29. Cuffs #2
“He started looking for leverage in case you were.”Chris’s stomach dropped.Camila.
“Did he touch her?”
“No.”
“Did he follow her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he have someone at the mansion?”
“Probably.”
“Probably?”Mateo’s jaw tightened.
“Diego ran security. He knew everybody.”Chris stared.Then the hotel came rushing back.
Mateo’s men.Diego’s sources.The hidden investigation.The way Diego had watched Chris and Camila for weeks.Fuck.“Where is he?”Mateo’s expression changed.That answer mattered.“Gone.”Chris’s eyes sharpened.“What?”
“He left when the raid started.”Chris immediately keyed his radio.“Command, Walker.”
Mercer’s voice:“Go.”“Status Serrano?”A pause.Chris already hated the answer.“Not secured.”
“Fuck.”
“Teams are searching.”Chris looked toward the loading exits.“He’s running.”Mateo watched him.Chris turned back.“What routes?”
“I don’t know.”
“Mateo.”
“He didn’t tell me he was leaving.”
“You expect me to believe that?”Mateo’s face darkened.“He abandoned me.”
That sounded like the truth.Chris looked at the cartel king standing in handcuffs in the ruins of his organization.Diego had seen what was happening.And saved himself.
“Motherfucker.”Mateo laughed bitterly.“Now you’re catching up.”Chris keyed the radio again.“Mercer, Diego likely departed through secondary access. Check northwest rail-service road.”
“Containment moving.”Chris’s mind raced.Diego knew Roman was a leak.Possibly knew he was FBI.And he knew Camila mattered.Worse than mattered.Chris’s greatest vulnerability wasn’t his cover.It wasn’t the badge.It wasn’t the scars.It was her.
Mateo’s voice brought him back.“You see it now.”Chris stared at him.“What?”
Mateo’s expression was cold.“You can train somebody to drive.”Silence.“To shoot.”
Silence.“To lie.”Chris’s jaw tightened.“But you can’t train someone not to love.”
Chris didn’t answer.Mateo looked almost satisfied.“That’s how Diego figured you out.”
Chris’s blood went cold.Because Mateo was right.Roman had been nearly perfect.
The background.The attitude.The lies.The driving explanation.The security work.
All of it.The thing Chris had failed to control—was Camila.He touched his radio.
“Headquarters, confirm Camila Vargas status.”Static.Then:“Stand by.”
Chris hated those words.“Confirm now.”Another pause.“Camila Vargas remains secure inside field office.”Chris breathed again.Barely.Mateo watched.“There.”Chris looked at him.
“You didn’t even realize you were doing it.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking terrified.”Chris’s expression hardened.“She’s safe.”
“For now.”
“Don’t.”Mateo stepped closer as the agent prepared to move him.“You think Diego doesn’t know exactly what she means to you?”Chris stared.“He does.”The realization landed fully.Diego had already figured it out.Maybe before Chris had.Chris looked toward the loading doors.“Where would he go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think.”Mateo smiled bitterly.“You’re asking for my help now?”
“No.”Chris stepped closer.“I’m telling you that if Diego believes Camila can be used against me, your sister is in danger too.”That erased Mateo’s smile.“You think he’d hurt her?”Chris stared.“Do you really want to gamble on it?”Mateo’s face changed.No cartel king now.Only brother.“No.”
“Then help me.”Mateo looked away.Thinking.“There’s an old distribution property south of the rail yard.”
“Address?”
“I don’t know the number.”
“Street?”
“Fifth and Calder.”Chris immediately transmitted it.“Command, possible Serrano destination, industrial property near Fifth and Calder. Vargas-linked distribution site.”
Mercer answered.“Copy.”Then shouting erupted outside.Radio traffic exploded.“Vehicle moving!”
“Northwest!”
“Black Suburban!”Chris’s head snapped toward the loading doors.Mateo looked too.
Another voice:“Multiple suspects!”Chris started moving.Mateo called after him.
“Walker.”Chris stopped.Turned.Mateo stood between two federal agents.Cuffed.
Defeated.“Bring her back to me.”Chris stared.He understood the request wasn’t about tonight.Not entirely.Bring her back someday.Let him see his sister.Don’t let his crimes cost him every piece of his family.Chris couldn’t promise that.That was Camila’s choice.
So he gave Mateo the only promise that belonged to him.“I’ll keep her safe.”
Mateo nodded once.Chris turned.Ran.Outside, tires screamed.An agent shouted:
“Diego’s moving!”Logan appeared beside Chris.“Black Suburban!”Chris spotted it disappearing onto the north road.He sprinted toward the nearest FBI Charger.Logan followed.Chris snatched the keys.Logan saw who was getting behind the wheel.
His face fell.“Oh, fuck.”Chris opened the door.“What?”
“I’ve seen you drive.”Chris climbed in.“Then buckle up.”Logan got into the passenger seat.Chris started the engine.Behind them, Mateo Vargas was being led toward a federal transport vehicle in handcuffs.Ahead of them, Diego Serrano was disappearing into the night.Mateo’s warning remained inside Chris’s head.Then God help you when Diego figures that out.Chris tightened his grip on the wheel.Too late.Diego already had.And Chris had absolutely no intention of giving him enough time to do anything about it.He floored the Charger.The engine roared.And Special Agent Chris Walker went after him.