Chapter 18
N avarro
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I stated with absolutely no reservations, figuring that Jago wouldn’t have a single issue with my declaration.
He didn’t.
His laugh was deep and labored. I noticed the drug lord’s lieutenant glancing in the rearview mirror. The man’s raised eyebrows were an indication of his amusement.
Only I wasn’t kidding.
“Don’t kill him until we know what we’re dealing with,” Jago suggested as Benito parked the SUV in the hospital lot.
I glanced out the back passenger window at the distribution of vehicles, most worth more than what a typical Mexican made in five years. Only the best care for the lying sack of shit who’d likely sold his soul to the devil for cash to purchase additional cans of gilded paint.
Was I so enraged that both my vision and my decision-making ability were compromised? Hell, yes. And at this point, I didn’t care. Just hearing about Brooke’s condition was enough to keep me focused on the past.
“What’s the shit with you and Santos?” he asked, glancing from where I stood next to my lieutenant.
Silvio tipped his head over his shoulder. From what I’d heard, his meeting with Santos had ended in a shouting match. One lieutenant telling another one what they were doing to violate cartel codes didn’t usually go over well.
I knew that personally from my estranged relationship with Kruz. We’d caused bloodshed more than once over the years, the difference being we held a limited respect for each other.
We also knew better than to cross a certain line with our disagreements. At least he’d remained behind to ensure both Fallon’s protection as well as her obedience without me needing to ask.
However, he had given me the same look I’d seen from Jago when I even mentioned Fallon’s name.
“He’s concerned his position is being eliminated.” I was careful with my words.
Which caused Jago to laugh. “Since when do you mince words, my friend? Fuck.”
“Since we still have no idea if Fassi is going to retaliate.” Not that I cared. In truth, I hoped he would. The cat and mouse game had exceeded its welcome.
Jago unfastened his seatbelt yet did nothing more than stare at the hospital’s entrance while he rubbed his index finger across his bottom lip. “I know you well enough to know you want to save this girl. Or maybe I should say keep her as your own.”
“This isn’t about keeping her forever, Jago. However, I will do what’s necessary to ensure she’s not working for any number of our enemies, including Fassi. If she is, then she’ll be considered garbage and simply taken out with the trash. I won’t let that happen.”
I’d gauged her reaction when I’d mentioned the man’s name. No recognition whatsoever. She was even more of an enigma. Time was running out. I’d need to push and do so vehemently. Whatever she was hiding was likely a ticking timebomb.
The way Jago looked at me after turning his head was knowing, the grin sliding across his face one I’d seen mostly when dealing with his wife.
“You care about her. Twenty-four hours is all it took. That’s all it takes with destructive, uncaring men like us.
When the right woman comes along, we’ll stop at nothing to take what we want. What we know we need just to survive.”
Arguing with him was pointless. Because I respected he was the Druglord? Hell, no. Since when had I ever stopped and thought about my message before tossing it out for Jago to digest? My hesitation was simply about realizing there was a chance he was right.
Damn the man.
As usual when I refused to be picked apart, I changed the subject.
“What if your cousin sold us out to Fassi? Since when did your cousin think about hiring a scientist?” I had to ask the questions and even when Jago bristled, I wasn’t worried he’d be furious.
He’d certainly thought of the same thing.
How could he not? Plus, the simple fact Eduardo had skipped telling us about whatever toxic powder was in the vial couldn’t be ignored.
At minimum he’d known we could face a serious attack, yet he’d declined to warn his own cousin.
If he were my family, the man would already be dead, but Jago had grown a soft spot for family. Something else being involved with a woman caused. While my rational mind knew my thoughts were correct, I’d yet to be able to push Fallon from my mind for even thirty seconds.
Her defiant expression alone had driven me into lust, but it was the sadness in her eyes and the way she’d whispered she was sorry that had truly gotten to me.
After we both stepped from the vehicle, Jago buttoned his jacket, waiting to answer until he’d walked around to where I was standing. “Then my father will lose a nephew.”
I nodded and eyed the eight-story building.
Was the fact the Ritz Carlton was only blocks away a coincidence or planned all along?
I slid my hand into my pocket, rubbing my fingers across the vial.
If Eduardo wasn’t forthcoming in an explanation of the contents, I’d made arrangements using old contacts to have the substance tested.
I was only allowing Eduardo the opportunity to come clean because he was familia .
Silvio flanked my side while Benito did with Jago. Two other vehicles full of soldiers finally rolled into the parking lot. After my tense discussion with Santos, he’d stormed out, yet when the time to leave had arrived, two cars full of Eduardo’s soldiers had been waiting to serve as protection.
After our return, I’d handle the situation myself, my way.
We headed into the hospital, bypassing administration. The women behind the desk knew better than to try to stop us. The elevator was a steam bath and I had a good mind to complain to the maintenance workers myself.
Although the meeting would likely end badly with bullets flying, men dying and me walking from the room unsatisfied with our conversation. That was the kind of mood I was in. The nagging remained about Fallon, the pounding in my head like a ticking clock in a room full of explosives.
Call it a premonition. Call it self-preservation.
Call it whatever the fuck anyone wanted, but Fallon was a piece to a puzzle that was driving me to the brink of madness.
It would seem Eduardo had improved significantly, was breathing on his own and expected to be released in a couple of days. That was definitely good news since the longer I remained in Mexico, the faster the clock was ticking away.
Along with my patience.
I eyed the two guards standing by his door, the twenty-four-hour protection necessary for anyone working in the illicit world of drugs or weapons. There were too many opportunities to buy allegiance in a world full of monsters attired as men of integrity.
“Make certain we’re left alone,” Jago told Benito. He nodded and immediately headed toward the nurse’s station.
“Keep watch,” I added, telling Silvio, “Don’t let anyone with itchy trigger fingers in through this door.”
“No problem, boss,” he said and unfastened his jacket, prepared for an attack.
Jago shook his head as he stood right in front of the door. “We were close as kids. Do you remember Eduardo spending the summer with us?”
“I’ve tried to put it out of my mind.” In truth, I’d still been a fucked-up kid with a taste for blood and a determination for revenge. Without Rafael’s tutelage and friendship with Jago, my life would have taken an entirely different path.
He laughed. “That was when he wanted to be an actor. I don’t know why I was thinking of that. We were what, seventeen? Eighteen?”
“Something like that.” I knew exactly. I’d just turned eighteen, my first birthday without my family. I’d been forced to assume the caretaker role with Maya, something a monster like me shouldn’t have attempted. She’d been the only thing in my life that had kept me with an ounce of humanity.
“Ready to take on the world. It’s funny how different he’s become. The kid was weak and a pain in the ass. He also never learned to respect rules and consequences. Something Pops used to say.” Jago laughed. “But Eduardo was family.” His sigh was heavy. “And he still is.”
As he looked at me, I understood what he was saying. He was the one who’d make the decision on the man’s life. Not me.
I nodded in agreement. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t rough up the asshole. He deserved it. Jago pushed the door open, both of us walking inside. Eduardo had his eyes closed but was only attached to heart and blood pressure monitors.
The man didn’t stir even when I approached. But he certainly did when I wrapped my hand around his throat, squeezing as I lifted him off the bed.
Eduardo flailed and the monitors went wild. He was gasping for air, slapping at whatever was holding him down as he struggled to focus. When he did, the look of shock was multiplied when Jago came into the periphery of his cousin’s vision.
“You’re improving,” Jago said with no particular tone in his voice. “Good to see, although I do hope you’ve updated your will, cuz. With no family, it would be a pity if all your hard-earned wealth went to the country you obviously hate with a passion.”
Coughing and wheezing, Eduardo gripped my arm with both hands, glaring up at me as his face turned red. Yet, there was confusion in the man’s eyes. Did he seriously not believe we’d figure out he was either lying or purposely keeping important information? The kind that would help keep us alive?
The entire situation was past being annoying. I was livid and needed recourse.
On top of my heightened annoyance, the goddamn beeping continued.
When I smacked one of the monitors with my fist, toppling it to the floor, Jago lifted a single eyebrow.
“There’s an off button on both,” he suggested, half laughing as he did.
“Then that wouldn’t be as much fun.” I glared down at Eduardo before releasing my hold, immediately reaching into my pocket and retrieving the vial. “What the fuck is this?”