19. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Miguel
I'm being followed. I tap Cesar on the shoulder, pointing to the car in the rearview mirror. He nods, taking a sharp turn, followed by another into an alleyway. The car behind us is persistent, not ready to give up the chase. Cesar gets back onto the road, quickly pulling in front of a city bus.
"I think we lost them, boss."
I sigh, glancing around me. "For now."
We pull up in front of the hotel I'm supposed to be staying at and Alberto drops me off in front of the lobby. "I asked Hector to meet you by the front doors to escort you safely to your room. I'll circle the parking lot, making sure no one has been waiting here for us."
"I'll only be grabbing my things; I don't need an escort for that."
He huffs under his breath. "It's better to have one than not. Try not to be too long, I don't think you're safe here."
I rest my hand on his shoulder. "Let’s not forget who gives the orders."
I get out of the car, rushing inside. Hector is waiting for me where Caesar had said he would be. We get to the room and the door opens easier than it should. The covers are on the floor, the mattress is turned over and the drawers are pulled out of the dresser. I step over my shredded clothes covering the floor. My face heats as I pick up my leaking duffel bag. Red drops hit the floor the higher I lift it. I hold my breath, slowly unzipping the top. I wince, covering my nose when one of my men's lifeless eyes stare back at me. There's a note inside, covered in blood.
I pull it out and toss the bag on the bed. I clench my fist around the paper, burning a hole through the words with my eyes as I read each one.
You should have listened to your boyfriend and stayed home.
Not only does someone know I'm here, but they also know about me and Marcus. It was only a matter of time before they'd discovered both revelations. I was just hoping most of them would be dead before then.
I turn to my guard. "Get this mess cleaned up. I don't need it traced back to me and I don't want any cops involved."
He nods, pulling his phone out of his pocket. I had brought only three of my men back with me, but Able wasn't satisfied with that number and sent three more. He wants to make sure I remained guarded at all times and I am more than sure he was being paranoid. I call Isaiah, telling him about the vehicle following me, my trashed hotel room, and my guard’s head found in the duffle bag.
"I was just about to call you. I am glad to hear you're safe. I think we have the rest of your guard’s body. One of my men found it in the fountain in front of our house. Not sure how the assholes got onto my property without being noticed, but we will make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Someone wants me dead. I probably should go home and let them find me there instead."
"Someone wants us all dead. We'd still be targeted whether you return home or not."
"I should get back to Mateo. He needs me there."
"I don't think it's safe to go back to Mexico right now and Mateo is fine. I spoke with him this morning. Angel and Santiago are there. They flew out there yesterday morning."
"Good, tell them to stay there. It's better they don't find any of us alone the way they did Mateo. They are hoping for it."
"Then you should probably get out of that hotel. You're practically a sitting duck."
I chuckle. "How did you know I was still here?"
"People never fully change. You're hoping to come back so you could take them on alone. You should learn to follow your advice."
"They killed one of my men and threatened my family. Someone needs to pay."
"They will. Come back to the house, it’s almost dinner time."
"Later. I have other obligations to handle."
He sighs. "Once again, you need to follow your own advice. I'm guessing you are handling this personal business of yours alone?"
"No. I won't be alone." I pull out the picture of Marcus, stroking it with my thumb. "Not even close."
Cesar fights me on the way to the bakery I tell him to drive to. "Someone is here to kill you and you want me to take you to buy lemon bars?"
"Is this really so different from any other day? When does someone not want to kill me?”
"I didn't realize having one of your men dismembered in your room gave you the sudden craving for baked goods."
"Just drive the car, pendejo. Then you will take me to meet a friend and then go back to my son's house."
"Absolutely not. Your son will murder me if he knows I left you alone."
“Did you do as I requested this morning?”
Alberto sighs, pulling in front of Patsy's Pastries. “Yes and he usually goes to a small church about twenty minutes from here.”
I chuckle, knowing why he’s there. He is still stuck in his religious ways. “You’ll take me there next and make sure the boat is ready.”
“Does Marcus know you’re taking him on a late night boat ride?”
I glance outside, opening the car door. “Maybe.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “I thought not. You keep playing stupid games, you’ll keep winning stupid prizes.”
I step out of the car and grab what I need from the bakery. The lemon bars are wrapped up in a white box with a pink ribbon tied around it and I settle it on my lap as I slide in the back seat.
“There will be no talking on the way there, got it?”
“Yes, boss.”
“You will circle around the church until I need you.”
He pulls onto the road, not saying another word. My stomach flutters the closer we get to the church. I never knew it's something someone could actually feel. I figured it's some bullshit that only happened in romance films or to teenagers. I thought the same thing about falling in love once, but Marcus continues to shift my perspective of everything.
“Stop here.”
“You sure you want to go in alone.”
“Yes.”
“What if his guards…”
“He won’t have them inside with him. This is something he likes to do alone. I sent out a few messages while in the bakery and made sure they would stay distracted.” I straighten my teal suit as I step out of the car and head up the wide concrete steps leading to the church’s front entrance. This place really is in the middle of nowhere and I’m sure Marcus prefers it that way. I close the door quietly behind me and the building appears to be empty with rows of unoccupied pews. A priest steps out from the back and smiles my way. “Can I help you?”
I shake my head. “Just here to say a prayer if that's okay.”
“Of course, take your time.” He heads back the direction he comes from and stops walking when I speak again. “Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with this passage. I’m not fully understanding it.” I pull out a bible from inside of my jacket. The priest lifts a brow, slowly walking my way. “Let’s have a quick look then shall we. I have someone waiting to give a confession.”
“It won’t take long I promise.”
He nods and I open the book and the moment he steps closer I pull something out from the center of the cut out sections. His eyes grow wide, and I quickly press the rag over his face. “Forgive me Father for I have sinned and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.” I slowly place him in one of the pews, laying him flat out on the bench in a comfortable position. I check the church, making sure we’re alone before rushing toward the confessional.
I step inside and sit on the wooden bench, leaning toward the screen.
"Father," Marcus breaths. "Shall I continue from before?"
"Please do."
There's a long pause before Marcus goes on with his confession of all the wrong he's done this week being pretty vague. He goes quiet, shifting in his seat. "Father, are you still there?"
I step out of the booth, and yank open the door on the side Marcus is on. He gasps in surprise reaching for his gun, but I'm faster. I grab him by the arm, twisting it behind his back while I slam him into the wall. "Easy, precious. I have a special surprise for you."
"How did you know I was here?"
"Because you're way too damn predictable."
I pull a syringe from my pocket and shove the needle into his neck. As soon as he stops fighting and his body goes limp, I carry him to the front of the church and call Cesar to pull up to the side of the building. He does as I ask and doesn't say a word when I gently place Marcus in the back seat. "Drive."
"To Lake Smithville?"
"Yes."
I hold Marcus in my arms, stroking his face. We will go someplace they haven't tarnished. A new place we can claim for our own, somewhere none of our enemies have yet to step foot in. The middle of the lake alone with Marcus sounds better than hiding inside the suffocating walls of any house or building. I close my eyes and an old memory of Marcus sneaking into my office drags me away temporarily.
Take me somewhere special, a place you've never been with anyone else. Something that can be only ours.