Chapter 22
twenty-two
Natalia
The ticking of this clock feels like a bomb.
I watch the darkened place across the cold metal table, wondering if Agent Bryce is watching me right now.
Wondering if he knows. My hand almost trembles as I reach up to smooth down my hair.
Between work, Matias, and now Santos in the hospital… I’m burning the candle at both ends.
But that’s not all.
I can’t get Matias’ words out of my head. And now, sitting in this consultation room where I’m supposed to turn on him, I can’t help but wonder if the swirling trepidation in my stomach is because of sheer exhaustion, or because…the lines in my head are blurring together.
The door swings open with enough force to nearly knock into the painted brick wall. I smother my flinch behind a cough, watching Agent Bryce as he flips through an open file in his hand before dropping into the chair across from me.
“No Jake today?” I always feel at ease when the young FBI agent is around. He does things the right way. With no ulterior motives. I can’t say the same about the shrewd agent in front of me.
“Agent Brady is investigating a case across the country right now, so no.”
“Oh.” I say lamely, fiddling with the strap on my purse.
Agent Bryce throws the file in his hand on the table, eyeing me like he knows something I don’t.
Something prickles in the back of my neck when I see the photos in front of me. Photos of me, standing next to Matias in the hospital. Right after he made me kick Dom out of my apartment and rewarded me by?—
I stop my train of thought before blushing in front of the agent.
“You’re having me followed?”
Bryce cocks his head. “I had an agent check on you, after Officer Suarez called me to tell me about a ‘funny sounding phone call’.” He gives me a look, and I don’t have to look at the glass over his head to know all the blood drains from my face.
No one knows what happened in that apartment other than you and Matias, a voice whispers in the back of my head. Lie.
“Matias was standing…over me.” I supply. “He wasn’t happy I was ‘dating’ a cop. I called Dom on speakerphone and told him I couldn’t see him anymore.” I glance at my hands. “I was nervous Dom would blow my cover.”
Agent Bryce mulls my answer, stroking his jaw. “Why did you go with him to the hospital?”
“His friend Santos was in a car accident.”
“Ah, yes.” Bryce nods knowingly.
“You knew about it?”
“I read the police report. Looks like a rival’s out to get them.
” I watch the agent closely, wondering what he’s not telling me.
Agent Bryce taps his fingers on the table and gives me an impatient look.
“We’re running out of time, Miss Hernandez.
Looks like the street’s going to get to them before we do.
” He laughs to himself, like this is all a big joke, and it takes everything in me not to give him a disgusted look.
How can he joke about people dying? “Santos may lose his sight.” I say, trying not to sound stern and failing.
“That’s what happens when you run games on the street. It puts a target on your back.” He gives me a pointed look. “It’ll put one on yours, too, if you stick around long enough. So I suggest you find out where that warehouse is before you end up back in the hospital with Santos.”
I bite my lip.
“I sure hope you’re not getting soft on those boys.” Agent Bryce says casually. “It’s not a big deal—happens with informants more often than you think. That’s why I never put all my eggs in one basket.”
My brows pinch together. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re not the only card up my sleeve.” He sighs. “Just the easiest. But if you can’t find out where that shipment is…well, there’s always other avenues.”
I don’t like the sound of that. At all.
Almost as much as I don’t like the flippant way he’s talking about Santos’ car accident.
Something’s not right here, I think, leaning back in my seat, looking around the room like I’m seeing for the first time. And I don’t know if it’s the lack of sleep, or my haze of feelings around Matias, but I’m not sure who I’m helping anymore.
“You think they’re just going to tell me about this multi-million dollar shipment I’m not supposed to know about?” I scoff. “These things take time, Agent Bryce. I want them behind bars, just as much as you do—the right way.”
“We don’t have time, Miss Hernandez. The streets are calling, and our window of opportunity is closing. Ernesto Cepedas may be up for parole. Maybe I’ll recruit him.” Agent Bryce says, a half-grin on his face, and I’m not sure if he’s serious or joking. Either way, Ernesto coming out of prison…
My heart skips a beat.
He’ll want revenge. On me, on Matias—I could lose everything. Ernesto and Agent Bryce working together? That’s a risk I can’t take. So I open my mouth and start talking before he leaves the room.
“Santos mentioned something. I think he was referring to the shipment you’re looking for.” The agent stops. “Matias tried playing it off like Santos was just high, but I have a feeling about it.”
Agent Bryce turns to look at me, breath poised. “Well? What did he say?”
“Santos said he was ambushed after checking on the shipment. He said—” I pause, wondering if the next part will give too much away. I still don’t know what Santos meant when he said I’ll be surprised about where it is, but I have an idea. And Agent Bryce isn’t an idiot.
Neither am I.
“He said he was starting to move out the shipment.” Bryce freezes.
“That’s what he said?” He confirms, a calculating look on his face.
“Yep.” I lie, and this time, I know I’m selling it.
“Right. Well, I hope you find it soon. Before there’s nothing left to arrest them on.” He gives me a final nod, striding out of the room and clicking the door shut behind him.
Later that afternoon, Alma is craning her neck around a tall bookshelf, peeking through the gaps of books to see if her latest stalker has gone home.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to call security?”
Alma shoves a book in the wrong place and turns to give me a look. “I’m pretty sure Mr. Elmer is eighty-five, and my stalker does crystal meth. You do the math.”
“You shouldn’t have to hide at your job.” I purse my lips. “I could call someone?”
Alma perks up at that. “Really? Would it happen to be that sexy scary looking ex of yours that you’re definitely not falling for?
” I roll my eyes to stave off the blush, but the events of the past few days are eating me inside.
I wish I could turn to Sylvia—about everything.
No one would understand my weariness of the FBI, of everything happening in the city, like she can.
But Sylvia would have a coronary if she knew I was doing this. She’d fly here from Texas, stuff me in her suitcase, and kidnap me. I settle for telling my friend instead.
“He…he came over my house the other night.”
She makes a sound under her breath, casually shoving another book in the wrong spot. “Oh, yeah? What, did he throw more money at you?”
I bite my lip. “He may have…kissed me?”
Alma drops her stack of books with a wild gasp.
“He kissed you?”
I look around the shelf we’re using to hide before replying, “Actually…I kissed him.”
She presses her lips in a knowing look. “Hm. Of course you did. And then what happened?”
A fraction of an image flashes before my eyes, of Matias kneeling between my legs, and I know my face looks like a tomato before I answer.
“We, um—we messed around a little.”
“Judging from the look on your face, girl, you two made a porno.” She snorts, hastily putting her stack of books together.
“We didn’t!”
“Mm-hm.”
“We got a call right after, and his best friend was in a car accident. So we actually spent the night at the hospital. We had a fight about the breakup.” I tell her, looking at my feet.
She glances at me. “What did he say? Did he apologize?”
“Not really,” I sigh. “The police were on his tail the night we broke up. He said he didn’t want that to be my life.” I say, giving her the shortened version of everything that happened between us.
“Well, I can’t say I blame him for that.”
“I guess. But then…he said something that I can’t stop thinking about, Alma.”
My friend moves down the shelf and looks at me over her shoulder. “What’d he say?”
“He said that…that the streets take sacrifice. And I’m the one thing he’s not willing to bend on.” What does that even mean? Alma rears back, eyes widening.
“Oh, shit, girl. That sounds like some ‘for life’ shit. Like he’s not going to let you go.” She smiles. “It’s almost romantic.”
“Yeah, and that’s the problem.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“Because nothing’s changed, Alma. He’s still…in that life. He’s not going to stop.” And neither am I, apparently.
Alma bites her lip, dropping her last book into place and coming to clasp my shoulder. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” I admit. “Santos woke up after that, and to top it off, he’s temporarily blind after that accident. So I haven’t even been able to talk to him. There’s just bigger things going on.”
“Oh, my God. I think I’ve seen telenovelas less eventful than that.”
“Tell me about it.” I sigh. “I offered to help Matias take care of Santos tonight so he’d have some time to do…you know.” I say, referring to the massive operation he’s in charge of.
Alma perks up. “Can I come?”
It’s my turn to snort. “Alma, I just told you these are dangerous people.” I hiss. “I can’t just—bring you along.”
“Why not? The danger is what makes it interesting. Besides, if his little blind friend is there, he’s just going to be cock-blocking you all night. I can play interference.”
I give her a baffled look. “Little blind friend? Cock-blocking? I’m sorry, are you twelve?”
“Come on. Let me help you.”
I shake my head and smother a laugh. “You’re not doing this for me.”
“Fine. Let me sate my curiosity of this underground world you’ve told me so much about. Please. Please!”
I smile and shake my head. “You need therapy.”
“Does that mean yes?” And damn her, yes.
Yes it does.