28. Andre
ANDRE
“H e did what?” I slammed my fist down on the desk.
Juan, the youngest brother of our head of security, gulped and took a step back. He glanced at the door then back at me with more than a little fear in his eyes.
“Answer me!” I roared, pushing out of my chair and to my feet.
“H-h-he left. Parker left with Anton.”
I took a deep breath through my nose to compose myself. Once I let it out, I asked, “When?”
“Yesterday. He took the chopper yesterday.” Juan trembled as I took his measure.
He was a good kid. His brother was the most competent man I’d met, and after he’d proven his incorruptible loyalty, we’d made him our head of security.
It didn’t hurt that his entire family lived on the island, making it hard for Vicente to get his hands on any leverage over Rodrigo.
“And it’s…” I looked at my watch. “Ten-fucking-thirty in the morning, and he’s still not back? What the fuck!” I spun and kicked my office chair into the desk. It clattered to the floor, and I kicked it again.
“Get the hell out,” I yelled and slammed the door as soon as he left. Dialing Parker, I struggled to get my breathing under control. All the blood rushed to my face, and my head felt like it was about to burst.
No answer. Figures.
Next, I dialed. Garcia.
I didn’t operate a faction like the brothers. More like a spy ring. I dealt in secrets and favors and occasionally threw people to the feds. Mostly it was under Vicente’s orders, but I fostered relationships where I could in case he ever flipped against us.
Laughing, I shook my head. When, not if. We all knew it had only been a matter of time.
“Garcia.” A raspy voice over the speaker.
“Has anything happened in the last eighteen hours I need to know about?”
He whistled, drawing it out. Garcia knew I hated that shit, but he did it anyway. He was loyal to the bone, so I put up with it.
“You mean the youngest bastard son of Vicente burning down Vicente’s favorite club in LA? I thought you might not know about that.”
He fucking did what?
I curled my fingers on the black mat under the keyboard.
And he was still unaccounted for. Because he was a fucking spoiled brat, who was retaliating against Vicente for cutting down his complex, thought-out plans before they ever left the ground.
“I can tell from the rage coming down the line that was exactly the information you were looking for. And to answer your question, no, Vicente doesn’t have him. Vicente is currently balls-deep inside his two favorite concubines to fuck his anger away.”
Flinching, I reeled back from the phone. Pilar was one of his favorites, and when he was in this shitty of a mood, he was never kind.
“Not Pilar,” he said softly. “She lost her rank when you fell from his good graces.”
I breathed a sigh of release. Except it only went so far. Being his favorite protected her. If she wasn’t a favorite, any of his men could have her and snap her neck if they had the whim.
No consequences.
“Where is he?”
There was a pause. “That, I don’t know. He’s not at the mansion or in Vicente’s hands. That’s all I know.”
“Thanks.” I hit the end button and kicked my chair again.
Fuck Parker for tying my hands like this.
I could engage my contacts and try to find him, placing my network at risk of exposure. And fucking hoped we found him before he got himself tortured to death.
Burning down Vicente’s favorite US hangout? He was a fucking idiot.
The laugh that spilled from my lips grated against my skin like jagged glass.
If I did that, I could expose how much we didn’t have our shit together.
Going after him myself after he made a colossal move like that put me at risk too.
Vicente probably had two or ten of his best men after Parker right now.
And I would purely be a bonus if they caught me too.
Or I could sit on my ass and hope he returned in one piece.
When I saw him again, I was going to fucking strangle him.
I called Garcia back. “Keep your ears to the ground. If he’s taken in, we need to extract him.”
“Are you asking me to engage the network to find him?”
“No,” I said with too much force. “No.” I softened my tone. “You’re not to engage anyone to find him. The only way you’re to act is if he’s actually taken. Outside of that, everything runs as normal.”
We hung up a second time, and I reached into the cabinet and pulled out the tequila. I saved this particularly strong brand for the really shitty times in my life.
It was the one liquor that could knock me on my ass.
Uncapping it, I glanced at the glasses tucked away. Fuck it. Today’s a straight-from-the-bottle type of day.
The first swig burned so good as it went down. I sputtered out a cough and pounded my chest. Whether it was an extra-large dose or wishful thinking, the warm tingling was already traveling through my limbs to my fingers and toes.
I took another drink for good measure.
Today was a wasted day. I’d get nothing done here, so I might as well head to my apartment to wallow in my self-hatred in peace.
Blanca hovered in the hallway, bouncing between the rooms on her cleaning routine. She took one look at me and the tequila in my hand, squeaked, then ducked into Parker’s “office.”
Fucking right. I was about to be on the bender from hell.
I’d avoid myself too.
Fifteen feet from my apartment and sweet Amorette stepped out of the movie room, muttering in elementary Spanish.
“Bate, bate, chocolate. Mixing choc—” She sealed her lips when she saw me.
“Watching Dora?” I snickered, then let out a bubbling laugh. Her eyes widened and dropped to the half-empty bottle of tequila still clutched in my hand. Oh yeah, I still had the liquor. I hadn’t drunk half today, though. This was a cumulation of many terrible days.
I lifted it to my lips for a tiny sip. I wanted to feel good for the next few hours. And maybe forget the shit storm that was brewing right now. I didn’t want to pass out before I got there.
She narrowed her eyes at me, and I loved it—the blue swirling into a darkening gray with her anger. Amorette was like a spitting kitten with her hackles up.
“Come on,” I held out a hand.
She glanced at it with more than a little suspicion. I shook it.
“I won’t bite, not unless you ask me to.
” She rolled her eyes and still didn’t take it, so I stepped closer.
My chest nearly brushed hers, and she held her breath as I breathed her in.
Sweet pomegranate shampoo smelled good on her.
“I’ve had a shit day, and it’s only going to get worse from here.
Come take care of me like the good wifey you are.
Maybe I’ll even share a secret or two for your time,” I said, dropping my voice into a deep whisper.
She tipped her head back. “You don’t play fair.”
“I don’t play at all. Maybe that’s the problem. I should have more fun like Parker. Or fuck, even like Grey.”
Throwing an arm out, she stepped back. “Lead the way, and I’ll follow. I’ll at least make sure you don’t pass out in your own puke.”
“I don’t drink that much, Wifey. My stomach’s too strong for that.”
“Mm-hm.”
“Believe it or not, my brothers and I know how to hold our liquor.” She was deathly quiet behind me as I unlocked the door. I pushed it open and peeked over my shoulder. “Lafe can get carried away with the hardcore stuff, but liquor isn’t a problem for him.”
She nodded, not believing a word I said. No problem. Only time would show her I was telling the truth. If we had the time.
Fucking dark thoughts. It was time for another drink.
“Here,” I said, holding out the bottle.
“I don’t like that stuff.” Amorette wrinkled up her nose.
“Live a little. I don’t like to be the only one drinking. It’s bad for the vibe.” I pushed the bottle to her chest, and she took it.
“Vibe? That’s not something I’d ever imagine you saying,” she said as she lifted the bottle to her face and sniffed. She wrinkled her nose, and it was adorable as shit. “I’ll take a drink, but I want you to talk to me.”
“Done,” I threw myself back on the couch, lining the back with my arm. “What do you want to know?” After she took a sip, I reached for the bottle and was soon left gasping.
“You don’t have any lemon or salt or anything?”
“No, sorry. It’s just you, me, and the bottle.” I could have said something more salacious but left it at that.
“Why is this a drinking day?” she asked with her face still scrunched.
“Ah, that’s a double-sip answer.” I passed the bottle back to her, and she obediently took another swig.
I could get behind an Amorette that followed orders.
“My siblings are assholes and sometimes asshole idiots. Parker is currently out wreaking havoc that I’ll have to clean up later.
Although, with the current standing in the Institution, it might not be that clear cut anymore.
So, I’m hiding my head in the sand for the time being. ”
She furrowed her brow and moved past me, but I snagged her thigh and pulled her down into the space next to my hip. “Shouldn’t you go get him if he’s in danger?”
“No, that’s the last thing I should do. For all his idiocy, he’s good at getting out of his own messes. Usually. Any attempt I make to retrieve him would just throw him off and put him and me in more danger. And everyone else by default, including you, Wifey.” I bopped her cute nose.
Scowling, she turned to face me. “Why did he leave?”
“Arrogance? Hurt feelings? Who fucking knows.” I used the remote to dim the lights and turn on the music.
Dropping her gaze, Amorette chewed her lip in thought as if she wanted to ask me something, but didn’t know if she actually wanted to go through with it.
“Go ahead. Say whatever is on your mind.” I scooted down to rest my head more firmly on the armrest.
“Do you think you’ll win against Vicente?” She speared me with a gaze so intense it almost shocked me out of my buzz.
“It’s either we win, or we die. There’s no way to tell how the cards will fall right now.”