Page 34 of Drawn Blue Lines

Technically, I was right. A second in command should be patrolling the area with an eagle eye, watching for anything out of the ordinary. An unfamiliar face. An anxious stare. Eyes fixated on a watch. Especially with my former men edging dangerously close to Carrera territory.

“That’s Frankie.” He moved beside me and nodded at an older man sitting at the bar, shoveling chips and salsa in his mouth so fast I half expected him to choke. “He’s been a regular for years. Comes here every day for lunch, then drags his ass back in at night to drink himself into oblivion.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Why not? Maybe his job sucks. Maybe he’s in debt up to his eyeballs. Maybe he found out his wife’s fucking his best friend. Who knows? It’s not my business to ask.”

Before I could argue that everything happening on Carrera property was his business, he continued assaulting me with everyone’s life story.

His gaze shifted across the bar to a lone booth. “That’s Antonella Reyes. Her husband died about six months ago.”

“Emilio Reyes’s widow?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Puppy nodded, and I made a noise somewhere between a grunt and a growl. Emilio Reyes was once one of Valentin Carrera’s most trusted men. Not only did he own Caliente, but he also ran all stateside operations before becoming one of the worst traitors the cartel had ever seen.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” I fumed, staring crater-sized holes in the woman. “Why would you let her in the door, much less serve her?”

He bumped my shoulder. “Put your claws away. She wants no part of the family. She proved that by selling this place to Brody for a dollar.”

“So, why would she come back here? Is she masochistic?”

I didn’t like the pity in his eyes as he tilted his chin and studied me. “Emilio chose the wrong path, but that doesn’t erase the twenty years she spent loving the man who didn’t.”

And just because Esteban murdered my family, it doesn’t erase the twenty-four years I spent loving the man who spared me.

Yeah, yeah, I get it. You know all about me.

Good for you.

“Hey, you okay?”

I vaguely heard his voice echoing over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. When I didn’t respond, he called my name louder and louder until the fog finally dissipated.

“Adriana?”

“What? Oh, yeah.” Shaking my head, I cleared my throat and pulled myself together. “I’m fine. Long trip and too little sleep. You know how it goes.”

I diverted my attention back to the bar area then felt a strong hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know it’s none of my business—”

“You’re right. It is none of your business.” Picking up two of his fingers, I slid his hand off my shoulder. “Well, this has been fun, but I think I’ll go freshen up. Point me toward the ladies’ room?”

He offered a lackluster motion toward the left of the bar. “Down the hallway to the right.”

Stepping behind him, I dragged my suitcase off the table and gave him a tight smile. “Thanks, puppy.”

“It’s Rafael.”

“Huh?”

“You keep calling me puppy. My name is Rafael.”

“Oh, I know who you are, papi.” Smiling, I tossed him a wink before making my way down the hallway.

* * *

For once, luck seemed to be on my side.

I stood in the bathroom with my head poked outside the door, listening for the slightest sign that Rafael Suárez had changed his mind and decided to get rid of his boss’s burgeoning problem before it could wreak any more havoc.