“Ha, ha, ha, tell me something funny for a change.” Leanna threw her head back and fake laughed. “Gabriel thought you could help me. I could see the hope in his eyes, but no, you’re no one’s protector. You are a bully. I saw what you did to Reuben. Belittle him. Gaslight him just like you’re gaslighting me.”
“Are you done?” Juan wiggled the gun. “You want answers. Be prepared. You might want to start praying.”
Leanna’s blood ran cold, and she swallowed, slumping down against the side of the van. “What do you mean?”
“Me and my friends are smugglers. Yes. But we’re not the bad guys. We are not murderers. Ana came to us a week ago. She asked for my help.”
“El Bardo said you were extorting money from them,” Leanna said. “How can I believe anything you say?”
“El Bardo is a killer, and that man you claim is your husband is with him. They’re hunting Carmelita. Ana warned me that the Cano clan would send someone to eliminate Carmelita.”
Every nerve in Leanna’s body froze. “What do you mean?”
Juan lowered the gun, and his Adam’s apple bobbled. “Carmelita ran away looking for her father. She met a man who told her she was a Mafia princess, at least that’s what Gabriel told us.”
That explained the paternity test results.
Chills swarmed Leanna’s scalp. “Who is this man?”
“Don’t know. Ana said we had to help her hide Carmelita. She gave us ten thousand dollars.”
“Then where is Carmelita?” Leanna tapped his arm, even though he still had the gun. “Where did you hide her?”
“I can’t tell you.” Scabby raised the muzzle of the gun. “Because I don’t know if you weren’t sent to kill her.”
“I’m her mother! Ana told me to come.”
“And Ana is dead. After you showed up with that hit man with the dark glasses.”
“Ana’s dead?” Leanna’s head reeled, and she saw stars. “When? How?”
“Your hitman and El Bardo went to the house. The police showed up after they left and found both of them dead.”
“But they weren’t there. They were hiding from you guys. They owed you money. How do I know you’re not lying?”
“You don’t, and I’ll never tell you where Carmelita is.” He waved the gun. “Now, you’re free to leave. You can cross the border as an American or swim with the rest of them. I don’t want to be here when that hitman husband of yours shows up with the blood of Ana and Eduardo on his hands.”
“You have to help me get away from him. I only care about Carmelita. I want to find her.”
“Get out.” Scabby roared. He clicked off the safety of the gun and pointed it at her. “Carmelita is safer if you never find her.”
Her phone rang and rang, but she didn’t dare answer it while staring down the barrel of a gun.
