“Hola, Kyle,” comes a heavily accented male voice. “Explain to me why Myla is not at the photo shoot I set up for her.”
I walk into the bedroom, and sit down at my desk, keying in a message to Royce: Alvarez on my phone.
“My understanding was that you wanted her to stay alive and frankly, I plan to stay alive myself.”
“How does a photo shoot get either of you killed?”
“My understanding is that if she dies, I die. And you have enemies. I had no idea who was in that store, what they intended, or what they might do to hurt her. Not to mention that you’re fucking LeeAnn, who hates Myla and wants to replace her in every way. I assume since you’re paying me a million dollars to protect Myla, you don’t want that to happen.”
He’s silent for several beats. “We’ll postpone the photo shoot. What’s happening with Myla and her sister?”
“Myla wants nothing to do with her sister,” I say.
“How can you be sure?”
“My professional opinion,” I say, “and I have zero indication that I’m wrong.”
“You’re tracking her communications?”
“I have the records I can send you, but I am curious. Why did Juan tell me her sister is FBI when she’s ex-FBI?”
“FBI, ex-FBI. Semantics. And if you couldn’t figure out where she is and what she is, that would be a problem.”
“So you know where she is?”
“New York, married to Blake Walker, a pain in the ass, ex-ATF agent, both of whom I plan to kill when the time is right.”
So Myla is right. He’s setting Kara, and it seems, Blake up. “Which is when?”
“When they come for her, and they will.”
“Don’t you think I needed to know this?”
“Unless she tells her sister that she’s alive, they won’t come for her until we go public with the fashion line. I’ve yet to decide if you’ll be around when that time comes.”
“Well since my contract ends before that date, I’ll be gone.”
“I might make it worth your while to stay.”
“I might consider an offer,” I counter.
“We’ll talk when I get to Dallas.”
“Which will be when?”
He laughs. “Do you really think I’d announce that? Just do your job. Keep my woman safe.”
“About your woman,” I say, that term grinding on my nerves. “I assume Juan’s trusted with her?”
“Of course, Juan’s trusted.”
“Then he has special privileges with Myla?”
“What does that mean?”
“She’s afraid of him. I think he’s touched her and he tried to get her alone today, but I didn’t let it happen. I don’t want to interfere if you share her with him.”
“No one touches her. She stays with you. Period. And if you touch her, I will cut your hands off. If you fuck her, I will shoot your dick off.”
“Okay then, I think we’re clear. If Juan tries, should I follow that protocol?”
“I’ll deal with Juan. What do you know about the FBI nosing around my operations?”
“Aren’t they always?”
“Present day and you knew what I meant.”
“I’m paid to protect Myla. I know nothing about the FBI investigation of you.”
“Two hundred thousand dollars says you do. Make this count. What do you know about the FBI nosing around my operations?”
“Someone close to you is talking.”
“How close?”
“I always say, look to the man trying to fuck your woman, and you find your enemy.”
He is silent, seconds ticking by like hours. “I’ll be in touch.”
The line goes dead and I dial Blake. “Alvarez knows you and Kara are married. He’s planning to kill you. Go to Italy now.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I’ll get Kara on a plane, even if I have to tie her up to do it. Are you sure he’s not playing you? Does he know who you are?”
“I’ve been off the grid since joining Walker. He doesn’t know me and Royce covered everyone’s tracks when they came here. We’re good. You’re not.”
“Be sure. Be really fucking sure.”
“I just talked to the man. I’m sure.”
“You talked to him?”
“I did and just go. Now.” I end the call and rotate to find Myla sitting on the bed. “You heard?”
“Of course I heard. They’re leaving?”
“Yes. They’re leaving. And Alvarez now trusts me and doubts Juan.”
“He’s smart. If he knows about Blake, he will know about the entire family.”
“But he doesn’t know we’re here. I’m sure of it.”
“He knows the FBI is looking into him, right? Is that what I heard?”
“Yes. He knows and he thinks Juan is behind it.”
“He’ll go underground for a few days and evaluate,” she says, “and if he decides he has to stay there, he’ll come for me. He’ll take me with him.”
“He’ll come for you and I’ll kill him. Then this is over.”
Chapter Nineteen
Myla