Page 4 of Run with Me

“Oh, come on, chiquita. We’ve known each other since grade school.”

“That does not make us a couple, and nothing ever will.” I lifted my head higher.

Ben ignored me and turned back to Xavier. “You’ve come at the perfect time, amigo. Tomorrow’s our Assumption Fiesta. Where are you staying?”

“At the parish,” I buttedin.

“Well, that’s not fun. Stay at the Bistro.” Ben pointed to the door behind him. “The motel’s just been renovated. It’s a family business.”

I wanted to double roll my eyes, but when I’d done that in the past, Ben had a fit, and it had ended up with my parent’s house being burned down. I knew it was him. He was the first one on the scene, stepping out from behind the bushes. I smelled fuel on his clothes, and that smirk on his face was a dead giveaway. Ben Cortez was ruthless, just like his father. Alejandro Cortez had reportedly accused his wife of cheating and tied her to a pole in the middle of the desert. The vultures picked her body to the bone, and I just prayed that she hadn’t been alive when they started. Was I afraid of the Cortez family? Of course I was. Everyone was, and if they weren’t, then they should have been. The smartest thing I could do was run away from Pace and never come back, but that meant leaving those I loved behind.

“The motel hasn’t been renovated in decades. It’s disgusting.”

Ben threw me a warning look, and I felt my insides shrink. I suddenly wished John werehere.

“Come on, Xavier. At least check itout.”

“I don’t think there’s any harm in that. Are you coming along, Anna?” he asked, offering me his arm. I didn’t want to accept it. I’d promised myself I’d never step into that brothel again. But I didn’t want to leave Xavier in Ben’s care. I didn’t want him to be a victim.

“Of course she is. And if she’s not, I’ll have to look for her later and explain how to properly treat the guests in ourtown.”

My jaw hurt from clenching. The last time I’d walked into that bar was when my parent’s house went up in flames.

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