“Oh, you changed on me, you evil girl?” I laughed as she gasped, yet as always when I talked with her, my anger simmered just below the surface. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“I’m not evil.”
I was so damn proud of her. And so furious how her life had turned out. I rubbed my jaw, which ached from clenching it all night long. “No, of course not. I was teasing. Do you remember what that means?”
I could almost feel her brain absorbing and processing what I’d told her from a couple thousand miles away.
“You’re a jerk,” she muttered. When I made a noise, she giggled again. “Teasing.”
Now I allowed a full belly laugh. “You are so right. I need to go, sweet girl, but I’ll call you later. I’ll come visit soon. Okay?”
“Okay. Muah.”
The sound as she blew me a kiss tore at my heart. I ended the call, staring at my phone for God knows how long. Long enough I wondered why I’d lost track of time.
Because the past was crushing down on me.
The shrink I’d been forced to spend way too much time with had told me toward the end of our sessions if I didn’t face the tragedy head on, one day everything would come roaring back and there was a chance I wouldn’t be able to handle the chaos it brought to my life.
Maybe the pompous asshole with the thick glasses had been right.
Sighing, I shoved the phone into my pocket and placed my hand on the warm glass. The sun was rising in the sky, a reminder that the day would be busy.
And I have yet to decide what the hell to do with Fallon.
Time had no meaning when inside a mansion with no soul. I’d awakened less than two hours later, prowling the halls of the estate while trying to rid my mind of various demons from the past. They’d lingered longer than usual, the images also much more vivid than I was used to.
At least today I’d finally make good use of the kitchen staff. I’d ordered a late breakfast to be delivered to the room. I’d need to awaken Fallon soon. I was determined to learn more about her and her family prior to meeting with Eduardo.
I’d also asked one of the female estate employees to purchase some clothing for Fallon. Heading to her hotel could prove a mistake. If any aspect of her story was true, someone knew she was here. Now, if the room was trashed, she wasn’t working with anyone. If no one had touched it, that could very clearly mean she’d come to Mexico to establish a trap.
Either way, I had to know, but she also needed something other than her dress.
Hearing footsteps, the echo in the hallway just outside the office perked my senses, but I remained staring out the window, enjoying the view. At least the Mexican drug lord had good taste in outside décor. I stood with my hands in the pockets of the sweatpants I’d pulled on, searching the area outside where I’d been for at least thirty minutes.
Maybe I was looking for answers.
Maybe I was searching for reasons why I’d been spared.
Just as someone entered the room, another vision shifted from the darkened reaches of my mind to the forefront.
“I need to talk to you, Navarro.”
I stared at Rafael, the Torres Druglord smiling at me kindly, but I sensed something was wrong. “Sir?” There were several soldiers in the room, every one of them carrying a weapon.
Jago stood off to the side. A year older than me, we’d grown close since my father worked for Rafael.
The powerful man closed the distance, placing both his hands on my arms. I had an urge to jerk them away. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
“What happened?”
“It’s your brother.”
“What happened to Lucian?” My older brother was my hero, someone I looked up to. He was everything I wanted to be, ruthless yet kind. Everyone said he’d be somebody in the Torres Empire.
Rafael closed his eyes briefly. “Son, there’s no easy way to say this. Your brother is dead.”
Bristling, I rubbed my eyes as the memory began to fade. I’d managed to shove that day and so many others mostly into a padlocked box. I’d taught myself how to take off the edges although I’d never forget that my family was destroyed, taken from me when I was only seventeen.
