Page 67 of Drawn Blue Lines

“Fuck this.” Planting one foot on the floor, I grasped the doorframe and pushed my heel out. I let out a grunt as my foot thrust against the flimsy wood. Once, it rattled. Twice, the center bulged. On the third kick, the hinges tore away from the wall, sending the whole damn thing crashing inward. As I stepped inside the tiny room, it took me a minute to realize what I saw.

And then I got pissed.

Adriana lay curled into a little ball on the dirty mattress, her knees tucked into her chest and her arms crossed low around her waist. Her long hair hung like a blanket over her face, but I had no doubt she was still asleep.

My entire life was on the line and she slept like a baby.

I sank the toe of my shoe in her ass cheek. “Adriana, if you don’t get up in the next five seconds, I’m dragging you off that mattress by your feet.”

She didn’t move. In fact, as still as she was, it didn’t look like she was even breathing.

Fuck.

Blind instinct brought me to my knees next to her, my hand pressed against her back. I held my own breath until I felt the shallow rise of hers, rattled, but steady. My head dropped back in relief, and I sank onto the mattress next to her. “Jesus, Carrera.”

My unguarded relief confused me. It wasn’t like I wanted her dead, but the fear that shot through me in those few seconds unnerved me. The conflict sparked a wave of anger in me I never saw coming, and my fingers dug in between her ribs.

“Brody?”

I had no idea if it was the confused, fragile look in her dark eyes that did it, or if it was the gray tint of her skin, but the need to lash out diffused. It was only when her eyes creased in pain, that I realized how hard I still gripped her. Snapping my arm back, I ran my hand through my hair, tugging hard at the strands.

“You wouldn’t wake up.” Clearing my throat, I scratched the back of my head and stared through the destroyed doorway. “I called you four times.”

“I’m tired.”

“Yeah, well take a number, princesa. We all are,” I huffed, wincing as the words left my mouth. I knew I was being a dick.

Adriana groaned behind me. “I just don’t feel so good. Must be the scotch.”

“You didn’t drink any,” I muttered. When she didn’t answer, I risked a glance over my shoulder, noticing she now sat hugging her knees against her chest. “You poured your shot down the sink remember?”

Her gray skin flushed a bright pink. “Right.”

“Yeah, right,” I echoed.

I didn’t have to elaborate. I could tell by the way her breath hitched that she was thinking about what happened after that. I had no doubt we’d send each other straight to hell, but if last night was any indication of what was to come, the ride would be worth the fall.

I climbed to my feet before I started the descent right here. “Get dressed. We have to get on the road if we want to be in Guadalajara by noon.”

Offering me a quick nod, she tightened her arms around her middle and grimaced. “I’ll take a quick shower. I’ll be ten minutes.”

I raised an eyebrow. She sure looked hungover. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

Forcing a smile, she tossed out a weak excuse. “I’m just hungry. Once we stop for breakfast, I’ll be fine.”

I didn’t buy the smile or the excuse, but I didn’t push it. I turned to leave when my eye landed on her dingy army green bag lying on the floor. I didn’t even remember her bringing the damn thing. Jesus, like one packed suitcase wasn’t enough? We were cartel runners on an intel mission, not rock stars on a world tour.

Fucking women.

Grumbling, I grabbed it off the floor. “I’ll take this to the car.”

“No!” I didn’t even have time to react before Adriana launched herself off the mattress and ripped the bag out of my hands. Stepping back, I eyed her suspiciously, and she offered me another fake grin. “I mean, I need that. Girl stuff.” Climbing to her feet, she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her, leaving me with a whole lot of questions and no answers.

Like the line of bullshit she just tried to sell me.

That woman rode my hand like she was on the final straightaway at the Kentucky Derby, came like a tsunami, then watched me lick it off my fingers like it was goddamn candy.

Girl stuff, my ass.

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