Page 33 of Drawn Blue Lines

“I thought this was about family and saving the Carrera siblings from impending doom?”

“It is. Watching you squirm is just a fringe benefit.”

I lowered my head into my hands, rubbing my forehead. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this. He’s not going to be happy I’m leaving Houston unmanned.”

She nodded toward the bar area where Rafael was probably fending off bar bitch. “Your boy seems more than capable of handling things. Arrange a flight for tomorrow afternoon. I’m sure there are washed funds tucked away somewhere in this office.”

I swore, the woman lived to make my life hell. “Get out of here before I change my mind.”

She dropped her arms by her side, her sulky attitude fading. “Fine. I have to pack, anyway. Pick me up in an hour?”

Rolling my chair against my desk, I stared at spreadsheets I didn’t give a shit about. “Meet me here in two.”

One hour. Two hours. Who cared? Timing meant nothing. Not letting her get her way meant everything.

“So bossy,” she chided, swaying her hips as she made her way toward the door. I almost let out a breath when she glanced back over her shoulder. “Oh, and Brody?

Turning my head, I glared at her between two fingers.

“Don’t ever fuck me over again. Sometimes I forgive, but I never forget.”

Chapter Ten

Adriana

After throwing what little I owned into the tattered bag I carted across the border, I walked in the door of Caliente exactly fifty-nine minutes after walking out of it. Brody demanded I wait two hours, but I’d lived long enough to know anything could be a trap. Sometimes the element of surprise was the sole difference between survival and ambush.

Setting my bag on a nearby table, I surveyed the scene. It was too quiet. Granted, it was still only eleven o’clock in the morning. The lunch crowd probably wouldn’t swarm in for another half hour, but I didn’t like the unnatural silence.

“You’re early.”

I yelped and spun around with my hand shoved in my bag, in position to knee somebody in the balls then blow them off. Luckily, I recognized that steel cut jaw from earlier and punched him in the shoulder instead.

It was like punching a brick wall.

“Jesus!” I hissed, glaring at Brody’s lapdog as I shook my injured hand by my side. “Don’t you know you’re never supposed to sneak up on someone who could blow your dick off?” I glanced down to find my knuckles red as hellfire. “Dios mío, do you have concrete under that T-shirt?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Brody told you not to be here for another hour.”

“Aw, that’s cute. Do you wipe his ass for him too?”

“Look, lady, I don’t know who you think you are, but when Brody Harcourt gives an order around here, you listen.”

He was like an obedient little Rottweiler.

If Rottweilers were ten seconds away from stabbing you in the face.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get your panties in a twist, puppy. I had to check out of the motel by eleven, or I would’ve had to pay for an extra night. Let’s be real here. If he had to choose between having me show up a little early or having $65.60 charged on his credit card, I think we both know what he’d prefer.”

“I don’t know if…” His voice trailed off, and those dark eyes gave me a few slow blinks. “Wait, how do you have his credit card number?”

Because I stole his wallet last night.

“Is that really important? I think we have bigger issues to worry about, such as the fact that it’s way too quiet in here.” Tucking my hand back inside my purse, I turned my attention back toward the open cantina.

“You’d prefer a bar brawl?”

“I don’t like quiet.” I narrowed my eyes and glared at him over my shoulder. “If you were any good at your job, you wouldn’t either.”

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