Page 84 of Emerald

Elena blanches at my words. “No. Anna wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“She isn’t Anna anymore.” I see the shock starting to wear off and the realization hit her. “I think we need to go.” She stares at me for a couple more moments, then nods as we both get up quietly, trying not to draw any attention to ourselves as I escort her out of the restaurant. I tell the waiter that Elena doesn’t feel well, and we are leaving. We don’t say a word on the walk back to the car, and when I open the car door for her, she stills.

“Tell me what the hell is going on?” she asks angrily.

“I will. Now get in the car. It’s not safe for you.”

She does as she is told without argument. I get in around the other side and set off back home.

“Will you tell me what’s going on?”

“I only know what I know second hand, but the rumor mill of Tulum is always buzzing.” I let out a heavy sigh. “They have been married for three years. She started out as his mistress until he divorced his first wife of thirty years and married her. It was a scandal in the community because his first wife, Catalina, was a saint. She did so much for the local community, everyone loved her. Unfortunately, Catalina didn’t go quietly, and eventually, she was shipped off to Europe to live. Pedro declared that Catalina’s name would never be mentioned ever again in his presence, and the gossip died down quickly. Annika took overas the first lady of the Yucatan Cartel. I heard rumblings that he married her because of her connections to the Bratva, and because of those connections, it has strengthened the cartel even more.”

“Anna doesn’t have connections to the Bratva any more than I do,” she says, shaking her head not believing me.

“All I know is that I’ve had a lot of Russians in my bar accompanied by Dominguez men over the years.”

Elena stares at me in disbelief. “Russians?”

“Yeah. I knew by their tattoos they were Bratva.”

“Did you ever see her with them?”

I shake my head. “It was always just the men together drinking, letting loose.” I turn and look over at her. “Do you think your friend is still undercover?”

Elena looks up at me and I can see the moment my question splinters her heart. “From all the reports I’ve heard, they have lost contact with her.” Her shoulders slump. “There’s no way she is a murderous cartel wife.”

“Your friend has murdered friends of mine because she thought they had slighted her.”

“Anna would never.”

“I know she fucking did. She’s not Anna anymore.” I don’t mean to raise my voice at her.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she screams, slamming her hand against the dashboard. “I don’t want to believe it, not my Anna. This twisted version of her that you’re telling me isn’t her. I know it’s not. She must be deep undercover. The Anna I knew and loved wouldn’t hurt a fly. If anyone is the murderer it’s me, I was always so much stronger than her, mentally.”

“Maybe she snapped and turned into this. I don’t think you should go to the charity gala,” I warn her.

“I have to.”

“Elena, she might kill you.” I look over at her, imploring her to see reason.

“You think she can kill me?” Elena grins and smiles darkly. “Do I need to remind you of who I am? No one can kill me. Many have tried, all have failed.”

The look she gives me is pure ice as if she has manifested into the cold-hearted killer that I forgot she is.

“Maybe she thinks the same about herself,” I add quietly.

Elena reaches out and takes my hand in hers, bringing it to her lips and kissing it. “Thank you for trying to protect me, Nash. But I have to try to save her, not for me but for her father, she is all he has in this world.”

“Do you trust that your friend isn’t going to double-cross you?”

Her face falters for a moment as if the thought hadn’t passed her mind. “It’s the risk I have to take. I have to save her.”

“What happens if she doesn’t want to be saved?” I question her. She looks at me as if that is the stupidest question. “She’s a powerful woman here, she has money, fame, and power. You think she is going to give that up? You think Pedro is going to let you take his wife from him? You go in there guns blazing and take one of their jewels and the boss’s wife, you don’t think you’ve started a war?”

“I have to try. I have to do something. Sergei needs to know his daughter is alive.”

“I get that, but how are you going to convince her to leave with you? You also don’t think Pedro is going to come looking for his wife?”

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