“I doubt that,” I shot back with full conviction.
Stepping out of the shadows, she ran a hand through her long dark hair, and I immediately took a step back. Something didn’t feel right.
“I’m the one that ordered the hit on your new girlfriend’s brother.” She smiled and moved closer. “I’m the one who’s been tracking you, turning all your allies against you.” Pounding her chest with her palm, the light hit her eyes, highlighting flecks of glittered anger. “I’m the one who watched you long enough to know you had such a hard-on for your own lieutenant’s bartender that it was just a matter of time before you fucked up.”
A rock landed in my stomach. “You didn’t get Elliot Lachey hooked on coke.”
A wicked smile spread across her face. “Didn’t I?”
“Oh, my God,” Eden croaked, her voice hushed and strained from Manuel’s restrictive hold. “It’s you. You’re the woman from the bar. You were sitting at the end the night Val came in. I remember because…because it was the night Nash was killed.”
As if on rewind, my mind traveled back to the night at Caliente. Eden had just commented about the news broadcast of Nando’s death when the two drunk assholes made remarks about her that made me want to blow their nuts off. Eden had been making conversation with a lady in the corner with long dark hair…holy fuck.
“You’re Isabella Diego.” Everything hit me at once.
“Actually, boss, there’s one more thing.”
“Make it quick.”
“One of our new dealers, Isabella, let us know a repeat buyer in Maplewood has put four grams of our shipment up his nose. He’s in for about ten g’s and missed the last two drops…”
I’d worried one of my high-ranking men had been a leak. Not once did I consider a street-dealing woman would take me down.
“No, not Isabella.” She pulled her hair to the side and tucked the other behind her ear. “Marisol. Marisol Muñoz.”
“Muñoz?”
“Yes, Valentin…Muñoz. As in Manuel’s sister and Esteban’s daughter. I’ve been away for many years while you’ve been in America. Too bad we won’t be getting better acquainted.”
“Mari! We’ve been here too long. It’s time to finish this and leave.”
My gaze reverted to Manuel, his hold still firm on Eden. I had no idea if Mateo and Brody were still alive, but I had to stall for time.
“I thought this was a party, Manuel. Where’s your sense of hospitality? Leaving so soon?”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a twisted smile as Manuel pressed the muzzle of his gun against Eden’s temple. Catching my eye, he lowered his lips behind it and blew into her hair. “You always did have an overdeveloped sense of entitlement, Carrera.” The moment his tongue darted out and licked Eden behind the ear, I almost forgot everything and gave in to the rage boiling inside of me. “I see why this one caught your attention, Valentin. Tell me, does she taste as good between her legs as she does behind her ear?”
“Motherfucker!”
“Manuel!” My head spun around to face Marisol, her face hot with anger. “We are many things, but you will not speak that way to a woman in front of me. Do you understand?”
“Fine,” he muttered, lowering his eyes.
The exchange fascinated me—the tiny, younger sister commanding an iron rule over the much larger and callous older brother. But figuring out their dynamic was at the bottom of my priority list. Manuel still held Eden and showed no signs of letting her go. The fear in her eyes gutted me, and I knew I’d do anything to take it away.
“So, what do you want me to do with them, your highness?” Manuel shot back, a slight edge of resentment creeping into this voice.
“Dealer’s choice,” she answered with a wave of her hand. “You’re the muscle in this partnership, not me. I have no stomach for it.” Nodding to one of the guards, she walked away. He moved ahead of her, dutifully opening a side door I hadn’t noticed when entering the room.
Her brother cocked an eyebrow, his eyes following her every move. “Where are you going?”
“Guadalajara,” she smiled over her shoulder with one foot out the door. “My work in America is done.Adios,Valentin.” Giving me a wink and pursing her lips in a mock kiss, she left as the lieutenant closed the door behind her.
Using Eden as a human shield, Manuel turned toward me. “I guess there’s just one thing left to do.”
“Don’t tell me there’s cake,” I offered with a well-timed smirk.
Where the hell was Mateo?
