Page 69 of Chasing Sarah

I know it’s a term of endearment, but hearing it fall from his mouth is anything but.

Rather than answering, I hold out the sack. His tattooed hand snakes out the window, eyes remaining focused on my face.

There is far too much interest there, and it makes my stomach twist.

The dark, amused chuckle he lets out sends my heart plummeting to the ground.

Get out of there.

Damien’s words enter my mind.

But I don’t have the money.

Do I dare question this man? Self-preservation screams to heed Damien’s warning. But the desperate part of me begs to stay. To finish this and help my family.

Images of my brothers – of a stressed Xander – flash through my mind on repeat.

I can do this. I have to do this.

“Are you going to pay me?” my throat all but strangles me; yet I remain standing. Feigning confidence I don’t have.

Condescension saturates their laughs. Hostility begins rising in my blood.

I might be young and new to this, but I need this money. We need this money.

He drops the envelope onto the ground. It lands at my feet, but I refuse to pick it up until they leave. I refuse to disconnect my stare from his.

“Te veré pronto, chiquita.” With a wink, he rolls his window up. The gravel crunches lightly as they drive away.

As soon as they’re out of sight my entire body turns boneless.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, scooping the money from the ground. Anticipation sizzles as I reach for the flap.

My jaw nearly falls from my face. Heart thundering, my thumb brushes lightly across the top of each bill.

I did it.

“Any word?”

I shift my gaze from the corpse being rolled into a body bag to find Declan walking toward me.

Annoyed, I shake my head. “No. Whoever is behind this is doing a damned good job covering their asses.”

“Fuck,” he growls through clenched teeth, observing the men.

Over the past week, we’ve questioned, maimed, and disposed of a ridiculous number of men. Not even one has been remotely helpful in our search for who is behind our warehouses being targeted.

Not even the cooperation and allegiance with Antonio hasmade a difference.

“What would you like to do?”

Declan’s eyes become unfocused. He runs his thumb along his bottom lip, lost in thought. I wait in silence.

Earlier this week, I found a kid,Beans, as he goes by, hanging around one of our warehouses. In exchange for his life, he is keeping his eyes and ears peeled on the lower gangs around the city. Someone has to know something. It’s only a matter of time.

“We’ll just have to keep doing what we have been. Make sure the warehouses are covered.” I nod in agreement. “I’ll check in on Beans for an update, then we can determine our next steps.”

Tomas steps into view. “All done, boss. Body is on its way to the hospital’s morgue.”

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