Page 62 of Embedded
“Unsuccessfully killed,” Armondo added from the corner of the room.
Chili grunted. “They grabbed them both, but I followed them to a nearby house. I waited ’til dark then moved in and managed to grab the girl while they tended to the kid—” He looked up quickly as Armondo suddenly rushed out of the room.
“And that’s where you lose me.” Bruno glanced at me then back to Chili. “Just how did you manage to slip by five special ops soldiers and walk away unharmed with the girl?”
“Why, because of me.” Bruno whirled around, and as he stepped back, I saw Grim Gates dressed to impress in a crisp black suit and deep gray tie. I knew he’d show, but I couldn’t help doing a double take inside.
“Mr. Gates, I wasn’t expecting you.” Bruno moved to the bar and made a quick drink then handed it to Grim like they were old friends. Chili kept his eyes on Grim but did tap his knee twice and pursed his lips to remind me to breathe.
All it would take was for one of those two men to flip and I’d be gone forever.
“Chili never mentioned your involvement.”
Grim paused to take a sip. He seemed completely at ease in the company of evil. It takes one to know one came to mind. I knew he was no saint. He was supposedly here to help, but I was very much aware of who Grim Gates was. He was the infamous Vegas Reaper and mafia king. Shit, all I needed now was for Eric Noah to show up and we’d have one hell of a sinful party.
“I’m not one for throwing names around,” Chili shrugged, “but Grim was in the area and offered to help out. He caused a distraction, and it gave me the opportunity to grab the girl and get out. I waited them out for a few days and returned her.”
I felt such deep pleasure when Bruno limped over for his cane. “What’s the catch?”
“Catch?” Chili shook his head. “We’re all in this for the same reason. We just want to carry on with our business, but those fucking fatigues get in the way. We need them gone.” He waved at me. “It’s ingrained in them to rescue the weak.”
“Fuck you.” I kept my temper at the surface. Bruno wouldn’t expect anything different from me. I had to bring flair to the situation.
“You’re the one who’s fucked, my dear,” Chili grunted then turned back to Bruno. “The way I see it, she's bait to tie out in the field. Let her be seen walking around so they get a visual.” He emphasized the word with finger quotes and grinned at the use of a military term. “It's only a matter of time before they go for it and try to get her. And when they do, we’ll be ready.”
Bruno rubbed his upper lip as he digested Chili’s idea. “What are your thoughts on the matter?” He directed the comment to Grim, who had stayed silent. He took a moment.
“They fucked with a drug deal recently. It greatly inconvenienced Morgan and Jesse, who now have to appear in court next week.” I knew Jesse was Grim’s right hand man and Morgan was Trigger’s Sergeant of Arms. “They’ve also been causing some major issues for Colin.” He drained the last of his drink. “I must say, I think it’s time to make a move,” Grim said with such ease it was chilling.
“Colin is the least of my concerns,” Bruno huffed.
“He should be, Bruno,” Grim didn’t miss a beat as he strolled over to the bar and fixed himself another, “because he’s planning on bringing more agents in at the El Paso border.” Does Grim know more than Blackstone does? Or is he fishing for information? Or is he trying to tell me something he found out? My reporter’s mind was going full tilt.
Grim came over and stood in front of me. He leaned down, so he was eye level, and cupped my chin in his hand. “I bet you have a lot of helpful information inside that pretty little brain of yours.” He whispered the word “umbrella stand,” indicating where he dropped the bugs I was to plant. “I’d keep this one around, Bruno. She could be of use to me later.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “And you know I’ll return the favor.”
I jerked my chin away from him and cursed.
“Be careful, my friend. She might bite.” Bruno’s smile turned wicked as someone behind me put a cloth over my mouth.
Loud bells drew me back to the living. They rang out and hurt my head. I felt worse than before. They had used drugs on me. Damn. Then I smelled that horrible, haunting perfume. It was deeply imprinted in my memory. Roses. Forever, that scent would remind me of rotting souls.
I finally managed to sit up, and to my horror, I realized I was back in the room Bruno had kept me in all those years ago. I looked down and touched the dress I wore; it was the white cotton one Bruno loved to see me in. I swallowed back the bile that rose in my throat, and with shaky legs, I slid off the bed and grabbed onto the windowsill. I looked out at the church down the road and wondered if Trigger’s men could see me.
With a sob, I managed to get myself into a chair, and with that terrible scent in my nostrils my head slipped back in time.
“Shhh, hide in here.” I helped Raúl and Raphael into a crawl space under the stairs. “Don’t move until I come and get you.”
“Sí.” Rafael positioned himself to shield his teenage son from the door.
I moved the wooden paneling back in place and grabbed Mari by the arm and tugged her with me to the front of the house.
“Raúl is a good boy, Nicole. Please, he didn’t know the guy was Cartel,” Mari pleaded with me. “He was just trying to get his car started. He was only defending himself.”
“Of course, I know that. It was one punch. The guy will be fine.” Only it wasn’t just a punch. It was an assault on a Cartel soldier, and that might as well be a death sentence. I swung her around to face me and handed her some cash. “Listen to me. When the police come looking for him, say you haven’t seen him since you got home from work. Give them the cash and say you’re sorry for wasting their time.”
“Wait,” her eyes widened, “you’re not staying?”
“If Bruno knew I was here, he’d know.” I pulled her in for a hug. “It’ll be okay, just have them lay low and keep out of sight. I’ll get in touch with Jack right away.” I held up Raphael’s cell phone. “I’m going to take this. You take mine.” I thrust mine in her hand. “Wait for my call.”
