step toward him. He flinched before gathering his senses. Gabriel reached for his Glock the
same time I pulled Luis’s from his jacket hooked over the chair.

  In a standoff, our Glocks pointed at each other, we waited.

  “You only had to bring me the girl, brother,” he began. “That’s all you had to do.”

  “I wasn’t in the habit of leading innocents to their death, and I wasn’t about to start with Nina.”

  “All this over her?” he asked, not quite understanding my choices.

  “No,” I said. “It’s far more complex than that. Nina was just collateral, and I wasn’t about to let her suffer for your own fun and games.”

  “Wasted energy, brother. Now you will both die.” He shook his head in frustration. “You approached me, remember? That night with Gregorio.”

  “I remember.”

  “Why? What were your motives? Why the fuck did you spend two years becoming a Saint, just to blow it on some fucking dumb bitch.”

  “First of all,” I started. “That dumb bitch you’re referring to, outsmarted the pair of you.”

  “I knew you were a fucking snake. I knew all the way back with Ana.” He smiled, sinister and cold. “You remember Ana, don’t you?”

  When I didn’t answer, he continued, “Your stupid mistakes got her killed, and now the same will be for Nina.”

  “Not if you die first.”

  I was first to fire, a bullet entering above his heart. He fell back just as a red stain bloomed on his shirt. It wasn’t until I turned to Luis did I see I had also been shot. He had fired at the same time, nicking my arm, almost in the same location I had shot Nina at the convenience store. Blood trickled down my arm and dotted the floor. Approaching Luis, I picked him up by the scruff of his neck. It was then I saw the opening in the floor some yards back. It was a large black pit. Pushing him toward it, he stumbled, pure hatred radiating off him in waves.

  “You fucking coward.”

  “Shut the fuck up,” I said, picking up Gabriel’s Glock off the ground and hooking it through my waistband. He hadn’t moved, but I would keep a close eye on the fucker. He already had a history of rising from the dead.