Chapter Three
Zahra
“So the man is an Arab philanthropist,” Upper said, reading from his tablet. “And he takes it to the next level. This guy participates in, like, twelve to fifteen volunteer projects a month. People love him.”
The short let was warm, the ceiling fan creaking as it rolled, doing little more than stirring the smell of burgers and beer around.
Dog snorted. “Let’s hope he loves people, too, because now that Marino has booted us out, he’s our only in for getting into that manor, and getting that cursed painting,” he said, biting into his burger, half listening to us and half concentrating on the telenovela currently playing on the TV at a low volume.
I was no better, my mind was split between the card burning a hole in my pocket, and the man I refused to think about.
Milk let out a sigh from her position on the couch as she swallowed the burger she’d taken a bite of.
“It still baffles me to think that we’ve been traveling the world looking for this painting, and it never even left the mansion.
It’s like the most obvious place it could have been, and we didn’t even think of it. ”
“Bloody quest twists. They’re never fun,” Upper said.
Who could the woman be? How does she know me? Why did she want to meet? Why am I trying so hard to block off thoughts of Elio? Why am I upset?
“Zahra.”
Should I have said more in that interrogation room? Tried to explain to him that what he thought happened wasn’t what happened? What would have changed if I had done that? Would we still be in Milan?
“Zahra?”
And why should I even try to explain it to him? He could think whatever the hell he wanted to think, we weren’t even serious or exclusive or … whatever it is people are when they casually fuck … Why should I care?
Why do I care?
“Z!”
I flinched, raising my head to see everyone staring at me. “Yeah?”
Devil’s gaze was filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
I blinked, forcing down a swallow. “Yeah … yeah, I’m fine. Did you ask me something?”
The room went quiet. Even Dog had stopped watching his telenovela, staring at me with that same concerned look.
Milk broke the silence. “Upper asked if Enrique’s associate gave you a specific date for Kareem’s arrival to Mexico.”
“Oh.” I shook my head. “No, he didn’t. He just said next week.”
“Got ya,” Upper said. “I’ll keep an eye on the airports, flight records, hotel bookings, and travel itinerary bookings, so we don’t miss him.”
I nodded. “I’ll ask around too. I actually spent some time in Mexico years back—”
“You did?” Milk interrupted with a frown.
“Yeah, but not for a long time. I worked at this tattoo parlor for a few weeks, and it’ll shock you how much these people pick up on words from the street. If a man like Kareem is arriving, they should have heard something useful.”
Devil nodded. “Okay, that should help, too … Tomorrow we’ll—”
“I plan to go today.”
There was a pause.
“It’s late already; wouldn’t it be best to go when you’re well rested from today’s job?” Milk asked, but I shook my head.
“I’m good to go today,” I said.
Nodding, Devil rose from his position on the bed, discarding his nearly finished burger. “I’ll come with you, just—”
“Oh no, I’ve got it.” I managed a tight smile, leaning off the wall. “In fact, I should get going, I, um … need to clear my head a bit, so I’ll walk for a while and head down there later.”
“You didn’t even eat your burger…” Dog trailed off, then frowned. “Have you eaten at all today?” he asked.
I looked down at the table where my burger lay untouched. “I don’t really have the appetite.”
Silence followed as they all continued to stare at me.
“I’ll be back later,” I said, exiting the hotel room without another glance their way.
It was still an hour until the meeting time, which was perfect because while I’d lied about wanting to visit the tattoo place, I didn’t lie about needing to clear my head.
So I walked for a while, stopped at a small store to get a pack of cigarettes because it was cold out and we were meeting at the port of Manzanillo, and also because I didn’t think to take a thicker jacket or a coat.
Elio would have definitely thought of that.
I grumbled at the thought, and a few minutes later, rented myself a motorcycle before driving to the meeting point.
I arrived about ten minutes early, parking the motorcycle far from the port and finding my way in.
I fished for the card in the pocket of my jacket, following the directions, and stealthily walking between the maze of containers.
The air was sharp with salt and machine oil, ground slick from the rain that had fell earlier.
I shuddered as the cold air from the ocean nearby sneaked through the excuse of a jacket I wore.
Reaching the container I was meant to wait at, I wasn’t surprised when I found the area empty.
“?Muévelo más rápido, cabrón!” someone shouted in the distance, the rough voice carrying over the clang of metal and hum of cranes.
Other voices reached me from all around but they belonged to the people who worked there.
I nodded to myself, turning a corner and stopping two containers away from the one where I was supposed to meet the woman.
From this angle, I could spot anyone approaching and avoid whatever trap this might turn out to be.
A chill ran down my spine as I leaned on a container, fishing in my pocket for the pack of cigarettes, and lit one up. For warmth, I dragged in the smoke and let it out just as my phone vibrated in my pocket.
I pulled it out while looking around, brought the device to my view, and caught a text from Milk.
Milk:
Can you please grab something to eat while you’re out?
Another text popped in.
Milk:
I worry.
I smiled, letting the cigarette hang between my lips as I typed and sent a response.
Me:
Ok mom.
I probably wouldn’t. I didn’t have the appetite, and I wasn’t feeling hungry. Exiting her message box, I scrolled down to his message box. The nickname “Dad” was still saved as his contact.
I clicked on the name, my stomach clenching when I saw the last conversation … or lack thereof. It was the night before the school bus incident. I’d just left his house and told him to text me when he woke up. He didn’t respond to the text because he’d called instead.
God, it seemed like a long time ago.
Should I text him now? Would he respond? Do I want to text him?
“Oh for God’s sake, this is driving me nuts,” I mumbled, because how the fuck did I go and fuck things up by catching feelings for someone like him?
I was always careful … hell, I fucked around with Devil way longer than I did with Elio and it didn’t get me this worked up. How did this happen to me?
Why do I want to fix it? I shouldn’t want that.
But dammit, I do, and I need to stop denying it or it’ll drive me crazy.
I took another drag from the cigarette, let it out, and started typing. I sent it before I could chicken out.
Me:
Hey, it’s me
I stared at the message with a frown. “Of course he’s gonna know it’s me…” Assuming he still has my number. Fuck. I typed and sent another message.
Me:
Zahra, it’s Zahra. How are u doin?
Delivered.
He still has my number then. Which is a good sign.
Fidgeting, I flicked the cigarette away, feeling warm enough from the knots in my stomach as I waited for the message to indicate read. It didn’t.
I waited … but nothing came.
Quickly, I started typing another message, sending it without a second thought.
Me:
I’ve been think about u
Delivered.
I reread the message, my frown deepening. “Oh God.” My fingers moved fast.
Me:
*thinking
“Jesus fuck, what am I doing?” I muttered.
“Yeah, even I think that’s a little too desperate.”
I jerked away from the container, my hand slipping behind me to whip out my Glock, pointing it right at the shadowed figure who was also quick to pull out their weapon, pointing it right at me.
“Drop the gun,” we both said at the same time.
I frowned, squinting to see who the person was. If she could just step into the light a smidge.
“Jinx,” she said. “Just like when we were kids.”
“Darling, I don’t know who the fuck you are, and I won’t hesitate to pull this trigger if you don’t drop the gun.”
“Not until you drop yours first.”
“Awesome, we’re both gonna die then. Take a few steps back. Let’s make it a good old duel.”
She laughed, which made my caution falter a bit. The sound of her gun clattering to the ground was all I heard as her silhouette raised both hands and she stepped into the light.
Jesus fu—
“Hi, Zahra.” She smiled softly.
Long black hair, pale skin, and a familiar smile that brought back memories from when I was twelve had me lowering my gun. “Daiyu?”
She grinned. “In the flesh.”
I didn’t wait to check my surroundings as I rushed to throw my arms around her. “Oh my God,” I said, hugging her tight. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
Daiyu and I had only spent two years together, but during those two years, she was the closest thing to a friend I’d ever had.
We’d met when I was moved to different Handlers at the age of twelve, after I was almost hurt by a drunk Manuel.
She was ten when I moved in, and we had hit it off immediately, too mature for our age with everything we’d both been through.
When I was fourteen and about to be moved to a different level, I knew I’d never see her again … but now …
I pulled away, my wide eyes searching hers. “You’re out.” I smiled, shaking her shoulders. “You got out … How?”
She shrugged. “I was claimed at seventeen, and the person who paid for me turned out to be an idiot. He’s dead now, and all his properties belong to me.”
I let out a relieved breath, slipping my gun back behind me. “When did this happen?”
“Four years ago … still fresh.”
“Yeah,” I said. “But you’re out, and you’re alive and—God, I’m so happy to see you, Daiyu, you have no idea.”
Her lips curved, her eyes softening. “I think I do because I’m so happy to see you too.
When I heard you were claimed, I was so sad, and then I heard he came for you—Manuel.
Then the Contis took you in and I thought we would never see each other again, but when I heard you were in Mexico? I knew we had to meet.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you reached out,” I said, then frowned. “What the hell were you thinking getting yourself involved with the likes of Yaroslav?”
She sighed. “It’s a long story, but to keep it short, I needed ammo for me and my people, and he was the only one who could get it done.”
At that, I stepped back a bit, frowning. “You and your people? What are you talking about?”
Her gaze stayed on me. “That’s why I wanted to see you. I started a secret op about a year ago. My team and I hunt down Handler houses around Europe, and we save as many lives as we can.”
I swallowed. “That’s amazing, Daiyu … I—That’s dangerous, but amazing.”
She shrugged. “I saw no other purpose for me after I got out. It was a no-brainer.”
Yeah, for me too. But I couldn’t tell her that.
“So … you need my help with something?” I asked instead, knowing we couldn’t be here long, and we couldn’t risk having this conversation over dinner.
“Yes,” she said, her gaze darting around quickly before focusing on me.
“I know you can’t get mixed up because of your involvement with the Contis and I totally understand that.
I don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire, but we’ve been tracking a major shipment for the last few months and I’m talking about thirty level-two Plants. ”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
Level-two Plants, meaning fourteen-year-olds who had just finished level one with their Handlers and were about to be trafficked to different parts of the world for sex work. Just like I was when I turned fourteen, just like she was.
“Apparently, they’re going to be passing through here in about two months,” she said.
I nodded. “Okay, go on.”
“There’s going to be a three-month cruise with this new ship called Celestial.”
“Celestial? Not conspicuous at all.”
She snorted. “Well, it’s a huge deal. There’s so much noise about it on the internet. People are calling it Titanic II, but safer.”
“Way to jinx the ship,” I said.
“You know how people are, but get this, they call it a ‘cruise from home,’ meaning it’s not traveling around the globe, it’s just basically circling a particular territory, not too far from the city and not too close that you couldn’t explore a small island.
It’s super exclusive for basically only rich people. ”
I scoffed. “Of course.”
She smiled, understanding my snark. “It’s going to be heavily guarded because of the big names that are going to be present.
There will be smaller boats in case people want to leave, or go to the city for one thing or another.
It’s just a waste of time and money, if you ask me, but, here’s where it gets interesting.
The people who are going to be in charge of trafficking the level twos are going to be on the cruise in about two months, after it begins. ”
A chill ran down my spine. “They’re passing through the ship?”
“With the smaller boats at the ready, no one is going to ask questions. They’d probably be in disguise, slipping right under the nose of authorities.”
“And that’s where you come in,” I noted.
“Yes, save the kids before their lives are basically destroyed forever.”
I nodded. “Okay, what do you need from me?”
“Access to the cruise. I don’t know how Yaroslav did it, but he somehow made sure the guy you’re hunting down is going to be one of the big names on that ship.”
Which was obviously the other favor Yaroslav had granted her.
“My people and I don’t have that kind of money,” she said. “I was hoping since the guy you’re looking for is on that ship, you’d be going as well, and you can help us get in?”
I crossed my arms over my chest, nodding. “It’s possible. I have a couple of people I’ll need to take care of first before we do this, but I can get you in when it’s time,” I said.
She frowned. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive,” I said, knowing there was no way in hell I’d let her do this on her own. “Leave it to me.”
Relief flooded her face. “Thank you, Zahra. Truly.”
“No need to thank me.” Thirty freaking children … My stomach turned as I met her gaze. “Come rain or shine, we’re getting on the Celestial,” I said, my brain already formulating a plan, “and we’re going to get those sons of bitches.”