Page 46 of Too Lethal to Love

“We’ve decoded Jenna’s intel. We’ve confirmed that the Diablos are targeting a research scientist from Beth’s agency. The codename they’ve given the target is Cazampulga. That’s Spanish for?—”

“Black Widow.”His gaze locked with Beth’s from across the dance floor.“Fuck. It’s definitely her. I’ll explain later.”

“Roger that. Get Beth to a safe location. Now.”

Beth’s stomach dropped as she watched Kane stiffen. Panic buzzed in her ears. The music faded to a distant hum as she shot a tight smile at her partner and hurried past him.

Kane met her on the edge of the dance floor. “We need to leave.” He nodded, then muttered, “Roger that.”

“Who are you talking to?”

He didn’t answer as he cupped her elbow and guided her to the exit in quick strides.

Beth waved to Evangeline as they sailed past her. “What’s going on, Kane? Did something happen? Did I get another message?”

“No, but we need to get out of here.” Kane pulled her sugarplum jacket off the coat rack as he walked by. The metal hangar clanging against the wall popped like a gunshot. She stopped and closed her eyes as the sound blasted through her chest.

“Come on,” Kane growled.

The cold air sliced into her face as she followed himoutside, but she scarcely felt the snowflakes on her bare shoulders.

He opened the door to his truck. Her heels barely cleared the running board before Kane shut her in. Warmth enveloped her, but she shivered.

Kane jumped into the driver’s seat and threw his hat on the dash. “If I say duck, you do it.”

She tugged on the seat belt. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“We decoded intel from an undercover source who used to be embedded within the Diablos.” He checked the rearview mirror. “The intel indicates the cartel is targeting an employee from your agency with detailed knowledge of Triple X. The codename for this target isCazampulga, which means?—”

The wine she’d drank burned a path up her throat. “I know what it means.” She choked on her words. “Black widow in Spanish.”

“That’s definitive proof that you’re the target.” He jerked the truck around the next corner. The towering marble angel marking the edge of the cemetery came into view as the black widow taunt played in her mind. Turning to the window, she swallowed the nausea spurting up her throat.

Kane said her name, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she stared at the passing graves. Something white waved next to Danny’s headstone. Squinting, she pressed her face to the window. “Stop the car.”

“What? No.”

She ripped off her seat belt and tugged at the door handle.

Kane grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”

“Stop.” She yanked the door open. Kane cursed as he slowed down. As the truck skidded to a halt, she jerked from Kane’s grip and jumped out. Her heel landed on a patch of iceand her ankle twisted. Pain lanced up her shin, but she righted herself and ran toward the arched gate. Turning sharply to the right, Kane’s harsh voice in her ears and his hands at her waist, she slid to a stop in the snow-covered grass.

Kane yanked her against his chest. “What the hell?”

She stared at the crude wooden cross erected next to Danny’s gravestone. A piece of notebook paper blew from a nail in the center. Its edges, wet from the elements, fluttered in the wind. The moisture didn’t distort the frightening message written in thick, black marker.

Welcome home, Cazampulga.

Kane tore the paper off the cross and stuffed it in his pocket. A muffled clap cut through the night. He hit the ground with Beth in his arms. A bullet slammed into his steel leg. As he rolled to shield her, he thought the command to activate himself into phase two.

The sting of activation sprinted down his body as he jumped to a crouch and shoved Beth behind him. “Stay down.”

Another shot thudded over the wind. Kane dove on top of Beth as a bullet slammed into the center of the cross next to him.

Beth struggled under his heavy weight. “Were those gunshots?”

“From a silencer. Stay.”

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