Page 54 of Velvet Deception

I would never tire of hearing her say that. I only prayed I could deserve her love.

“I love you too, my angel.” I leaned over to kiss her good-bye.

“Remember, Pamela will drop me off. Another short day.” She paused outside before shutting the door. “I wish I could get used to these short days for good.”

“Maybe we can use that time wisely again. Like we did yesterday.” I smiled cockily.

“I wouldn’t say no.” She winked and shut the door.

After I dropped her off, the brightness she exuded faded. I fell right back to the negativity and worry.

On the way back to her house, I caught sight of someone tailing me.

“Fuck.”

This was the first time I’d driven her car. The first time I’d ventured this far from her house.

For someone to be tailing me as I drove, they had to have known I’d left Sofia’s house. They had to have seen me with Ramon. With Sofia.

And the only person or group that could come to mind was the fucking Cartel. If I hadn’t seen and recognized Manny’s face, and if I hadn’t heard him say that he wanted me to come back with him, I wouldn’t be so quick to assume. But things were lining up. Connections were too clear to ignore.

The Cartel was on to me. They knew where I’d been staying. And they were aware of where Sofia and Ramon lived.

Everything was colliding, crashing and muddled into a big mess. I couldn’t help but feel like all the chips were falling into place and the pile of pieces that I had been trying to figure out depicted a picture I didn’t welcome.

I used to be involved with the Cartel in some way, and now, they seemed determined to find me.

For what?

Why?

To try to kill me again?

If I were a target of the Cartel, I had no clue what I could’ve done to warrant their wrath. With my freaky skills in combat, I was clearly in some type of a violent career.

Maybe I was a cop?

That didn’t sound or feel right. I doubted I’d ever want to stick with such a regulated authority, too independent to be a follower.

Even now, as I drove through the streets that were still familiar to me because of the mental map that stayed intact despite losing my memories, I was skilled at losing my tail.

Was I a spy?

Maybe Iwasa cop?

I couldn’t stomach another possibility, that I could’ve worked for the Cartel. Like what Manny made it sound like. That I helped him with runs.

If I was working for the Cartel, then why would they try to kill me at the hospital?

That worked only on the assumption that Sofia followed. That if I faced violence at or near the hospital, it had to be the Cartel’s fault.

Or could I have double-crossed them, and they had to silence me?

I slammed my fist on the steering wheel, swept away with all these questions I couldn’t answer.

What if I go to get them?

The impulse to go after the car following me was strong. I could stop wondering and do something about this fucking mystery. I’d lost the tail, but I’d done so that I now followedthem.

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