Page 61 of Drawn Blue Lines

He held up a hand. “Adriana, I told you last night I brought you here against my better judgment.”

“I know.”

“I also told you to never pull the same con twice. It makes you predictable, and I don’t give second chances. Are we clear?”

“Very.” Picking up my suitcase, I pushed all the unfamiliar emotions out of my head. I had a job to do and nothing would stop me from seeing it through.

“Adriana?” Pausing, I glanced back over my shoulder. Val opened his mouth to say something, only to close it and shake his head. “Don’t die.”

Chapter Nineteen

Brody

Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

Adriana propped her legs up on the dashboard and groaned. “How many times are you going to mess with that thing?”

I ground my teeth, turning away from her smirk while pressing the tuner button on the radio for the tenth time. “As many times as it takes.”

“Okay, suit yourself. But, look around you, counselor.” She waved a hand beside me, gesturing toward barren fields. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. If you think you’re getting anything but static on this piece of shit,” reaching over, she gave the decrepit dashboard a firm pat, “you’re dreaming.”

I turned the damn thing off and squeezed the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. “Fine, but I’m not driving three and a half hours to Morelia in silence. It’ll drive me batshit.”

“So, what do you suggest?”

I shrugged, doing my best not to stare at her bare legs. “We could play I Spy.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are we, six?” Drumming her fingernails against the console, she chewed on her lip for a moment before slamming her palm against it. “Oh, I know. Let’s play truth or dare.”

“In a car?”

She turned to me, a glint in her eyes. “Are you scared?”

“I’m driving in a piece of shit Toyota into Muñoz infested territory with a woman who I’m fairly certain is the antichrist. What do you think?”

She pursed her lips. “A simple no would’ve sufficed.” She was quiet for a moment, and I thought she let it die until a slow grin pulled at her lips. “When we get to where we’re going the loser has to do whatever the winner says, no questions asked.”

I wasn’t stupid. I knew a con when I heard it. “Your rules are flawed.”

“How so?”

“What’s to stop either of us from lying?”

“One,” she said, holding up her index finger, “I don’t have to lie, counselor. I’ve led a very full life. And two,” dropping the first finger, she lifted her middle and smirked. “I’ll know if you’re lying.”

I decided to ignore the fact that she was still flipping me off. “How?”

“You have a tell.”

“What is it?”

Folding down her middle finger, she waved her hand. “Telling you would ruin all my fun. Now stop stalling. I’ll even let you go first.”

“No, I insist, ladies first.” I cocked my chin. “However, since there doesn’t seem to be one around, you can start.”

Her cocky smile faded into a scowl. “Fine. Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

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