Page 53 of Embedded
“Click the light three times if you’re in trouble.”
“Copy that,” she looked at Trigger. “Who are you trying to locate?” I cringed when she asked such a direct question.
Trigger’s colorful hand stroked his beard as he sat there, and I was surprised he answered. “Milo Garcia, the VP of the Cazadores de Sangre gang.”
“I heard his cousin, Vincente, works at the Guerra del Diablo pub in La Gloria.” Nicole pursed her lips. “I know Milo sometimes goes there. Wave some money and a hot chick in front of Vincente, and he’ll roll over on Milo in a heartbeat. They’ve got bad blood between them.”
“Appreciated.”
Damn, she’s good.
He raised his hand as if to say something else. It was very unlike Trigger to speak more than he needed. “Impressive you’re willing to go back into the lion’s den,” he stroked his beard, “but, fuck, you shot Bruno, betrayed the guy, and snatched the kid. That was his bargaining chip to take down the fuckin’ Canos clan. You think he won’t just shoot you in the face?”
“No, because he’s in love with her.” Grim stared dead-eyed with Nicole. “He’s said it to you before, hasn’t he?”
That is news to me. After our conversation in Washington, she assured us she could handle Bruno. She never once shared that the guy was in love with her.
“Yes, he has, but it’s more like obsession.” She didn’t break his stare.
“And you plan on using that to your advantage?” He ignored her correction and raised his perfectly arched brow at her.
She nodded. “I do.”
Grim flipped his Zippo lighter through his fingers like a drummer with a stick as he thought. “I was there that night, at Sully’s, when Bruno flexed his power for you to see.” Nicole visibly flinched. “There’s no stopping him when he wants to prove a point.”
“I can handle him.”
Grim moved his gaze over to me. “I hope you know what she’s getting into.”
“He does.” Nicole didn’t miss a beat. “I’ve been on the receiving end of Bruno’s wrath before, and I’m still here.”
Trigger blew smoke toward the ceiling. “We’ll do our part, but fuckin’ stay close.”
That was the plan. I nodded.
Grim checked his watch, and I knew we needed to leave. I stood and pulled Nicole to her feet.
“Paul,” Grim stopped me as Mike took a moment to talk to Trigger, “you find out who killed Talya?”
Everything around me stopped, sweat broke under my collar, and my gaze flickered to Nicole who, thank God, didn’t seem to notice my reaction.
“Not yet.”
“When you do, let me know. I’m sure we could come up with a rather amusing payback.”
“I’d enjoy that very much,” I muttered and gave him a tight smile. Nicole shot me a look, and I knew she’d heard that. I silently repeated what I’d just said in my head. Shit, that sounds personal.
“See you soon.” I hooked Nicole’s waist, nodded at Mike, and we hurried off to grab our luggage. Back in the main airport, I set a fast pace.
“Hey,” Nicole sounded pissed, “what the hell? I don’t appreciate the blindside back there.”
“You blindsided me too with that whole Agent Colin, Bruno in love thing. What happened at Sully’s party, anyway?”
She ignored me. “You just tossed me in front of a mafia king and a ruthless MC pres!”
“You handled yourself just fine.” My head still reeled with the mention of Talya’s killer. I still didn’t know who’d done it. Whoever it was, they would pay, and I looked forward to it.
“There’s that look again.” She pointed at my face.
