Page 60 of Embedded
“Where?”
“On the right back tire.”
“Correct.” He nodded. “If anyone stops you, say Armondo told you to go get him something, like a screwdriver. You might have to come up with something plausible. Act annoyed and irritated.” He looked over my head then back to me as he flipped up his sunglasses. “I need you to be careful.”
I tried to smile. “Copy that. I’m good at coming up with something.” I went for a smile.
“This could get ugly, Nicole.”
My mood fell. “When Bruno’s involved, it’s always ugly.”
He suddenly grabbed my face with both hands and smashed his lips to mine, then he deepened his kiss and the world melted away for a moment. “Don’t leave the property. Ever. Promise me, you won’t leave,” he said sharply.
I had no intention of getting myself into trouble. This was unlike anything I’d been involved in before, and I didn’t feel as casual with my life as I once did. I had a lot more to live for. “I promise.” I looked at the ground and figured I’d address the elephant in the room. “Are you guys all right with this? Not being there at the house, I mean.”
“Zack, Doc Roberts, and Daniel are handling everything.” His mouth pulled into a thin line. “Our job comes first; it has to. We keep an eye on each other, and we’ll get through it. Later, we’ll have a small service for her and grieve together. It’s how we deal.”
“Good.” I saw Chase’s little face and felt the tug inside at having to leave him. “I can’t help thinking of Chase.”
“You need your head in the game, not thinking of things like that. Distractions will get you killed.”
“Is that what you do?” I challenged, and he looked away like I hit a nerve.
He licked his lips and pulled me to him, so I could feel his whole solid body. “Don’t do anything more than what we discussed. Just stay alive for seven days, and it’ll be over.”
“Okay.” He kissed me once more, then he was gone, and Chili took his spot.
He held up a thin cloth bag. “Ready?”
Panic coursed through me as my body temperature rose. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He walked me to the truck. Then everything went black.
THIRTEEN
BRUNO
“Bruno, he’s here.” Armondo found me in the west wing of the new house. I had to admit Mama had said the view of the kitchen was going to be fantastic, and it was. I could see for miles, and that also meant it would be easy to spot anyone coming and we could be ready for them.
A small group of local men came into view. They were installing cameras, and I wondered how many of them would regret working for us. I had to smile at the idea of what we were building. These people had no idea how powerful we were about to become.
“I’ve never seen that many shades of orange in a single sunset before,” Mama said from behind me. “It makes me wonder if we should stay here.”
“We own six properties, and this one is the one you want to live in?” I leaned my weight against the wall and felt my foot throb inside my shoe. Though I liked the location of this one, it wasn’t my favorite. I had a sudden thought. “How long are you staying?”
“A few more weeks.” She stepped into view. “I need the men to understand I’m in charge and there will be no room for error.”
Mama never let me forget she was the one in charge of our family. It was the reason my father kept his distance. Two type A people needed miles between them to work. He stayed in Mexico City, and she stayed in Rosarito. Where I hoped she’d soon return.
“Did you meet with your sleeper today?”
“I did.”
“And?”
I pulled out the little box “J” had given me and handed it to her. “It’s a start.”
She read the label and flipped it over. “You’re not to make a move until I say so,” she reminded me, and I turned to look at her like she was mad. “I mean it. Gather all the information first, then we’ll hit all three at once. If you show your cards early, we’ll lose the element of surprise.”
“If I see an opportunity to take out the very men who killed Uncle Martin, I’m pulling the trig—” She grabbed my ear and yanked me down to her level.
