“Not yet, but you were warning me where this is going, preparing me so I can prepare Kara. This isn’t just another undercover job. This is her sister.”
“And I’m the one here. I’m the one undercover, keeping us both alive, and that means I’m going to do whatever I have to do to keep us both alive.” And instead of reminding him that he was undercover when he met Kara, I change the subject. “Tell Royce I need those emergency exit strategies now, not later.”
“We’ve already arranged a private jet and the Rosa Airfield is on standby around the clock. Get there and you get out. F Hanger, with Louie. I’ll text you his number.”
“I know where Rosa is.”
“Kyle-”
“I’m going to do what it takes to keep us both alive, and that’s not your call,” I repeat, and then hang up, immediately reaching for the door, only to have the phone ring again. I answer it and Blake says, “You’re fucking right. You do what you have to do. I trust you. We all trust you. Just stay the fuck alive and keep her that way, too.”
“I will,” I say, and this time when I end the connection, I have one thing on my mind. Getting back to Myla. I step out of the Mustang, automatically scanning the parking lot again, and my gaze lands hard on a black sedan, with equally blacked out tint on the windows. I study it, catching a flicker in the darkness at the driver’s side that tells me someone is smoking. I don’t like it and I unbutton my jacket, walking toward it, a calm, steady charge; my fingers flexing, and ready to draw my gun. There are shadows behind the glass, movement. Panic. The door starts to open at the same moment I shove it back into place and point my gun at the window. It rolls down, revealing Ricardo, who I happen to know is a prime player in the sex trafficking operation, and a piece of slime I’d happily rid this world of now and forever.
“Put your fucking gun down,” he demands.
“I have no way of knowing if you are on Alvarez’s watch or working against him. The rules I agreed on with Juan include you telling me when you’re here.”
“That’s not what he said. He said-”
“I don’t give a fuck what he said. You identify yourself when you’re in my line of sight or not only will I blow your head off next time. I’ll enjoy it.” I reach for my phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Juan,” I say. “I want to know that he knows you’re here.”
“Fuck.” He scrubs his grubby, fat face, and I have a fantasy in my head that includes me shoving it against the steering wheel. No. The glass. Fuck. Both. With a lot of punching in between.
“What do want?” Juan demands, answering the call.
“Is Ricardo outside the factory under your instructions?”
“Yes. Why the fuck else would he be there?”
“Unless he tells me he’s here next time, I’ll assume he’s sidelining for one of Alvarez’s enemies, and blow his head off. That goes for anyone I discover who doesn’t notify me of their presence.”
“You think-” he begins.
I end the call and study Ricardo. “I’m going to lower my gun, and you’re going to drive away while I watch. Understand?”
“Yes, you little prick.” He rolls the window halfway up and pauses. “Smart to make me leave. I like a man’s back.”
“I myself,” I say, pointing the gun at his temple. “Like his head.”
He murmurs something I can’t make out in Spanish, and then puts his car in gear, backing up while I step back, holding my gun on the car until he drives away. I scan the parking lot again, and when I’m sure it’s clear, then and only then do I holster my weapon, button my jacket and walk toward the building. I enter the lobby to find Heather standing at the glass, looking terrified and like she saw a ghost.
“Should I call the police?”
“Not necessary,” I say. “The guy was a gangbanger who picked the wrong parking lot. It’s handled.”
“Oh. Are you sure?”
“It’s handled,” I repeat, which is true. For now. At any moment, Alvarez could show up, and right now, I’m not ready for that to happen.
***
Myla
Kyle doesn’t return to my office before Barbara finds me for my tour that includes a ton of empty warehouse space. “We seem to be planning big,” I comment, surveying the high ceiling surrounded by steel and brick.
“It had been vacant a long while, so we negotiated a really amazing deal,” she explains, “but why not plan big? We’re going to be big.”