Page 14 of For the Love of Animals

“The only event we’re sure Lozano will attend in the near future is the Day of the Dead festival in town. His grandma organised the inaugural parade, and he sponsors the entire event. He hasn’t missed one since it started.”

I’d grown up thirty miles away, and the parade was famous throughout the region. People travelled for miles to watch. Last year, Lozano had presented the costume prizes, and the youngest winner burst into tears because she was scared of his mask. Me? I was more scared of the man behind it.

“And?” Nate asked. “What else?”

I settled into the chair behind my own laptop and opened the email that had just arrived.

“Lozano’s due to arrive at twelve thirty as the floats go past the town hall, and he’s got his own private viewing area above a restaurant he owns. A glassed-in balcony—bulletproof, unfortunately—and he’s due to eat lunch there at one o’clock. Afterwards, he’ll watch his niece perform a routine with her dance group.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Is there anything you don’t know?”

“Sure. Are we alone in the universe?” Nate started laughing as my palm itched to slap him.

“Can’t you be serious for two minutes?”

His smile disappeared, and now he looked kind of scary. Perhaps I preferred him being a dick.

“How do you plan to kill him?” he asked.

“I was thinking we could scout out locations around the restaurant for a medium-range shot as he exits. Somewhere with good line-of-sight and several escape routes.”

“No way. Even if you did manage to get a bead on him without his guards getting in the way, there are too many civilians around.”

“I’d use MagSafe ammunition. That wouldn’t pass through when I hit him.”

“And what happens when his bodyguards start firing back? You think they’d be so careful? That parade’s gonna be full of kids.”

“I can’t get in close with a .22.”

“You can’t use a gun at all.”

“Then what do you expect me to use? A knife?”

“No. Think outside the box.”

Right. Because I had so much experience at that.

“I’m not sure how it works in America, but here they don’t like us to get too creative. And our commanding officer sees us as expendable. You know the Special Forces motto? Even death cannot stop us, and if death takes us by surprise, it’s more than welcome. If one of us dies because we screw up, there are twenty more hungry recruits waiting to take our place. Funerals and apologies are cheaper than training courses. Is this what you wanted? To sit there being all smug while you watch me fail?”

“I’ll train you,” he said softly.

“Huh?”

“You’re not expendable, and if your commanding officer won’t train you, then I will. Lie on the bed.”

“What? No!”

Was this some kind of kinky game to him?

“Fine, then sit in the chair. But you need to relax, and then close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“To think. You know the town, right? And you’ve done research on Lozano?”

“Yes.”

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