3
Sicario
Emilia
I hung up the phone and fell back onto the pillow. My deposition today was scheduled for noon. If I tried really hard, I could still get an hour of sleep. Fat chance. Not with Dom sleeping in the next room. I bet he slept naked.
What was wrong with me? I almost got killed last night and all I’d been able to think of since I went to bed was Dom and all the plans he had for me. Too bad he didn’t get to do any of it. A light knock on the door made me jerk out of my insanity. Shit. He was up. I threw the covers out of the way and jumped to my feet, my heart pounding. Another knock. Louder this time.
“Emilia? You up?” His voice rumbled while I stood naked in the middle of the room. My gaze darted from the bed to the chair in the corner. What did I do with my clothes? “Emilia? Are you okay? I’m coming in.”
“No.” I practically squealed. Jesus. This guy had a way to make me lose my mind. “One second.” I grabbed the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around me, gathering the excess fabric in front of me like my life depended on it. Turning the knob, I peeked through the gap. “What is it?”
My knees buckled when Dom’s mouth fell open. He cleared his throat before he swallowed. Good. I wasn’t the only one who’d spent the night tossing and turning. Gosh, I wished I’d brought my vibrator with me. Bracing a hand on the threshold, he leaned closer. “You sleep naked?”
“No. I just didn’t have anything else to wear. You try sleeping in leather pants.”
He chuckled. He looked sexy in the morning. Hair all messy, lips puffy. “You have a delivery.”
“That was fast.” I glanced at my watch. Huh? Did I spend an hour lying in bed thinking of Dom? How did that happen? “I’m gonna be late.”
Letting the door swing open, I tiptoed to the living room where several shopping bags were scattered on the sofa. I grabbed them with my free hand and spun to face Dom, who was still by the door, arms across his chest, a satisfied grin on his face.
“What?”
“Exactly how naked are you under there?”
I squeezed my legs together. His words ‘I had plans for you’ from last night swirled in my head. The now familiar desire spread from my core down to my feet. I had to get out of here. Two men almost killed me last night because my focus wasn’t in the right place. Dom made my head all fuzzy, and Jess needed me focused on her case.
“Oh please, grow up.” I sneered at him and scurried back into my room, shutting the door in his face.
Dropping the sheet on the floor, I dumped the contents of the bags on the bed. Not bad. The concierge had managed to find a decent suit for me to wear, complete with bra and panties, and even a pair of Manolo lacy pumps. Anything for the guy staying in the grand suite.
I jumped in the shower. No time to relax under the warm water. Making quick work of the shampoo and body wash, I rinsed and hopped out. In my bag, I found some tinted moisturizer, mascara, and lip gloss. That would have to do. I blow-dried my hair and put it up in a bun. Back in the bedroom, I tore the tags off the gray pencil skirt and the matching belted jacket and got dressed in record time. I took another five minutes to tidy up the room and collect my things before I headed out.
“There’s the Little Miss Proper I remember,” Dom said from the dining table where a massive breakfast laid in front of him.
“Don’t call me that.” My pulse quickened as I scanned the room. What the hell? I came in last night and didn’t do my usual routine—didn’t check for exit routes, locked doors, or furniture placement. I met Dom’s gaze. Did I trust him that much?
“Sorry.” He put up his hands in mock surrender. “Would you join me for breakfast?”
“Thanks, but I can’t. I’m late for a deposition.” I stepped toward the door, trying to memorize the place. The plush sofas in cream colors, the fresh flowers on the fireplace mantel, and Dom sitting at the head of the table looking more freaking delicious than he had the right to be. I wanted to stay, but I’d already stayed longer than I needed to. “Thanks again for letting me crash here.”
“Anytime. I’m leaving in a few minutes too if you need a ride.” His hot blue gaze put all kinds of crazy ideas in my head. The drive downtown was a good thirty minutes, longer if traffic was bad. Plenty of time to…
“No, I’m good. Got a car waiting.” I strutted out the door doing my best Little Miss Proper impression. That act had served me well for years. No reason to give it up now. Though I was glad Dom had had a chance to see a different side of me last night. The real me.
Outside the resort, my cousin Jess waited in the back seat of her black Escalade while my coworker, Jack, fired questions at her. She was already flustered, scared to see her soon-to-be ex-husband, Levi, at the deposition. Last time they saw each other, he left a shiner on her that took weeks to fully disappear. How she’d been able to put up with his temper since high school was beyond me. Ten years of marriage and a baby girl hadn’t helped their relationship in the slightest. Some assholes were just that—assholes. A loving woman and a family weren’t good enough reasons to change, to be decent, but his time had come. I was done hiding.
I climbed in the car and kissed Jess hello. “Jack, thank you for doing this today.”
“Don’t mention it. You’re right. Levi will be less defensive if a man is asking the questions.” He winked at me, making notes on his legal pad.
Yeah. Less defensive. Also, I wasn’t ready for him to know who was really helping his wife. As far as he knew, I wasn’t alive. I wanted to keep it that way for a bit longer.
“You’ll be fine.” I squeezed Jess’s hand.
She nodded. Jess was two years older than me, but we had been close growing up. We were inseparable in high school until I had to move away to New York. “I know you’re risking a lot just by being here, but you’re the only one I can trust.”
“Don’t mention it.” I made eye contact with her driver in the rearview mirror. He nodded and put the car in gear. “We’re meeting Levi at his attorney’s office. Jack will be with you the entire time. I’ll be here when you get out.”
Jess’s case was like hundreds of others that passed through family court each year. On paper, anyway. Levi wasn’t the typical husband. He had money, and more importantly, he had several corrupt politicians in his pocket, along with the backing of the Sonoran Corridor Cartel. A world I knew well, the same world I’d been trying to forget since Dad died.
We came to a stop on Seventh Street in front of a tall building in downtown Phoenix. The offices of Levi’s attorney were located on the top floor. A lump churned in my stomach. Just like Jess, I hated the idea of being this close to him. Even surrounded by other people, I didn’t feel safe.
Jess hugged me. Deep creases appeared on her forehead, eyes watering as if she were on the way to her execution. Dammit, she couldn’t go by herself. When she climbed out of the car, I followed.
“Stay here. It’s safer that way,” she said under her breath.
“I’ll stay out of sight. I promise,” I whispered, falling a step behind her when we entered the frigid lobby, which was scattered with real ficus trees and leather sofas that gave the place a contemporary upscale feel. Well maintained but not over-the-top fancy.
“All set?” Jack ushered Jess toward the elevator bay on the right side.
My heart pounded when the doors slid open, and I slipped in behind them, standing on the opposite side like I didn’t know them. When we reached the top floor, Jess and Jack went right toward the receptionist desk. I trod in the opposite direction to hide in the bathroom. The anvil lodged in my chest coiled itself deeper and blocked the air to my lungs. I washed my hands in cold water and pressed them on my forehead, breathing through my mouth. Was he here yet? I hadn’t seen Levi in over ten years. Not in person anyway.
I paced the bathroom. Dammit. I wanted to be there. I wanted to see his face and tell him I was coming for him. I spun on my heel and went out the door. When I reached the receptionist desk, I froze.
In the conference room across the way, Levi sat with his back to me, facing Jess while Jack whispered in her ear. She was almost in tears when she met my gaze through the floor-to-ceiling glass panel. Levi leaned his arms on the table, oozing confidence, certain he’d get what he wanted…Jess’s daughter. It was a matter of time, of going through the paces, and keeping up the appearances of an upstanding citizen.
Levi’s attorney whispered something to him and casually turned in his chair, following Jess’s line of sight—straight to me. What was Dom doing here? He was helping that asshole? I turned on my heel and rushed back to the elevators.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I rubbed a hand over my forehead. Dom’s visits to the bar were not a coincidence. He was there for me. Was he there as a favor to the Sonoran cartel? I punched the call button with the side of my fist several times. A hand touched my shoulder, and I slapped it off before I turned.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” the receptionist said, her cheeks red, eyes wide.
“It’s okay. I’m just in a hurry.” I pushed the call button again. Where was the freaking elevator?
“Well. Mr. Moretti asked me to escort you to his office.”
“I can’t. I have to go.”
“Actually, his exact words were don’t let her leave.” She showed me Dom’s text. “Sorry. He says it’s important.” The woman looked mortified but determined to follow Dom’s orders.
“Fine.” I had a few questions of my own.
She let out a long breath and escorted me down the hallway on the right, away from the conference room. I swallowed the lump in my throat when my escort opened the door to Dom’s massive office. I walked in, sidestepping the boxes scattered all over the place. He had large paintings leaning on the bare walls, piles and piles of manila folders on his desk and on the floor.
The door closed behind me. I didn’t bother to check if it was locked. No doubt Dom’s receptionist would stand guard until he showed up. I stood in the same spot—waiting. Dom isn’t Levi. Dom isn’t Levi. I repeated the words in my head until Dom sauntered through the threshold. Squeezing my hands into fists, I rounded on him and hit him square on the chest.
“It was you, wasn’t it? You went to the Roadrunner to what? Get rid of me? Gain my trust? What?” It felt good to yell.
He slammed the door shut and gripped my waist, walking me backward until we reached the opposite wall. Dropping his gaze from my face to where his hands were, he whispered, “I think we both know why I went back to the bar last night, but this is about you. Why did you string me along? Were you hoping I’d concede to you on this bullshit Levi Smith case?”
Was he still playing the I want you card?
“That is not how I win cases. That asshole deserves to be in jail for what he’s done to his family.” I slipped a hand between us and shoved him hard, but he didn’t budge.
He slow-blinked and let out a breath before he released me. “I’m not gonna lie. A small part of me wished you were here to see me, but I’m confused. You rushed out of my place this morning to make this deposition, then you don’t go in. I saw enough of you last night to know you have a reason for all this sneaking around. Start talking.”
“How did Jess do in there?”
“She pretty much recanted her whole story. A family court judge won’t have a problem giving Levi full custody of his daughter. Emilia, you don’t have a case.”
“He hits her.”
“Hearsay. You have to do better than that. You know that.”
Dom had the right of it. This was a bullshit case. I knew it from the beginning, but it was at least buying us the time we needed to expose Levi for what he was. If I told Dom the truth, would he understand? Or would he save his client instead?
“He’s a Sicario.”
“What?”
“A hired gun for the Mexican cartel.”
“I know what a Sicario is. I wanted to make sure you said what I thought you said. Jesus Christ.” The furrow on his forehead got deeper. I stepped back. Dom could be intimidating when he wanted to be. “You accuse him of that, I’ll have to sue you. You understand that? I just started working here. Losing a cake case isn’t exactly the best way to prove myself. Levi will take his business elsewhere if I don’t win this for him.” He paced the length of his office. What was he thinking? “If I bring in another big account, I could make partner by the end of the year. Phoenix could be home for me.” He stopped and met my gaze. “Do you even have proof of any of this?”
“No.”
“Is that why you were at the Roadrunner? Trying to find something to pin on him?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck, Emilia. I’m going to need full sentences here.” He braced his hands on his hips. “Do you know why I went to the bar last month?” I shook my head and he continued. “Levi knew there was a woman looking into his business. I went to check it out, but no one would talk to me. I guess they didn’t trust my looks.” He placed his index finger under my chin to make me face him.
Outside the window, puffy white clouds shifted across the sky. Suddenly, the room was bathed in bright light. Dom’s features softened, and I relaxed my stance without meaning to.
“I can’t think straight when you’re near. I was particularly dim at the bar with you looking at me the way you were. I was an idiot for not seeing that you were the one asking questions about Levi. Emilia, if he’s what you say he is, you can’t fuck with him. Stay out of it.”
Shit. Blood rushed through my body, making my legs weak. I needed to tell him the truth. After last night, I knew I could trust Dom, but could I trust him with a case that could ruin his hotshot lawyer career? I opened my mouth to speak, but he put up his hands. “Tell me why you’re hiding from Levi.”
“Because he thinks I’m dead. Because he knows I know all his dirty little secrets, including the double life he’s been living since he married Jess.”
“Jess knows?”
I nodded. My cousin wasn’t perfect. Of course, she knew. And she liked it. She liked the money, the power. If she put up with Levi’s temper all these years, it was because she was afraid to be left with nothing, without a home and her family.
“She came to me when I moved back to Phoenix four months ago. I don’t even know how she found me. I hadn’t seen her in years. She’s afraid for her daughter and her life. I became a lawyer because I wanted to make a difference. It pains me to see I can’t do anything for her.” Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t let Dom see me like this. Losing my shit. I rubbed my arm and counted to ten, and then another ten until I calmed down. “I’m not asking you to concede. All I need is time.”
“Time.” He turned away from me, rubbing his thumb on his trimmed beard. “I can give you time, but I want in.”
“In? Oh no. I don’t need you up in my business.” I placed my hands on my hips. Yeah, I needed Dom’s help, but I also needed him away from me.
“You want my help? That’s my price.”
“I don’t want your help.”
A sexy smile spread across his face. “But you need it.” He sat at the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. “You don’t even have to say please. Just say yes.”
“Why do you even want to get involved? This isn’t your fight.”
“I can’t help myself.”
He relaxed and braced his hands on the tabletop, biceps straining against his dark suit, long legs in front of him. I swallowed, rubbing the spot on my neck where he’d kissed me last night.
“I’ll figure out another way.” Turning on my heel, I scurried out of his office before I changed my mind.
4
The Deep Web
Dom
“God, you’re as stubborn as ever,” I yelled at the closed door.
Fuck, she wasn’t wrong. I had no right to insert myself into her life like that. Why would she trust me anyway? I was opposing counsel. However, organized crime was something I knew well. If her cousin’s husband was involved with the local ca
rtel, someone needed to make sure Emilia didn’t go after him. She could end up in some ditch along the Nogales border.
I hit the intercom button on my phone. “Stop her.”
April’s response was immediate. “She’s gone. Took the stairs this time.”
Dammit. Last night, I’d thought I was done with Emilia, but after this mornings shit show of a deposition, there was no way I was letting her go. The shots fired at the Roadrunner were meant for Jess’s attorney, and they were meant as a warning only. If Vic was right about Emilia and she was a cartel princess, she could be in real danger. Is this why he warned me to stay away from her back in law school? He knew getting involved with Emilia could become a one-way ticket back to Jersey for me. What was I supposed to do?
I walked around my desk and sat in front of my laptop. From the bottom drawer on the right, I fished out a burner phone and plugged it into my computer to jam any sniffer programs on the deep web. Old habits died hard. Logistics had been my thing on Mickey’s crew. I had a knack for sniffing out the bad guys. The assholes coming after us, anyway. We were all bad guys here.
Browsing my go-to sites, I stumbled into the usual chatter. Nothing on me. It’d been so long since I quit Mickey’s crew, I doubt anyone remembered my name. I did a quick search on Emilia Prado. Again, nothing. A few more clicks and the throng led me to a fairly active chat room. There was a new hit on Emilia Avellanos. Big money, high stakes. The kind of win that could earn anyone a promotion within the cartel. Could it be that these two Emilias were one and the same?
I entered the Avellanos name in Google and sat back, watching the engine spin its wheels. After several seconds, it came back empty. Too squeaky clean as if someone had wiped out any references to the name. Was Emilia seriously some kind of cartel princess in hiding? She’d denied it when I asked her, but why would she want Levi to continue to think she was dead?
I entered Emilia Prado in the engine next, which produced more normal results. Twitter profile, Instagram pics, the usual.
Ignite You: A Second Chance Mafia Romance (Cole Brothers Series Book 0) Page 3