Page 33 of Deception & Desire

She’d confessed on the ride over that it’d been four years since she last saw most of these people. Back then, she’d barely been a footnote in the life of the Cartel, always kept behind closed doors, always just hidden from view.

Now, as I open the front door of the mansion for her, every single guest turns to take a look. Each seems more curious than the next to see how Amos’ precious Princeton grad grew up.

Carmen stands for a moment in the foyer, looking more than a little overwhelmed at the sudden attention. Not that I blame her. There must be fifty people ogling her right now.

“I need faces,”Leon suddenly murmurs in my ear. It’s an unsettling feeling. He must have spent an ungodly amount of money on my gear. The clarity of the sound in my earpiece makes it seem as if he were standing right behind me.

I give myself a second to breathe, smile, and then approach the bewildered Carmen, casually looping my arm through hers. “Oh my God, Cammy! This place is gorgeous!” I gush, squeezing her arm twice.

One for bad, two for good.We’d decided in the car.

I make sure to look around at our audience, catching them with my concealed camera under the guise of admiring the extensive entrance hall.

I feel her instantly relax at my side. “You should see the ballroom.” She tugs me forward. “Come on, I’ll show you.”’

We natter on as Carmen leads me through the ground floor. We look for all the world like two excited women squealing about the grandeur of a party after four years of student living.

A couple of people stop us to congratulate Carmen. I make a mental note of their names and their faces as I quietly wait for my companion to politely thank them or regale them with a tale of late nights at the library and hard work paid off.

By the time we reach the ballroom, Carmen seems to have completely settled into her role. She’s a natural at this, a huge smile on her lips despite the excruciating politeness.

“My Papi should be around here somewhere,” she mentions as we begin to wander through the hall.

It’s also magnificent, adorned with all the fixtures of wealth one might find in some kind of castle. High ceilings, gallery feature walls, and humongous chandeliers are everywhere.

I let out a whistle as I take it all in, thoroughly distracted by what Carmen just said.

That is, until we come to a halt in front of a very large, very intimidating group of men. They part at the sight of Carmen, many wearing appreciative expressions as they appraise her. I try not to let my toes curl. No wonder she wanted private backup.

“Maji?” a deep voice calls out from the very center of the pack.

Before my very eyes, Amos Rubio steps forward.

It’s strange because I’ve known about this man for so long. I've seen his half-blurred face in CCTV footage, been shown his mug shot from twenty-odd years ago. But I’ve never confronted him in person.

I think I imagined he’d be taller, this intimidating force of a man that has overshadowed the Guild for years. But in reality, he’s just a normal man in an expensive suit. Tattoos creep out of his sleeves across his fingers. His dark hair shaved short.

His leathery skin wrinkles when he smiles at the sight of his daughter.

“You look beautiful,” he says as he pulls her in for a tight embrace.

I watch with the reunion with a placated smile, trying to ignore the prickle of curious attention beginning to be directed my way.

“The one on the right, red tie. That’s Ivan. We caught him on CCTV planting?—”

“Who is this, Mija?” Amos Rubio pulls back from his daughter to appraise me. It’s a calculating look, but not one that seems overly suspicious.

I step forward with a bright smile, flicking my hair back as I hold out my hand. “Holly McDonald, sir. But everyone just calls me Red.”

“Remember Papi? I told you she’s my friend from school.” Carmen rolls her eyes.

Then suddenly, I’m shaking hands with Amos Rubio. In the middle of his own house. Surrounded by the enemy.

“So pleased to meet you!” I lay it on a bit thick. “I owe your daughter a life debt, you know. She saved me from getting trampled to death by a rogue stallion back in Princeton.”

To her credit, Carmen easily plays along. “I just nudged you out of the way,” she says, words laced with false modesty.

Amos drops my hand, seemingly placated. “Carmen has a habit of bringing out loyalty in people. Did you also major in Bioengineering?”

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