Page 21 of Cartel Cobra

He was coming to find Lucy. I watch a guy reach around Domingo’s back and pull his gun free from the holster. He drops it and kicks it away; one of his co-hostage takers picks it up and holsters it under his arm.

“Empty your pockets.”

Domingo reaches back with his right hand.

“No. Not your wallet. Your knives. Now.”

The guy—I’m certain it’s Paco Hierro despite the ski mask—puts the gun to Domingo’s forehead. I watch his finger flex over the trigger, and I’m certain Domingo saw it, too. He withdraws one knife, then another. Paco shoves him backwards, but Domingo’s sturdier than Paco expects. He barely sways. Fucking dumbass. He should have had Domingo turn his pockets inside out. I’m certain he has at least one, if not two more knives for situations just like this. I know I do.

“Where is she?”

“Who?” Domingo’s expression appears confused, but he’s a shit actor.

“Where isel jefe’sdaughter? That’s who you were going to look for.”

“I don’t know. That’s why I was looking.”

“What do you mean you don’t know where your woman is? Stop lying, Domingo.”

“I’m not. She was supposed to be in the bathroom, but she’s not.”

“So, you thought she went up to a bedroom?”

“Maybe this one was in use when she tried it. I don’t know.”

Paco shoves Domingo’s chest, then gestures to go up the stairs. The latter doesn’t budge. Paco draws back to punch Domingo, but Domingo blocks it with an uppercut that snaps Paco’s head back. In Paco’s confusion, he lets go of the gun when Domingo grabs it.

“You hit me once, and I let you. I needed you close enough to take your gun once you drew it. Thank you.”

Paco’s shocked, but I’m certain it was at the punch’s force, not about losing his gun. Neither Chuy nor Cokie reacted to Domingo taking Paco’s weapon. I’m not waiting around to see how the charade plays out. It confirms what I learned today.

I need to get Lucy outpronto. I ease away from my hiding place and move on silent feet as I check the servants’ stairs. I hear nothing below, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t someone there waiting for anyone to run downstairs or waiting to charge up here.

I creep down them, my finger around the trigger with the safety off. I can see the kitchen door, and it’s clear inside. I don’t know who’s out there, but I’m certain Humberto didn’t send only three—four—men. I take the stairs back up as silently as I did when I came down them. I text my driver to meet us by the back gate. If I need to, I’ll lift Lucy over the fence. I ease the bedroom door open and lightly tap on the bathroom one.

“Chica?”

I don’t get a response. My heart races as I test the door handle. It’s locked.

“Chiquita.”

I hear movement, but I don’t hear the lock turn.

“His jersey was number twenty, and he has a scar on his right knee from a motorcycle accident when he was fourteen. Your mother threatened to give him a matching one for being on a bike too young.”

The lock flips, and I feel the knob twist against my palm. I point my gun toward the floor as Lucy opens the door. I wrap my free arm around her waist and lift her off her feet. She cups my face, staring at me for a heartbeat before kissing me. I gladly return it before more shouting snaps us back to reality. I take her hand, and she follows me without question.

We make our way down to the kitchen as we hear Domingo yelling for Lucy. I glance over my shoulder and find her looking at the kitchen door with her gun pointed toward it. The look of disgust on her face reassures me she has no intention of letting go and choosing Domingo instead.

“He’s part of this, isn’t he?” I barely hear her and rely on reading her lips to be sure I understand.

My lips flatten as I turn my head to look at the door. I shift my focus back to her and nod. She stares at me, and she’s deduced I already knew. I need to make sure she understands I only found out today that Humberto’s been extorting Domingo for gambling debt thecabrónracked up two years ago. Domingo’s father knew and arranged the marriage to save his son’s ass. I didn’t know about the attack tonight. I can’t tell her any of this right now.

I guide her outside, knowing she keeps checking behind us as I lead. I scan our surroundings and spy the back gate. We’re almost to it, and I see Ricco waiting on the other side when Domingo’s voice fills the air.

“Ana!”

That wasn’t fear. That was rage.

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