Page 35 of Wait for You

Imogen stepped aside so the nurse could check his vitals. “There’s a line of people waitin’ to talk to you.” She made a note on his chart, then asked, “Do you want me to send ’em in or away?”

He said, “In,” at the same time Imogen replied, “Away.”

The nurse chuckled and patted Imogen’s arm. “Best get it over with, hon.” Her voice dropped, not so Mat couldn’t hear but so the people outside didn’t. “I’ll give you a quick minute first, though.”

“Thank you,” Imogen’s smile was watery.

When the nurse shut the door behind her, he opened his right hand for Imogen. “Corazón”—she placed her tiny palm in his hand and when he tried to lift it to his lips, she helped—“I never thought I’d see you again.”

She trembled with the effort of holding back her tears. “Oh, Mat. I—”

“Travers!” The door to his room opened as his boss barged in.

So much for that minute.

Imogen tried to slip away, but Mat held tight to her hand. “Stay with me,” he murmured, and she smiled softly, squeezing his palm in response as they both faced the Major of Ranger Company “B”.

Major Swanson was in his fifties but still as broad as a barn. He lumbered to Mat’s side. “Damn, boy. You look like you been through a meat grinder.”

Mat tried to smile. The major had always been blunt. “Feel like I have, too.”

Major Swanson patted Mat’s ankle. “Look, I know it’s going to take some time to recover, but we need your statement.”

Mat nodded. “Yes, sir. I can give it, but catch me up first? We got Sanchez out?”

Imogen beat the major to answering. “Yes! Emil’s here, too. No serious injuries, but he was dehydrated, and they wanted to keep him overnight for observation just in case.” Her face lit with gratitude and relief. “He’s safe because of you.”

The major piggybacked on her statement. “Miss Imogen’s right. You saved that boy, Travers. And he had quite the tidbit to offload.” The major’s grin had a glint to it that promised retribution. Not for Mat, but for the Lazcanos. “We got ’em.El Jaguar’sin custody.”

That was a relief, but . . . “What about Julio Gomez?”

Major Swanson glanced at Imogen with what looked like an apology before answering, “We found that two-bit lackey’s body. Someone put a bullet in his head.”

Sour satisfaction swept over Mat.The bastard won’t be a problem anymore.

Unaware of his internal triumph, the major added, “With Emiliano Sanchez’s information, your statement, and theevidence we seized, we’ve got enough to take the Lazcanos down.”

“What about the chemist?”

A wide grin crossed the major’s face. “We’re raiding the compound as we speak.”

“Damn,” Mat uttered the expletive aloud. As much relief as that brought him, a part of him regretted not being there for the raid.

“Hey, it’s happenin’ because of you. Don’t think I don’t know that.” The major’s words soothed some of the frustration he felt.

Least you’re alive to hear ’bout it.

Chastised by his subconscious, Mat nodded, but then a worry he hadn’t had time to acknowledge snuck up on him. “They’ll bury it. If the chemist is really the governor’s son . . .”

The major’s expression darkened. “You let me worry about that. Even if they sweep it under the rug, we’ve got what we need to stop the cartel. That’s what matters.”

Knowing how things worked around here, it seemed likely the fact the governor of Texas’ son was working for the Lazcanos would never come to light. The reality burned a hole in Mat’s gut, but if he’d at least stopped the lieutenant and the cartel from operating in his state, he’d call it a win.

“What else did Sanchez tell us?”

The major shifted on his feet and crossed his arms. “He had a video, evidence proving the governor’s son was the chemist. He went into hiding to keep it out of the Lazcanos’ hands. ’Course, he chose to hide withLos Lobosand that group is just as bad. I’m guessing one of ’em sold him out when they heard the cartel was looking for him.”

Mat winced. That was his fault. He didn’t want to dwell on all the ways Imogen’s brother being captured could’ve gone poorly. But at least it led to Emiliano coming out of hiding and finding the information on the chemist to take the cartel down.

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