I’m the worrier.
That’s amplified to the extreme since this involves Flora. Like exponentially worse.
“There they are.” Alejandro shifts to look in the direction of our returning men.
“El Tigre, the house backs onto a lot that’s under construction. There’s a foundation poured, but nothing else.”
“Gracias. What about you?” I look at one guy who went to surveil the house.
“There’s a kitchen door and the front door. There’s no direct access to the basement except for a couple small windows.SeñoritaAguilar would fit through them, but none of us would.”
Unless I insist the men address Flora asSeñoritaAguilar Bautista, the custom is to use her father’s surname as hers. Maybe the men talk about her connection to Domingo, but no one in my family’s heard about anyone talking shit about her. They all really seem to like her because she’s polite and smiles at every guard or employee she’s met. She’s kind and makes small talk with them, asking about their families in a general sense. She keeps a professional boundary, and she knows it makes Cartel men antsy when someone seems nosey.
“Can we get to the front door?”
“Yeah. There’s no screen door or metal security door. There’s no gate either. We saw no hint of who’s inside. No one—not even a shadow—in the windows. None are patrolling the yard either.”
Javier’s distrusting nature comes out. “They’re probably hiding but have cameras somewhere.”
“We looked,capitán. We saw none. Not even one of those doorbell cameras.”
“Any windows open? Did you hear anything?” My cousin still isn’t convinced.
“One in the living room is open but not all the way. We barely heard a man and a woman’s voice. The woman sounded disgusted but not hurt.El Tigre, they were speaking Spanish.”
I glance at my cousins. Obviously, whoever this is, is a rival. But could it be a Latin American family or cartel? Are they Latinos working for one of the other three families?
My guard didn’t mention it was Castilian, so I can assume it’s no one from Spain. He would’ve pointed that out. This guy calls it “colonizador español”—colonizer Spanish. He had a nasty break up with a girl he met in Ibiza ten years ago. Never got over it. Bitter bastard.
Can I rule out the O’Rourkes?
I’ve known those fuckers my entire life. I grew up in New Jersey, so I never went to school with them, but Alejandro andTres J’sdid. I played peewee and little league sports with them. We read each other nearly as well as our own families do.
I’m leaning toward believing they’re innocent from their reaction to the news. It wasn’t their denial, but their offer to help without hesitation. Their family caused the breakdown of the cardinal rule: no women and children. It wasn’t any of their faults, and the men who did it are now dead. They’ve been working to redeem their family for the past six years. They might have actually done that.
My mind jumps from one thought to another like a flea in a dog pound. I’m taking everything in and evaluating all the information at warp speed. We need to move, so I don’t have the luxury of contemplating the meaning of life. I have to consider the implications and decide.
“Jorge, you come through the front door with me. Alejandro, lead six men to the back door. Enter that way.Dos J’stake the open window. The rest of you spread out around the block in case any of them turn rabbit. No one shoots unless you’re a second away from death. You protectSeñoritaAguilar before me.”
I won’t tell the men to sacrifice my cousins, but I will tell them to prioritize Flora over me.
“No seas un pollon.” Don’t be a dick.
Javier huffs at me before he looks at the men. He doesn’t agree with my altruism. It’s his way of saying Flora’s family. All he has to do is cock an eyebrow, and the men know they’re to protect Flora before my cousins and me.
OnceTres J’sgot over the initial shock of me being with Flora and all the fucked-up baggage that goes with that, they’ve been nothing but gracious to her. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had doubts about whether they’ve meant their warm welcome. Now I know they do.
We move into position as we fan out. Alejandro and his men split into two groups and cut through yards. We’re all praying the people who live in those houses aren’t home. Joaquin and Javier go ahead of Jorge and me. They’ve always seemed to line up by age since we were all little. That would mean Joaquin breaking off to the left first, then Javier to the right, leaving Jorge in the center. Neither Joaquin nor Javier approves of the idea their little brother be the most obvious target. The only thing they fight over is who gets the worst spot in the team. They all want that one.
With Jorge alongside me, Joaquin and Javier know where to go. I walk ahead of Jorge as we reach the path up to the house. I’ll be the first one inside. I always would be, not just because we’re going after my girlfriend. I won’t send any man where I’m not willing to go first. Jorge follows to protect my back and to take over if I go down.
I sweep my gaze around the area. The men I can see are in position. I test the doorknob, but it doesn’t turn. I nod, and we all count to three silently. My foot thrusts into the door, sending it flying open.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Flora
I barely swallow my scream as there’s a loud splintering sound. Then the front door swings open and nails the wall before it bounces back. I dive for the floor and cover my head. I don’t look around, instead, trying to get my bearing from what I hear. It only takes a moment for me to realize it’s Pablo. I’ve never had a greater sense of relief in my life than knowing he’s here.
