Page 39 of Brutal Monster
"You want to hunt him." It's not a question.
"Him and Adan." I reach for my hairbrush. "Cut off the head, and the body dies. Basic strategy."
Vanya steps behind me, our eyes meeting in the mirror. "Risky. Going after them directly could trigger their contingency plans."
"Staying defensive is riskier." I brush through a tangle with more force than necessary. "I won't sit here like a target while Emilio assembles his kill squad."
His hands come to rest on my shoulders, thumbs pressing into the knots of tension at the base of my neck. "Then we move first. But carefully." His eyes harden. "We need to know who's feeding him information before we strike."
I lean into his touch for a moment, then straighten. "I have a theory about that."
"Your cousin, Mateo?"
I shake my head. "Too obvious. Mateo wants power, but he's not subtle enough for this. I'm thinking Claudio."
Vanya's eyebrows rise. "Your father's accountant? He's been with your family for twenty years."
"Exactly." I turn to face him directly. "He knows everything—security protocols, property holdings, shipping schedules. He’s close to Alicia, and she's been increasingly anxious these past few weeks."
"Could be wedding stress. Everyone's on edge."
"Or guilt." I step away from him, dropping my towel as I move toward the closet. "I've already put Marco on her. He's monitoring her communications, tracking her movements."
Vanya follows, watching as I select a sleek black pantsuit, a crimson blouse, and underwear. "If you're right about Claudio, we can feed him false information. Set a trap for Emilio."
"Already in motion." I slip into my clothes with practiced efficiency. "I've told him we're moving the shipment from Thursday to Saturday. If Emilio's men show up at the docks on Saturday..."
"We'll know." Vanya nods, reaching for his own clothes. "And if they don't?"
I button my blouse, fingers steady despite the stakes. "Then I'm wrong, and we're back to square one."
"Either way, we need to locate Emilio and Adan." Vanya pulls on his shirt, movements quick and precise. "I'll have Mikhail deploy reconnaissance teams to their known locations."
"Start with Emilio's mistress in Puerto Vallarta." I check my reflection, adjusting my collar. "He thinks I don't know about her, but my father kept tabs on all his hiding spots."
Vanya's mouth curves into something between a smile and a snarl. "And Adan?"
"He's more predictable. Check his mother's villa in Acapulco." I reach for my holster, strapping it across my shoulders before sliding my Beretta into place. "He always runs home when threatened."
"Like a good son." Vanya's voice carries a hint of mockery.
I give him a sharp look. "Family loyalty isn't a weakness."
He inclines his head, acknowledging the hit. "And what about our wedding guests? If we're hunting Emilio, we should postpone."
"No." The word comes out harder than intended. "Canceling would signal weakness. We continue as planned, just with additional security measures."
Vanya finishes dressing. "As you wish." His tone is neutral, but I catch the slight tightening around his eyes.
"This isn't about stubbornness," I say, softer now. "The wedding creates the perfect cover for moving our people into position. No one questions security details for a high-profile cartel marriage."
Understanding dawns in his expression. "Using our own ceremony as operational cover. Clever."
"Practical," I correct, reaching for my phone. "Now, let's go find my stepbrother before he finds us."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
INEZ
