Take No Quarter

by Desiree Holt

  “Our fifteen years of experience with him should give him a feeling of security, don’t you think?” Lord. Why didn’t she just shut the hell up?

  “And it does. But new territory is always somewhat nerve-wracking. He’ll be here tomorrow to review it, so I want to make sure every T is crossed and every I is dotted. You’ll be here first thing in the morning?”

  Kenzi frowned. “Are you planning to include me in the meeting? He doesn’t usually want to meet with anyone but you.”

  “Yes, and this will be the same. But I’m taking the file home to review one last time. If there are any changes to be made before or after he arrives, you’ll be doing them.”

  Her nerves twanged at the thought, but she curved her lips in a smile and nodded. “Absolutely. Um, if we’re finished for the day, I think I’ll get out of here.”

  “Good idea.” He rose and walked toward where she stood. “Go home and relax. See you tomorrow. Early, so we can tweak it in any way if we need to. At our meeting tomorrow, I’ll be reviewing everything with him so I can get him to sign off on it. Then I’ll move forward with filing all the appropriate papers.”

  “Of course. No problem.”

  By now the first pings of a headache were pinching the nerves on one side of her head. As soon as she was back in her office, she texted Trey.

  Come get me now.

  Okay. About 20 mins.

  Twenty minutes? He must not still be at Slade’s place, and she wondered where he was.

  She locked down both her desktop and laptop for the night and put away the folders on her desk. Then, just to be safe, since suddenly this project had taken on a weird new feeling, she locked her office.

  “I’m out of here,” she told Susan when she stopped at her desk. “And you should be, too. We’re done for the day and it’s late.”

  “Is everything okay?” Susan whispered the question.

  Kenzi made herself smile. Whatever was going on, she didn’t want Susan to be a wreck over it.

  “It’s fine. Mr. Calhoun is happy with the documents, so we’re good as gold.”

  “Whew.” Susan let out a slow sigh. “In the five years I’ve worked here, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard him angry the way he was today.”

  Yeah, Kenzi could relate to that.

  “I think he has a lot on his plate right now. And you know Alex Reyes is one of the firm’s oldest clients. In fact, I think he was one of the first, and actually opened a lot of doors for Mr. Calhoun.”

  “No wonder he’s so important. Okay, I’m getting out of here. You have a good night.”

  Kenzi took the elevator down to the ground floor and stepped outside. She still had about ten minutes to wait for Trey, but it was nice out, the sun shining, plus it was a good opportunity to do one of her favorite things—people watch. And lucky for her, there was a little wrought iron bench just to the right of the building entrance, one of the many unique artifacts and decorations in the downtown area.

  Sitting there taking in the colorful sounds and sights around her usually relaxed her, especially after a tough day at work. But today nothing seemed to do the trick. Between worry about Dana and the escalating cartel situation, and Reed Calhoun’s odd behavior, she felt as if she was one big nerve.

  If only she could figure out what it was about Alex Reyes that made her so uneasy. She’d scoured the Internet for every scrap of information on him, and apparently he was exactly what he appeared to be—a very wealthy fourth-generation Mexican landowner in the upper echelon of Texas society with a brother who ran mirror businesses in Mexico. The two of them had won many awards with their unique breed of cattle. Not only that, they were great philanthropists. Something else they’d won awards for.

  So, what was her problem?

  Maybe, when they got home, Trey could pull out a few of his tricks and soothe every one of her frayed nerve endings.

  As she shifted in her seat, a group of people exited her office building, among them Reed Calhoun and a man who looked vaguely familiar. Whoever he was, even at that distance she could see he wore an expensively tailored suit and the sun glinted on a ring that she was sure was gold. She wished she could dredge up an identification in her overworked brain, but nothing popped up. They walked to the corner and waited for the traffic light. Neither of them looked happy, and whatever they were discussing made Reed scowl.

  She was aware not every conversation Reed Calhoun had was pleasant. She’d seen him in arguments before, either with clients—although not too often—or with people he felt were screwing his clients over. Did it have to do with the work for Alex Reyes or did she just think that because the project was at the top of her mind? The fact that the man was obviously Hispanic should mean nothing, since sixty-three percent of the San Antonio population fell into that category.

  Get over yourself, Kenzi. Not everything has to do with Reyes.

  At that moment, the light changed, the two men stepped onto the crosswalk and Trey pulled up to the curb. She climbed into the front seat but even as she fastened her seat belt, she craned her neck to see if she could still catch sight of the two men.

  Trey turned his head to look at her. “You look like you’re carrying a heavy problem.”

  She sighed. “Probably just making worries where there aren’t any.”

  “What’s going on, babe?” Trey asked, studying her face.

  Kenzi turned back. The men had disappeared.

  “My boss came out while I was waiting. He didn’t see me, thank goodness, because he was with some man that he was arguing with. If you knew Reed Calhoun, you’d know that’s out of character. I’ve seen him do it in the office but never, ever in public. With anyone. And he looked really mad. And his attitude in the office today was way out of character, although he did apologize.”

  “Maybe whatever got his shorts in a twist earlier today still had a grip on him.”

  “Maybe.” She chewed her lip. “I’m probably wrong, but the man with Reed reminded me of the man we saw Alex Reyes having lunch with on the Riverwalk. Remember?”

  “I do. You think it is?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. I just caught a sideways glimpse of him in a crowd of people. God. I’m giving myself a headache over this thing, and probably for nothing.”

  “I believe I have a cure for that.”

  He leaned over and kissed her, a hot, open-mouth contact that made her nerve endings sizzle. She slid her tongue over his for a moment, swallowing his taste before he lifted his head and shifted into drive.

  “Wow!” She licked her lips. “That did it all right. Too bad you can’t be my chauffeur every day.”

  “I can certainly fit that bill while I’m still here,” he teased.

  His words jolted her with the reality that all this was temporary. Of course it was, and she’d known it from the first night she’d taken him home with her after the Huttons’ party. That was a big part of the attraction. Her career came first. She was very specific about that. They could have a good time together and when it was over, no regrets. Getting together with him when he was back for ten days was like the frosting on the cake.

  Of course, he’d had the same rules and regulations. He wasn’t looking for anything that would detract from his commitment to Delta. Maybe some of his teammates had found the right woman and were making it work, but that wasn’t where his head was.

  Good.

  Fine, even.

  Absolutely.

  That was his plan and he stuck to it.

  So, when had the situation changed? And how was she going to handle it? More importantly, how was he?

  “If your brain was burning any hotter,” Trey teased, “I’d have to stop for a fire extinguisher. What’s going on?”

  Kenzi rubbed her forehead, hoping to ease away the headache lingering there.

  “It’s probably just me. This thing with Dana is making me see shadows everywhere, but…”

  “But you still think there’s something off with this cli
ent you’re working on.”

  “Yes, and I can’t even tell you why. I’m telling you, Trey. I just feel something’s going on with Alex Reyes that Reed doesn’t want to discuss.” She chewed on her bottom lip. The whole situation was disturbing her more and more. “God. I know I keep repeating myself, but I’ve never seen Reed Calhoun in a fit the way he was today just because I took the morning off.”

  ‘I’d say you might be reading something into it that’s not there, but even in the short time we’ve known each other, the sharpness of your mind amazes me. So if you think there’s something off, there’s a chance you might be right.”

  “If only I could figure out what,” she groaned. “Okay, give it. Why didn’t you want me to leave the office except with you?”

  “Because Slade and I are convinced the cartel now has all the details of what went on this morning. There was an attempt made on the guy under guard at the hospital. A nurse was knocked out and her scrubs taken from her body. It’s a damn good thing one of the guards on the room has a photographic memory. He knew the fake nurse was just that, because he’d been introduced to everyone who had access to the room.”

  “Holy hell.” Every one of her muscles tensed. “How did they find out?”

  “Not difficult. The cartel has people everywhere, including spies they pay off to feed them information.”

  She shuddered. “It chills me to think of how much they insinuate themselves into our daily life.”

  “No kidding. But that’s one of their specialties. They either pay people or threaten them or their families. Whatever works best.” He pulled into the parking area at her apartment complex and slid into a spot. “How fast can you change?”

  “As fast as you need me to. Why?”

  “We’re going back to Slade’s ranch.” He turned off the ignition. “Dana’s there, although she resembles a caged wildcat.”

  Kenzi chuffed a laugh. “I’ll bet. She’s not good at being contained or told what to do.”

  “If she wants to stay alive, she’ll give up fighting us. Anyway,” he went on, “she’s received an email from her contact, so we have some planning to do. And Slade met with Joe Trainor again this afternoon, so he has stuff to share.”

  The muscles in her stomach knotted. “Why do I get this feeling I won’t like any of it?”

  “Just keep in mind that we have things under control.”

  “Ha! With my sister involved? Not likely.”

  Trey laughed. “She definitely has a mind of her own. Okay, let’s get moving.”

  He hustled her out of the car and into her apartment in record time, locking the door the minute they were inside. “Make it quick, okay?”

  Kenzi stared at him. “Are you afraid someone’s watching us?”

  “With the cartel involved, I’m considering every possibility.”

  The knot in her stomach tightened again. “What happens when you guys have to go back to base?”

  “That’s one of the things we’re talking about at Slade’s.”

  Kenzi stripped out of her business clothes and changed into jeans and a blouse in record time. She slipped her feet into sandals, brushed her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail.

  “I’m ready,” she told Trey, hurrying back into the living room.

  He looked at his watch and actually grinned at her.

  “You should get some kind of medal. None of the other women I knew could make it in under thirty.”

  “Maybe you hung out with the wrong women,” she teased.

  The smile disappeared from his face and an expression she couldn’t decipher washed over it. Heat and hunger blossomed in his eyes for a scant moment, then it all disappeared.

  “Maybe,” he said in a soft voice. “Just maybe.” Then the Trey she was used to was back. “Let’s hustle it, babe.”

  When they got back in the car and pulled into the street, he turned the opposite way from the road that would take them to Slade’s place. She watched him check both the rear view and side view mirrors as he wove through the residential streets around her apartment community. In a few moments he picked up his cell from the console and punched a button on it.

  “Looking clear?” he asked whoever answered. “Yeah? Okay, good, but I’m going to do a little more maneuvering before I get on the highway. Okay. Gotcha. Thanks.”

  “Who was that?” she asked.

  “Brock. He and Axel are my shadow car. I wanted to make sure no one was keeping eyes on us and-or following us.”

  Kenzi tried to keep her jaw from dropping. “You really think the cartel would have someone watching me? Why, for god’s sake? I’m nobody to them.”

  “You are the sister to the reporter who is endangering their operation and working to expose everything. Plus, you were at the hangar this morning when two of their men were shot and their plans for Dana went up in smoke.”

  “Damn.” She leaned her head back. “So, what do we do now?”

  “Now we go to the ranch. Teo, Slade’s foreman, is grilling steaks for dinner. Kari Donovan is home by now and hopefully she’s managed to soothe Dana’s nerves. We’ll have dinner and figure out what to do next. Especially since Dana has a new time and place for her meeting.”

  When at last they reached the Donovan ranch and Trey pulled into the gravel parking area, another car parked beside them. Kenzi recognized Axel and Brock as they climbed out of their vehicle.

  “Nice job, guys,” Trey told them.

  “You were clean,” Brock assured him. “There were a few cars on your tail out of the apartment community, but most of them turned off into side streets. The couple that hung in there got left behind with Trey’s maneuvers. It’s all good and we’re happy to help.”

  Kari Donovan grinned at Trey when he got to the screen door and grabbed him for a hug.

  “Never a day without excitement for you guys, right?”

  “I think we could do with a little less when we’re on leave,” he teased.

  “And that’s my fault.” Dana had appeared from inside the house, with Kari close behind her. “I’m sorry to get everyone involved in this.”

  “Stop it,” Kenzi said, although she wanted to throttle her sister herself. “It is what it is. Now the plan is to help you get your work done and keep everyone safe.”

  “Damn straight,” Brock agreed. He and Axel had come up on the porch behind everyone.

  “So, let’s get you all inside,” Kari told them. “I’ve got the bar all set up and some snacks while Teo grills the steaks.”

  “You were clean on the way here?” Slade asked.

  Trey nodded. “As a whistle. Brock did a good job.”

  Kari made sure everyone had a drink of some kind as they seated themselves in the living room. Slade chose to stand, rather than sit. Kari was sure it was so he could see everyone at once.

  “Okay,” he began. “Updates. I drove into the city to meet with Joe Trainor today. We decided it was smarter than having him come out here, in case anyone was watching him.”

  “Wait.” Kenzi held up a hand. “You think the cartel would be following a policeman?”

  Slade nodded. “They’ve done it before, and not just here. Everywhere the cartel locates itself, the first thing they did was study the law enforcement agencies, figure out who they might be able to buy and who’s a danger to them. It’s how they keep selling the damn drugs in ever greater quantities without anyone but low-level dealers getting caught.”

  She shook her head. “I knew they were everywhere, but not how intense.”

  “What did Joe have to say?” Brock prompted.

  “He’d had a meeting with his connections at the local DEA office. They had received a tip in their Washington office some time ago that the Lopez Garcia cartel was about to stretch its boundaries to other countries. That they’re setting up a structure to be able to funnel money through, launder it and have it come out clean the other end. All in the guise of respectable businesses.”

  “I thought they alrea
dy had that,” Kari commented. “The Feds always have someone on trial for money laundering. In fact, they just finished a big one and put the three men away for a good long time. The verdict just came down two days ago.”

  “I’m sure that’s why the Lopez Garcia cartel is in a rush. They want to slide in before anyone else does. They were just spreading their wings on an international basis.”

  “According to the information given to Trainor,” Slade told her, “their plan is also going beyond current boundaries. The flow will begin here, in San Antonio, and in Mexico, then move to Europe, the Middle East and even Australia. Someone very respected in the community, with no known ties to the cartel, is making it all happen.”

  “Alex Reyes.” The name popped out before Kenzi could stop herself, and she had a sudden urge to throw up.

  Everyone looked at her. She wanted to take the words back and seal her mouth shut.

  “I mean…”

  “Interesting you should bring up his name,” Slade drawled, “because Joe Trainor also talked about him. What is he to you?”

  If only she could evaporate and disappear. She was grateful when Trey reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

  “Go ahead, Kenzi,” he urged. “Tell them what’s going on.”

  “I can’t.” She wanted to cry in frustration. “He’s a client and I can’t breach client confidentiality. I could get fired or sued or worse.”

  “Even if the knowledge you have is critical?”

  “She’s right,” Kari said. “But let’s see if we can get around it. Kenzi, from what you aren’t saying, I’m assuming something about him is disturbing you?”

  Kenzi nodded.

  “Okay. I know he’s from an old, well-respected, uber-wealthy family. He’s quite the well-known figure in both the city and the county. Half his family still manages the holdings in Mexico. How am I doing so far?”

  “Good.” Kenzi nodded her head. “That stuff is public knowledge, anyway.”

  “I take it since he’s a client of your firm that you’re working on a project for him.”

  “Yes. Again, public knowledge. Everything except the project itself.” She nibbled on her bottom lip, a habit she thought she’d been overdoing lately.