Chapter 12 #2
The house was silent and still. I wondered if the guys had found out anything.
I decided not to ask. I was sure someone would fill me in.
I could only imagine the chaos in the offices downstairs and wondered if I should offer to help.
But again, I decided against it. I didn’t want to get in the way.
I wished I’d had more opportunity to get to know June better, but I was happy to have known her enough to enjoy some time with her.
She had so much love to give and so many people who were lucky enough to have had it.
She might be gone, but her memory would always be here.
My heart broke when I spotted Mark down the driveway later on, talking to Mia.
The raw pain I’d seen on the faces of the family brought a huge lump to the throat, but Mark’s face had been the worst of all.
The heartbreak he felt in losing his beloved June was hard to see.
She’d been like another mother to him since he was a boy.
I’d heard the story from Savannah, and it made me feel the depth of his pain.
I felt terrible. To leave the very next day after such a tragedy occurred felt insensitive and cold. I wondered…Paul appeared in the doorway of the bedroom, and he stood there quietly as I stared at the floor. I knew he was there to take me to the chopper, but I just wasn’t sure about any of it.
Like the rest of Blackstone, Paul held it together and was strong for everyone else. I wondered if when he was alone if he’d let it out, or if he just swallowed it down.
“Are you ready?” His voice was barely over a whisper.
“I don’t know if I should go.”
He crossed the room and joined me on the couch. He rested his elbows on his thighs and let out a heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve seen something shocking, but, Paul, she was such a lovely person. I feel so terrible.”
“I know. We all loved her.” He rubbed his hands together as if they were cold. “It sure takes a toll.”
I nodded in agreement as tears ran down my cheeks. “We had such a nice talk. She told me about how she and Abby walked the park years ago and why she loved it. She made me laugh.”
“Yeah? Why?”
“She mostly went along because the football team practiced there.” I ran the back of my hand over my cheeks.
“She said Keith’s nan might have had a dirty mind, but it had nothing on her.
” That made him chuckle. We sat there for a moment, letting the hurt seep back in.
“You were all so lucky to have had her. She loved you all so much.” He took my hand in his cold one as he tried to soothe me.
“There’s so much love here. June, Abby, Sue, all the wives. So much warmth.”
“It’s because it was built on a good foundation. Daniel’s parents and grandparents were the same way, full of love. Generations of good people doing good things.”
“I hope to break my family’s pattern,” I confessed then felt terrible for turning the moment on me. “I just think you’re really lucky.”
“Nicole, you—”
“Can I ask you something?” I cut him off, and he waited for me to go on. “When we were in Washington, you said you were against my going back. Was that because of what’s going on between us, or because you don’t agree it’s worth going back in?”
He pressed his lips together as he thought.
“It’s a high-risk trip, and it involves a third party.
” He squeezed my hand to show he meant me.
“We’ve never willingly planted a mole. Especially one like you, not that you aren’t experienced.
” His voice was unemotional, as if he was explaining something to his team.
“Okay.” I wished he’d answered that a little differently and I hated that I felt like I needed some kind of love and comfort.
I shook it off, I realized I felt vulnerable after what happened with June.
Also, I had to admit I was more scared about this whole trip back to Mexico than I admitted, even to myself.
“I’m not saying you aren’t capable of doing this, Nicole,” he continued. “If we can take down the Perez family, then June’s death wouldn’t be for nothing.”
I tilted my head as his words sank in. “Do you think there’s a connection?”
“I’ve no idea. I mean, nothing points to that, but there’ve been a few things lately.” He huffed. “If there’s even the smallest possibility, I mean, she was—”
I dried my tears and looked over at him. “I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know it wasn’t directly my fault, but I’m worried it was because of my involvement in everything and with getting Chase out. I can’t help but wonder if it was me they were after. Or, God help us, Chase.” His expression told me there was something there.
He shook his head. “Look, Nicole, I know I said earlier that I didn’t think there was a connection, but the truth is the guys are looking into it. Pooling every resource. I just didn’t want you to feel exactly what you’re feeling now.”
“Oh, no, I feel so, so awful.”
“I know you do. Look, the likelihood they’d find us here is slim to none.” He gave a me a hug.” Maybe he was right, but it still didn’t make me feel any better.
“I’m still sorry for everyone’s loss. She was pretty amazing.”
“She was.”
I nodded a few times and screwed my head back on right. “All right, let’s do this for June.”
“For June.” He pulled my hand up and kissed the back of it softly.
***
The Blackstone team, Chili, and I took the chopper from Montana to Wyoming.
Dark Water took a commercial flight to Rosarito.
Our trip was long and dead quiet. The guys were like zombies, and I knew they grieved for June and wished they could have been there when she was laid to rest. It was only the urgency of the situation that made them leave, and I knew it hurt.
Cole and Mark were inseparable and often exchanged glances when they thought no one was looking. It was bittersweet to witness, but I was so glad they had each other to lean on. The bond all these men had made my heart swell.
The second part of our journey was a flight to New Mexico, then a drive in a convoy to mid-country where a semi-truck waited for Chili and me. The guys were dressed in their camo, helmets, and full tactical gear, ready to slip over the border once it got dark. This was where we would part ways.
As the guys scanned the truck to ensure it was clear then checked with the local police about the route we were about to take, Paul pulled me aside to talk.
“You remember everything?” He towered above me, somehow looking much larger than ever. His gear must add at least seventy pounds, and I wondered how his chest was healing. It was pointless to ask; he’d just brush me off. “Nicole?”
“Mm? Yes.” I tried to focus, as the last forty-eight hours had been a lot, and now I was about to walk into another nightmare. I hoped I had it in me.
“Tell me again,” he ordered.
I concentrated before I answered him. “Chili is going to offer me to Bruno and explain the baby’s gone.
Bruno will, of course, scan us for bugs.
Chili has one he’ll activate after the first scan so you can have eyes and ears on the initial meeting.
Grim Gates will arrive shortly afterward and will drop the tiny cameras somewhere for me.
” I hoped the fake confidence in my voice would satisfy him. “How will I know where he’ll put them?”
“He’ll let you know,” Paul assured me.
“Okay.” I needed to sound like I had everything under control.
In truth, I was far from prepared to be alone with Bruno again, especially after I shot him.
I tried not to think how furious he’d be with me for that.
I knew I’d have to do what I could to get Bruno to cool down and see me again.
I swallowed hard and knew, more than anything, I had to look like I had things under control long enough for Chili to hand me off.
I didn’t want the guys to pull me out before we even got started.
I thought of Chase and how he deserved to grow up in a world where he wouldn’t always have to live terrified of being kidnapped or killed.
“And what else?”
“I look for the maid with the hummingbird tattoo on her forearm. She’s working with us.
I let her know where the cameras are, and she’ll plant them where the cleaners won’t find them.
If I get into trouble, I flick the lights on in the bedroom that overlooks the church three times to signal Trigger’s men to get me out. ”
“Lastly?”
“Dig when I can, don’t trust anyone, and hopefully get an opportunity to head outside.
At that point, I make this signal,” I reached up and held my hair back from my neck with both hands as if I was really hot, “so you know I have something to share. Don’t risk trying to share anything with you using the planted bugs.
It would be too risky and could make them suspect something.
It might out their location in the house. ”
“Right. Good. Remember, the house is riddled with cameras, and he’ll probably have someone watching you all the time. But if something really significant comes up and you can’t get outside to give the signal, I guess it might be worth a shot.” His lips tightened as he thought of that. “What else?”
“If I need to leave in a hurry, try to get to the garage. At the back, there’s a classic Mustang stored there, where the maid will hide a phone for me.”
“Where?”
“On the right back tire.”
“Correct.” He nodded. “If anyone stops you, say Armondo told you to go get him something, like a screwdriver. You might have to come up with something plausible. Act annoyed and irritated.” He looked over my head then back to me as he flipped up his sunglasses. “I need you to be careful.”
I tried to smile. “Copy that. I’m good at coming up with something.” I went for a smile.
“This could get ugly, Nicole.”
My mood fell. “When Bruno’s involved, it’s always ugly.”
He suddenly grabbed my face with both hands and smashed his lips to mine, then he deepened his kiss and the world melted away for a moment. “Don’t leave the property. Ever. Promise me, you won’t leave,” he said sharply.
I had no intention of getting myself into trouble.
This was unlike anything I’d been involved in before, and I didn’t feel as casual with my life as I once did.
I had a lot more to live for. “I promise.” I looked at the ground and figured I’d address the elephant in the room.
“Are you guys all right with this? Not being there at the house, I mean.”
“Zack, Doc Roberts, and Daniel are handling everything.” His mouth pulled into a thin line. “Our job comes first; it has to. We keep an eye on each other, and we’ll get through it. Later, we’ll have a small service for her and grieve together. It’s how we deal.”
“Good.” I saw Chase’s little face and felt the tug inside at having to leave him. “I can’t help thinking of Chase.”
“You need your head in the game, not thinking of things like that. Distractions will get you killed.”
“Is that what you do?” I challenged, and he looked away like I hit a nerve.
He licked his lips and pulled me to him, so I could feel his whole solid body. “Don’t do anything more than what we discussed. Just stay alive for seven days, and it’ll be over.”
“Okay.” He kissed me once more, then he was gone, and Chili took his spot.
He held up a thin cloth bag. “Ready?”
Panic coursed through me as my body temperature rose. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He walked me to the truck. Then everything went black.