Page 40 of Drawn Blue Lines

This is what you wanted.

“Oh, fine, here.” Reaching under her skirt, she unclipped a thigh holster and slammed a small revolver into the man’s hand, glaring at me the whole time. “Happy?”

Handing over my own gun to the man’s waiting hand, I smirked. “Ecstatic.”

As soon as we crossed the threshold into the house, I whistled again, ignoring Adriana’s glare. The Carrera estate made the elaborate display of wealth I spent my high school years living in look like a run-down backwoods shack. Intricate framework, brushed gold, museum quality artwork, and enough square footage to house a small neighborhood closed in on me, tightening the already snug tie around my neck.

Pulling on my collar, I leaned close to Adriana. “Maybe this is a bad time. We should go.”

“But you just got here.” The commanding and authoritative voice slithered down my back, and as if we’d been struck by lightning, Adriana and I spun around to find the source.

Like a panther watching its prey from a higher vantage point, Valentin Carrera nodded, acknowledging our presence from halfway up the winding staircase, then slowly and meticulously descended, his predatory eyes watching me the entire time. He exuded confidence. It poured out of him, coating the very floor the man stood on. He was danger wrapped in a designer suit, and intimidation masked as an ordinary thirty-one-year-old man.

But there was nothing ordinary about Val Carrera. From his slicked back black hair to his heavier-than-normal beard, the kingpin of the Carrera Cartel wielded power most men could never fathom. With a simple nod, he decided who lived, who died, and who suffered until madness took whatever remained.

And if that weren’t enough, trailing behind him was the second most feared man in Mexico. Val’s most trusted confidante. The prince who’d become king should Val’s enemies ever succeed in taking him out.

Mateo Cortes.

A man who’d both killed for Val and nearly died for him. His family was the cartel. His loyalty knew no bounds. He was younger and more impulsive, but just as deadly.

He was also my brother-in-law.

“Val.” I nodded in return, watching him just as carefully. Then I turned my head. “Mateo.”

Mateo dipped his chin. “Brody.”

Adriana stood motionless beside me as Val made his way toward us. I followed his gaze, identical eyes meeting for the first time in over a year.

“Marisol.” He spoke the name slowly, as if tasting the word on his tongue.

“Adriana,” she corrected, not an ounce of fear in her tone. I didn’t particularly like the woman, but I had to admit, hearing her talk back to Val Carrera did something to me.

Something that, if I didn’t get under control, would embarrass all of us real soon.

Instead of launching into his usual tirade about respect and authority, the corners of Val’s mouth curled in the barest hint of a smile. “Of course. Adriana. My mistake.”

“Where’s Eden?”

Fuck.

Yeah, I thought it, but I sure as hell didn’t mean to say it. The words just slipped out, and as soon as they did, I wanted to stuff them back down my throat.

Mateo raised a questioning eyebrow, and if looks could kill, Val’s narrowed stare would’ve incinerated me to dust.

“My wife is out.”

I heard the meaning behind the words loud and clear.

Stay away from her, asshole.

“Besides, I thought it would be best that Eden not be here when she arrived,” he added, nodding toward Adriana.

Adriana opened her mouth to object, but I stomped on the toe of her high heel, causing her to swallow a muffled groan instead.

“Of course,” I answered for her.

While Adriana shot me death glares, Val headed into a sitting area to our right and straight for the fully stocked bar nestled in the corner of the room. Filling a stem glass full of what I knew to be Añejo tequila, he placed one hand on the marble and drank leisurely before saying a word.

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