Page 70 of The Perfect Stranger

“Correction. I’m nothing to them. Garcia was my partner for all of a year. He spoke nothing of Los Santos or Baja cartel, and he certainly never brought up Evan Jacobs name. There’s no way I am involved in any of their dealings.”

My grip tightened drawing her in close against my chest. Nina, while flushed, looked like she wanted to both kiss and slap me. I would take either from her.

“You’re looking too much within the square, Nina.” She swallowed hard at my intense stare, an inner war waging within. “Sometimes it all comes down to the wealth of knowledge others see in you.”

“Whatever,” she dismissed. “I need to get out of here before—”

“Before?”

“Before I get killed or do something I shouldn’t. Both equally as bad.” She pulled free from my grasp and crossed the threshold.

“Nina.” When I said her name, she stopped and briefly closed her eyes, her shoulders relaxing the slightest degree. “Evan Jacobs aside, I was watching you well before you even knew who I was.”

I didn’t want to spook her. The last interaction hadn’t gone so well, and the last thing I wanted was to have her off-side. A foolish thought given all that I was going to put her through. A part of me wanted to take her and run to a place void of all lurking cartels. A place where I could indulge her, taste her and get to know the real Nina Cross. Instead, I could feel myself becoming the man I didn’t want to be. My vendetta against Luis Santos had reached new heights. There was no question that his acts of terrorism toward the people of La Balsa required retribution. He would suffer the way they did. I would make him pay for the lives he took, including that of my father. Involving Nina was not ideal. But with talk of the asshole resurfacing in the wake of the money transfer, I had to take my chances.

I allowed Nina a head start. After watching her drive west, I followed suit.

The time was coming.

I needed to bite the bullet.

The sooner we crossed the border, the quicker we could return.

I would do anything within my power to have her forgive me.

I would do anything within my power for her to not see me as one of them.

I drove through a small town a few miles short of El Paso and quickly circled back around. I pulled in behind Nina’s car. Same make, same number plate. But no Nina. It was parked outside a small motel with not a soul to be seen. The streets were eerily quiet except for the few cars passing between. Entering the motel foyer, I was greeted by a middle-aged man who hadn’t looked like he had smiled in a decade.

“Morning,” he greeted without any warmth.

“Good morning,” I returned. “I’m looking for Nina Cross. She would have just checked in.”

Calmly, he placed his pen on the counter and faced me head on. “And you are?”

Her kidnapper.

“Her husband. I’ve tried to reach her on her cell but the reception here is—”

“I know,” he conceded like there’s been an ongoing war over the issue. “They can put a man on the moon and satellites in space, but more than one bar of reception in El Paso and suddenly it’s a no-can-do.”

“Right,” I smiled, happy to have him on side.

“She’s in room eleven, but I’m certain I saw her head down the road in the direction of the convenience store not long before you pulled in.”

“That’s great, thank you.” I made to leave but was stopped by the tone of the man’s voice.

“I ah, told Mrs. Cross that we don’t take too well to trouble in these parts of town. She’s an agent and she looked a little edgy, you know? And well, you certainly fit the build too…” He paused for effect. “You know what I’m sayin’?”

“I’m certainly not looking for trouble.”

“Yeah… that’s exactly what she said.” We waited in a silent stand-off. “Well, all right then, enjoy your stay.”

Nodding, I made my exit back into the bright sunlight.

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