Page 66 of Devil's Property
I’d gauged her reaction when I’d mentioned the man’s name. No recognition whatsoever. She was even more of an enigma. Time was running out. I’d need to push and do so vehemently. Whatever she was hiding was likely a ticking timebomb.
The way Jago looked at me after turning his head was knowing, the grin sliding across his face one I’d seen mostly when dealing with his wife. “You care about her. Twenty-four hours is all it took. That’s all it takes with destructive, uncaring men like us. When the right woman comes along, we’ll stop at nothing to take what we want. What we know we need just to survive.”
Arguing with him was pointless. Because I respected he was the Druglord? Hell, no. Since when had I ever stopped and thought about my message before tossing it out for Jago to digest? My hesitation was simply about realizing there was a chance he was right.
Damn the man.
As usual when I refused to be picked apart, I changed the subject.
“What if your cousin sold us out to Fassi? Since when did your cousin think about hiring a scientist?” I had to ask the questions and even when Jago bristled, I wasn’t worried he’d be furious. He’d certainly thought of the same thing. How could henot? Plus, the simple fact Eduardo had skipped telling us about whatever toxic powder was in the vial couldn’t be ignored. At minimum he’d known we could face a serious attack, yet he’d declined to warn his own cousin.
If he were my family, the man would already be dead, but Jago had grown a soft spot for family. Something else being involved with a woman caused. While my rational mind knew my thoughts were correct, I’d yet to be able to push Fallon from my mind for even thirty seconds.
Her defiant expression alone had driven me into lust, but it was the sadness in her eyes and the way she’d whispered she was sorry that had truly gotten to me.
After we both stepped from the vehicle, Jago buttoned his jacket, waiting to answer until he’d walked around to where I was standing. “Then my father will lose a nephew.”
I nodded and eyed the eight-story building. Was the fact the Ritz Carlton was only blocks away a coincidence or planned all along? I slid my hand into my pocket, rubbing my fingers across the vial. If Eduardo wasn’t forthcoming in an explanation of the contents, I’d made arrangements using old contacts to have the substance tested. I was only allowing Eduardo the opportunity to come clean because he wasfamilia.
Silvio flanked my side while Benito did with Jago. Two other vehicles full of soldiers finally rolled into the parking lot. After my tense discussion with Santos, he’d stormed out, yet when the time to leave had arrived, two cars full of Eduardo’s soldiers had been waiting to serve as protection.
After our return, I’d handle the situation myself, my way.
We headed into the hospital, bypassing administration. The women behind the desk knew better than to try to stop us. The elevator was a steam bath and I had a good mind to complain to the maintenance workers myself.
Although the meeting would likely end badly with bullets flying, men dying and me walking from the room unsatisfied with our conversation. That was the kind of mood I was in. The nagging remained about Fallon, the pounding in my head like a ticking clock in a room full of explosives.
Call it a premonition. Call it self-preservation.
Call it whatever the fuck anyone wanted, but Fallon was a piece to a puzzle that was driving me to the brink of madness.
It would seem Eduardo had improved significantly, was breathing on his own and expected to be released in a couple of days. That was definitely good news since the longer I remained in Mexico, the faster the clock was ticking away.
Along with my patience.
I eyed the two guards standing by his door, the twenty-four-hour protection necessary for anyone working in the illicit world of drugs or weapons. There were too many opportunities to buy allegiance in a world full of monsters attired as men of integrity.
“Make certain we’re left alone,” Jago told Benito. He nodded and immediately headed toward the nurse’s station.
“Keep watch,” I added, telling Silvio, “Don’t let anyone with itchy trigger fingers in through this door.”
“No problem, boss,” he said and unfastened his jacket, prepared for an attack.
Jago shook his head as he stood right in front of the door. “We were close as kids. Do you remember Eduardo spending the summer with us?”
“I’ve tried to put it out of my mind.” In truth, I’d still been a fucked-up kid with a taste for blood and a determination for revenge. Without Rafael’s tutelage and friendship with Jago, my life would have taken an entirely different path.
He laughed. “That was when he wanted to be an actor. I don’t know why I was thinking of that. We were what, seventeen? Eighteen?”
“Something like that.” I knew exactly. I’d just turned eighteen, my first birthday without my family. I’d been forced to assume the caretaker role with Maya, something a monster like me shouldn’t have attempted. She’d been the only thing in my life that had kept me with an ounce of humanity.
“Ready to take on the world. It’s funny how different he’s become. The kid was weak and a pain in the ass. He also never learned to respect rules and consequences. Something Pops used to say.” Jago laughed. “But Eduardo was family.” His sigh was heavy. “And he still is.”
As he looked at me, I understood what he was saying. He was the one who’d make the decision on the man’s life. Not me.
I nodded in agreement. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t rough up the asshole. He deserved it. Jago pushed the door open, both of us walking inside. Eduardo had his eyes closed but was only attached to heart and blood pressure monitors.
The man didn’t stir even when I approached. But he certainly did when I wrapped my hand around his throat, squeezing as I lifted him off the bed.
