Page 27 of Brutal Monster
"And yet you're the one we find here." His smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Interesting arrangement."
The implication hangs in the air between us. That I'm sleeping my way into cartel business. That Inez is compromised.
"Your choices are simple," I tell him, advancing a step. "Leave now with a message for Emilio, or leave in bags. Your preference."
Tension crackles in the air. Three against three, but my team is the better one. They know it. We know it.
The leader makes a small gesture with his left hand. "We were never here."
"And yet, you were," I counter. "You were searching through Ms. Bravo's personal items. Taking what isn't yours to take."
His jaw tightens. "We have orders."
"And now you have new ones. From me." I move closer, until my gun nearly touches his chest. "Whatever you came for, leave it. And tell Emilio that the next time he sends men into Inez's home, I won't be so generous."
The standoff stretches for five more seconds. Ten. Then the leader nods once.
"Check them," I order Maksim, who pats them down efficiently, retrieving several flash drives and a folder of documents.
"Now go," I say when he's finished. "And remember to deliver my message exactly as stated."
They back toward the door, weapons still raised until the last possible moment. Only when the elevator doors close do I lower my gun.
"Secure the apartment," I tell my men. "Then call in a team to sweep for bugs."
I move to the bedroom, taking in the subtle signs of intrusion—the drawer of Inez's nightstand slightly ajar, the corner of the rug not quite aligned with the floor tile. They've been thorough.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Inez.
"We have a problem," I say when I answer.
"I know," she replies, her voice tight with controlled fury. "Emilio's making his move."
"Stay where you are," I order, pacing across the bedroom. "These weren't random thugs. This was a coordinated search team."
"I'm already in the car, Vanya." Her voice is steel wrapped in silk. "Ten minutes out."
My blood runs cold. "Turn around. Now. If they're bold enough to hit your penthouse?—"
"Then I need to see what they took." She cuts me off. "Besides, I have Diego and Javier with me."
I curse in Russian, already striding toward the elevator. "I'm coming down. Don't enter the building until I'm there."
I end the call before she can argue and snap orders at Maksim. "Keep sweeping. Document everything they touched. I want to know what they were looking for."
The elevator descends too slowly. I check my weapon, mind racing through scenarios. Emilio's men wouldn't risk this without a specific target in mind, not in broad daylight, not in Inez's personal space. This is an escalation—calculated and dangerous.
I exit through the private lobby, scanning the street. Inez's black Escalade pulls up precisely as I reach the curb. Perfect timing, as always. She steps out before her security can open the door, sunglasses masking her expression, but I read the tension in her shoulders.
"They're gone," I say, taking her elbow and guiding her back toward the vehicle instead of the building. "But we need to talk. Not here."
Her eyes flash behind the dark lenses. "My apartment?—"
"Is being swept for surveillance." I lower my voice. "Emilio's men were inside. Looking for something specific."
She goes perfectly still, the way she does when processing a threat. "Show me what they took."
I hand her the flash drives and folder Maksim retrieved. She glances at them, her expression unreadable.
