Page 15 of Wait for You

With a sigh, she looked away. Walking into the ballroom on Mat’s arm, she hadn’t been able to keep from wondering if this party might end the same as the last one they attended together. Would he disappear on her again? While she desperately wanted things to go differently, she was determined to use the time she had pretending to be his arm candy to the fullest.

Because someone in this room knew where her brother was.

???

Mateo

One of Imogen’s feathers brushed his hand as she turned away. The light touch left Mat yearning for more. The samba outfit had been on the top of the pile he’d had to choose from. Being with the Lazcanos meant he had access to people who made things happen, no matter how trivial. So when he’d asked for a selection of Carnival costumes to be delivered to his room before sundown, he hadn’t been disappointed. The bright colors on the one he’d picked suited her perfectly. She looked like some ancient Aztec goddess, and he wanted to worship her. With his tongue, his hands, then his cock.

If only.

The ballroom might’ve been packed with people, but they faded away as he watched Imogen. She’d lost the perfume like he’d advised. Still, the hint of it remained—a subtle note of coffee and vanilla. It was as if the fragrance had soaked into the very essence of her. Or maybe it was him the scent wouldn’t leave. Scored in his memory as deep as the grooves it had carved into his heart.

He gazed at the waves of her dark hair and wished he could wrap it around his hands as he kissed her. She looked like a sunset with the orange and gold feathers burnishing her longbrown locks. The kind they used to watch together from his back deck.

Mat’s heart thudded at the memory.

Kissing Imogen had been a mistake. The desire to do it again consumed his thoughts when he had a job to do. How was he supposed to convince her to leave if the only thing he could think about was how much he wanted her to stay?

He held hope the party would be enough to scare her into leaving.

Especially with what the lieutenant has planned.

His body tensed at the display he knew was coming. As much as Mat wanted Imogen safely out of the cartel’s clutches, he couldn’t help wondering what might happen between them if she stayed.

A hand landed on his shoulder, and he nearly jolted. Mat cursed himself for being caught unaware as he took in his accoster.

El Jaguar’scostume consisted of a tuxedo with an animal print jacket—jaguar to be exact. He wore no mask, and his unctuous smile made Mat’s gut quiver, especially when the lieutenant’s eyes lingered on Imogen. “Who is this vision, Mateo?”

The way the lieutenant’s gaze raked over her from head to toe made Mat sick to his stomach. Before he could swallow the bile rising up his throat, Imogen stepped in front of him and extended her hand.

“El Jaguar, what an honor.”

The lieutenant lifted her outstretched palm to his lips. The effort it took Mat to keep his face a calm mask when he was ready to punch the man’s teeth in made him silent.

“Truly, the pleasure is all mine,señorita.”

Her answering smile had an edge to it, and Mat knew she was about to get herself in trouble. She might be in disguise, but hedidn’t needEl Jaguarto find out who she really was. Shaking off his distaste, he congratulated the lieutenant on the party, pulling the man’s attention away from Imogen.

El Jaguar’seyes lit with a sinister gleam as he rubbed his hands together. “You must have a front-row seat for the finale.” Lowering his voice, he added, “They’re all here. Watch carefully when it’s time.”

Mat gave a wordless nod. The entire North Texas arm of the Lazcano Cartel had acceptedEl Jaguar’sinvitation. From the regional bosses to the lowliest scouts, every member had shown up.

The lieutenant studied him for a moment longer, eyes dancing as if he knew something Mat did not. Worry tied his gut in knots over what it might mean.

“Enjoy the fiesta.” After another lecherous glance at Imogen,El Jaguarmoved on.

Imogen spoke softly where only Mat could hear. “He makes my skin crawl.”

Mat gazed into her chocolate eyes and found them no less determined. “But you still want to go through with this?”

Those dark orbs narrowed at him as if she dared him to question her. “Yes.”

He sighed, torn between needing her to go and wanting her to stay.

Her eyebrow disappeared under the band of her headdress as she quirked it at him. “What’s the finale going to be?”

A wave of nausea swept over Mat. He didn’t want her to watch whatEl Jaguarhad in store and planned to take her back to her room before it started. To distract her, he smiled and held out a hand. “Dance with me?”

---