Page 83 of Savage Obsession

“Possibly. I’ll need to use a burner phone, or he’ll smell a rat.”

He drains his mug. “Set it up, then. I’ll go and put a bomb under Henio. It can only be a matter of time now before he isolates that farmhouse, and we can send our troops in.

Christ, have I done the right thing?

My conversation with San Antonio was brief and to the point. He offered me Julia’s life in exchange for me shifting allegiances. I’m to work for him, betray Kris so San Antonio can wreck our business interests and eventually bring the Kaminski operation to its knees. San Antonio intends to take back what his family lost when we killed the Domingos and took over Tenerife, and I’m to help him do it.

I agreed, but only after I insisted he let me speak to Julia. She assured me she was safe for the moment, and he hadn’t harmed her, but she begged me to do as San Antonio says.

Left with little in the way of alternatives, I went for it. He says he’ll release my wife once Kris is dead, and I’m the one who is supposed to kill him. I have just one week in which to select my moment and do the deed.

I pondered the notion for all of a minute before seeking out Kris and telling him about the deal I struck. It’s a risk, but we’re so close to isolating that cottage now. The likely candidates are narrowed down to just half a dozen deserted farmsteads, and Henio has them all under drone surveillance. The van will be the giveaway, if they use it again. So far, they haven’t.

For now, our strategy is to maintain the façade and keep on searching.

CHAPTER 20

Julia

I’m relieved that Lily is out of here, but the silence without her is crushing. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the door, and hoping desperately that this Adan character has kept his word. Were we right to trust him?

What choice did we have?

It’s been a couple of hours. She might even be home by now, back on the hacienda telling her father what happened. Will Baz be able to work out where we are? And if he does, will he even come for me, now that he has his daughter back?

I lie down and drag the single blanket over me, more for comfort than for warmth. I bite back tears of loneliness, of self-doubt, of guilt for ever having let this happen. If I’d only stayed at home, or waited for a guard and a driver, we’d all have been safe.

But, I knew best. I was determined to have my own way, regardless of the warnings.

He’ll be so angry, and I can’t blame him. Even so, surely he won’t just abandon me.

“I need you, Baz. Please, please come…” I whisper the words into the empty half-light.

Somehow I manage to doze off, but I’m awakened by the sound of the lock scraping and the door opening. Adan enters, carrying two mugs of something steaming.

“Coffee,’ he announces, placing mine on the floor by the bed. “Rosa said cream, no sugar.”

I sit up and regard him with suspicion. “Where’s Lily?” I demand. “Is she all right?”

“I imagine so. She was dropped off at the gates to your husband’s home several hours ago. She’s probably tucked up in bed by now.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

He shrugs. “Your problem, but what do I have to gain by lying? There’s nothing you can do about it, either way.”

I shake my head to get rid of the brain fog lingering after my brief nap. “Who are you? Why are you doing any of this?”

“Ah, yes, we were never properly introduced. Adan San Antonio, Don of the San Antonio familia in the Madrid region, though my influence and authority extends to most of Spain.”

“Bully for you. Am I supposed to be impressed?”

“Again, that is up to you. Suffice it to say that I hold your life in my hands, so a little respect would be advisable.”

I glare at him. “Fuck you.”

His gaze hardens. “Very well, signora. I will leave you to sulk. I will return at another time and, if you are in a more amenable mood, I shall explain your situation more clearly.” He turns on his heel and heads for the door.

“Wait!” I leap to my feet. “Please, I’m sorry.”

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