Page 80 of Fast Vengeance

No way. “Really?”

“Yes. They’re planning a sting to catch him right now.” She gave him a little smile. “So it’s almost over. And I’ve bought myself a couple of days to stay with you until they transfer you back home.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And the best part—I get to be your personal nurse as long as you’re in here.”

“Hope I’m here a long time then.” He grinned, feeling no pain in his face as his numb skin pulled with the movement. “Do you give sponge baths?”

Her eyes twinkled. “For you, yes.”

“I can’t wait.” He wouldn’t think about her leaving yet. It hurt way worse than the damage done to his body. He couldn’t stop looking at her. What would she say if he broached the idea of him going with her when she left D.C.? Would she even consider it?

“Good.” She sighed, ran her fingertips down the unfrozen side of his face. “Get some sleep. It’s over and you’re safe now. I’ll stay right here beside you, like you did for me the night we met.”

He appreciated that, but this wasn’t even close to over. Not with Montoya and el Escorpion still on the loose.

****

Fernando’s hand froze when he heard the noise, the forkful of beans inches from his mouth. He swung his head around to stare at the back door, listened intently.

Rapid footsteps. Someone running toward them.

He shot to his feet, grabbed the pistol lying on the table and aimed it at the door. It flew open, revealing the young boy he had paid yesterday to act as a lookout. “Señor, they are coming,” he blurted, his eyes wide and frightened.

Cold ripped down his spine. They’re here. But how?

“Run,” his bodyguard said, shoving from his chair, their breakfast barely touched on the table as he reached for his rifle. “I’ll meet you at the car.”

A spurt of panic flashed through Fernando as he raced out the back door of the small house they had stayed the night in. The sidewalk out back was all but deserted, the first rays of daylight spilling around the buildings and onto the street of the quiet village.

“Diaz! Stop and put your hands up!” someone shouted behind him. Pounding feet thudded on the concrete.

He threw a glance over his shoulder, a wave of terror flooding him when he saw the uniformed men moving along the alleyway. They wore military fatigues and black balaclavas to hide their faces, carried assault rifles.

Mexican Special Forces. How the hell had they found him?

He put his head down and ran, focused on executing the escape plan he and his bodyguard had gone over last night, just in case. Part of him had known this day was coming. It was why he had left his family and set out on his own a few days ago. He just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

His feet flew across the pavement. He couldn’t surrender. They would just use him to get to his family.

Saying goodbye to them the other night when he’d tucked them into bed was the hardest thing he had ever done. The children were too young to realize what was happening. What his words had meant. But he had known. And so had his wife and mother.

Gunfire erupted behind him. Fernando risked a glance back to see his bodyguard standing at the corner of a building, firing at the approaching men. Buying him a precious window of time to escape with.

Fernando jumped into the waiting vehicle, fired it up and screeched away from the curb. A military vehicle veered out onto the street ahead of him and stopped, blocking his way.

He slammed on the brakes, threw it into reverse, turned to brace one arm across the back of his seat as he sped backward, wrenching the wheel to one side to make the turn. The vehicle skidded around, jerked as he put it in drive and hit the gas. Gravel sprayed from beneath the tires as he sped back the other way.

His bodyguard lay dead on the sidewalk, sprawled on his back.

Fernando whipped past him, desperation pushing him to go faster. Figure out how to escape.

More vehicles shot out ahead of him. He hit the brake again, his body jerking against the seatbelt. His gaze darted up to the rearview mirror. The vehicles behind him were closing in now.

He was trapped, the alleyways between the houses too narrow for his car. And he would never make it out of here on foot.

He pursed his lips. He would have to ram through them. It was the only option he had left.

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