Page 50 of Fast Justice

“Part of her is still worried it might be a trap, something our government would use to separate her and her mom permanently. Not only that, they both still want to be able to return home when the dust settles one day.”

Mal scoffed. “That doesn’t sound so intelligent.” They likely wouldn’t last a day back in Mexico. TheVenenoshad eyes and ears everywhere. The moment they set foot back on Mexican soil, someone within the cartel infrastructure would know. Then they’d be walking targets for anyone looking to push Nieto out of power.

Lockhart shrugged, his pale gaze trained on the women. “It’s because she’s still not sure what the hell’s really going on. From what I’ve heard, she knows next to sweet fuck all about her dad, except that he’s rich and powerful. He and her mom basically kept her in the dark about his operations this whole time. I think she’s still hoping he’ll be able to pull enough strings and throw out enough money to make it safe enough for them to return home.”

Hard to believe any child of Nieto’s could remain ignorant as to who and what he really was for twenty-four years, but that wasn’t Malcolm’s problem. His job was to keep the women safe, Anya specifically, and ensure there were no more breaches in security. Which meant that as long as he was on this assignment, the women were on lockdown.

When it was clear neither Oceane nor Anya intended to leave the table for a good long while yet, Mal and Lockhart lounged back on the couches, keeping an eye on them while picking up only snatches of what was said. Lots of feminine whispering, then long minutes of silence as they sat huddled together before the conversation started up again.

“You getting any of this?” Mal murmured to Lockhart finally. His teammate had way more Spanish than Mal did.

“Bits and pieces. They’re talking about their options from here. Weighing the pros and cons. And Oceane just told her mom that she doesn’t see any way they’ll be able to go home again.”

That would explain the weeping. Anya had her face buried in her daughter’s shoulder now, her body jerking with the force of her tears, while Oceane was more composed, pressing her lips together and taking unsteady breaths.

How trustworthy they were, Mal didn’t know. How much of an asset they were to the U.S. government, Mal didn’t know.

Their heartbreak, however, was real. They could never go home again. Their lives as they’d known them were over. Dead and buried along with any hopes and dreams they’d had in Mexico. Their only option now, after they were released from government protection, was to start new lives either here in the States, or abroad. He hoped they realized that soon enough.

When fatigue began to creep up on him, threatening to weigh down his eyelids, Mal got up and moved around the room. Lockhart remained planted on the couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him, arms folded across his chest as he listened to the quiet conversation going on at the table. Mal was just starting to think about getting something to eat when a kitchen chair scraped over the floor.

Oceane stood to face them, her creamy-brown skin pale, her blue-gray eyes full of sadness. Her mother sat at the table mopping her eyes with a tissue, her shoulders shaking with residual shuddering breaths.

Mal stopped walking. Lockhart stayed exactly where he was, both of them watching Oceane. She walked into the living room, chin up, with the intrinsically proud and elegant bearing of a woman raised in the lap of untold luxury—and a former security that had been completely, irrevocably shattered.

“We’ve talked it over,” she began in accented English, her voice soft but steady. “And we’ve decided that it’s best if we enter the WITSEC program.”

Oh, thank you, Jesus.Mal shot a relieved look at Lockhart.

His teammate still hadn’t moved, watching her, expression giving nothing away. His almost preternatural stillness was a dead giveaway to his sniper background to someone with military training. “I think that’s a good decision,” Lockhart said.

Oceane took a deep breath. “So will you call them and let them know?”

“Sure.” With that, Lockhart was up and off the couch, phone in hand as he dialed someone. Probably Taggart. “Better go get your stuff together,” he told her. “Once we pull the trigger, things are gonna move fast.”

Unable to not feel a slight twinge of sympathy for her and her mother, Mal gave her an encouraging smile and gestured for her to head to the bedroom so she could start packing while he watched.

She might not see it now, but this was the best decision for everyone. WITSEC would give her and her mother the best protection available. It also meant Mal was free to rejoin his team—and find a way to see Rowan the first chance he got.

****

“It’s done?” Manny said into his phone as he left his lawyer’s office, where he’d just finished a meeting about his estate and Oceane.

At the curb, two of his men were standing guard beside his new Jag, which gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. Elena was out at one of his charity’s auctions and wouldn’t be home for hours. Manny was looking forward to having the house to himself for the rest of the day and not worrying about her overhearing anything she shouldn’t.

“Oh yeah,” Montoya replied enthusiastically from the other end. “Killed every last one of the fuckers.”

Manny frowned in annoyance and climbed into his car, quickly slamming the door shut behind him. Body count was of little importance to him. Results were. “What about the operation?”

“Main lab and all the outbuildings are in ashes. Along with the homes and businesses of anyone suspected to support Ruiz.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and drew in a deep breath. “Please tell me you kept it to the known suspects.”

Montoya snickered. “Yeah, them too.”

God.Manny sank into the plush leather driver’s seat, suddenly bone weary, and leaned his head back. Too much collateral damage would bring unwanted heat down on him and the cartel. Bribing and blackmailing officials down here was common practice, but every once in a while he ran into someone who wasn’t corruptible. That made his work a lot harder. “I told you to be careful. You were to have your guys take out the operation and those responsible for itonly.”

“Which I did, mostly. But it never hurts to send a message, does it? Besides, we had a little help fromEl Escorpion.”

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