The question hit me like a fist in the chest, and I had to take a minute before I could answer. God, it hurt to think of girls we didn’t save.
No. I think the hangar was booby-trapped somehow.
After reading over my shoulder, Chance curled his palm around the nape of my neck, soothing me. I remembered how he used to do that, first delving beneath my hair with an impossibly delicate touch. Shivers stole over me.
Long pause on Booke’s end as he processed our failure. I’m sorry. But thank you for letting me know you’re all right.
No problem, I typed. The place burned down, so we don’t have anything to send for your collection. I’m sorry.
We were a sorry lot, weren’t we?
I didn’t say yes for the possible reward, he returned eventually. This is the first time anyone’s ever asked for my help, the first time I didn’t feel like an incompetent, ineffectual fool. Thank you for that.
Wow. I had no idea what to say. So Chance leaned forward and keyed, Welcome. We’ll keep you posted, but now I need sleep.
It was less personal than what I might’ve said if Chance hadn’t been there, given that I’d shared dream space with Booke. There was such an aching loneliness about him. The Englishman took it as a farewell, however, and signed off. I let it go, standing with a tired sigh.
“What’s his deal?” I wondered aloud as we headed for the spare room.
Chance shrugged. “One problem at a time, Corine.”
There would never be a better time to indulge my curiosity about something else. As we stepped into the bedroom together, I asked softly, “What were you focused on, back at the compound?”
Silence answered me, so I lay down, too tired to pursue the matter. Just before I drifted off, I wondered whether I imagined his whisper:
“You making it out of there, no matter what.”
Enemy of My Enemy
Eva woke me at dusk.
My eyes felt gummy as I peered up at her. She gave me a shit-eating grin, and I realized Chance and I had twined together in our sleep. He always wrapped around me like a second skin. I used to sleep so well that way, and I had again this afternoon.
I crawled out from under him and slid off the bed. “Did you find something out?”
She led the way to the living room, where I encountered the unlikely sight of Chuch watching TV Azteca with Kel. Butch lay curled up on Kel’s lap. I’d been too tired to fret about whether he’d keep his promise about not harming us or ours, but the last kernel of worry dissolved.
“Well,” Eva began. “We found a place to start, at least.”
“You’re amazing!” I sat down on the edge of the couch. Butch leaped into my lap, and I stroked him absently. Before she could go on, Chance padded out and joined us, dark hair standing on end.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” he said with a sleepy smile.
She clearly wanted to share the minutiae of her search, so we let her. Truthfully Eva’s thoroughness impressed me—she’d make a hell of a private eye—but I wanted her to get to the meat of the matter. I restrained my impatience.
“So,” she concluded, “we need to hit La Rosa Negra. According to Chuch’s contacts, it’s a hangout for—” Eva dropped her voice so low, I didn’t catch the name.
Chuch filled in the blanks. “Mercs, ex-Army Special Forces. They used to work for the cartel, but word on the street is they’re independent now. They don’t like people poking around in their business, but they might be interested in selling information on Montoya, if we catch someone at the right time.”
“Sounds dangerous,” I said.
By Chuch’s expression, I’d earned a promotion from Captain to Colonel Obvious. “No shit. They won’t even talk to you and Chance if I’m not there. People still remember me from Nicaragua.” His dark gaze went to Kel watching TV with Butch on his lap. “Cue ball should probably stay here with Eva.”
“You think I need a guard dog?” His wife bristled.
I grinned despite myself. “Butch or Kel?”
“Shhh,” Chuch said. “You know I don’t want you coming with us because you’re too beautiful, nena. Some pendejo would hit on you, and then I’d have to hurt him. Pretty soon the place’d be busted up and crawling with uniforms before we learned anything.”
“You’re full of shit, you know that, right?” But I saw he’d talked her out of going with us by her soft little smile.
I probably could’ve taken offense that nobody thought I was so hot I’d distract the mercs from conversation, but I decided to let it go. I did okay, after all. Some guys dug the long hair and hippie chic.
Eva’s bean soup had been simmering for hours, so we ate supper before getting ready to go out. I had a feeling La Rosa Negra would be a dive, so I dressed accordingly: worn jeans, peasant blouse, sweater in my bag just in case. I was glad I’d managed to squeeze in some laundry.
“We set?” Chuch asked when we’d dropped the last bowl in the sink. I felt a little bad about sticking Eva with the dishes, but not enough to put off our errand.
“Yeah.” I answered for Chance and me.
The mechanic fixed a narrow stare on Kel, who’d gone back to watching TV Azteca after the meal. “Anything happens to her, I hold you personally responsible, primo.”
“I’ll guard her with my life.” Funny, when Kel said such things they carried the weight of a vow writ in blood on the pages of some holy book.
Butch yapped, but I shook my head. “No way,” I told him as we went out the door.
Because he knew where we were going, it made sense for Chuch to drive. The Mustang was parked behind the Maverick, so Chance tossed him the keys. Like any conscientious short person, I crawled in back.
“How far are we going?” Chance wanted to know.
Chuch got us on the highway before he answered. “Near downtown. ’Bout twenty minutes, I guess.”
I leaned forward. “Anything we should know?”
“It’s best if you let me do the talking. Chance is here for obvious reasons.” Yeah, I knew why—to make it more likely we’d run across someone willing to part with information on Montoya and to pay the bribe when we found the guy. “I think maybe we should’ve left you at home with Eva.”
I snorted. Like I’d have gone along with that. I had too big a stake in this to permit them to form a boys’ club at this juncture. Plus, you never knew when my gift might come in handy.
Before I could bitch, Chance shifted, elbow on the back of the seat, and put in, “Yeah. Those jeans are a felony.”
“That bad, huh?” I glanced down at the worn denim. Chance never appreciated my sense of style.
A slow smile curved his beautiful mouth. “That good. Do you know there’s a rip on the back of your left thigh?”
“Ah, no.” Great. Now I’d worry all night whether my ass was hanging out.
“Sexy,” he told me. “Shows just a hint of skin.”
I quirked a brow. “I thought you wanted me in suits from Lord and Taylor.”
“Once I did. Now I just want you.” Beneath the rumble of the motor and the rush of the tires against the pavement, his words crushed me with their candor. Need laced his tone, shot straight into my nervous system.
God, I hated that he could move me like this. My chest hurt, so I rubbed it, and then cursed silently when I saw his gaze tracking the movement like he’d kill to touch me again. For Christ’s sake, why me?
My pained bewilderment must’ve shown because Chance turned around without another word. I stifled a sigh. Like too many dark chocolate truffles, he was rich, sinfully delicious, and bad for me... His gift might kill me. I knew that, but I couldn’t quell my longing altogether.