He smirked. “Yousaid it, boss.Notme.”
“In all seriousness, maybe hold off on getting Malyah pregnant, huh?”
“Absolutely. She doesn’t want to have a baby right now. Maybe in a few years.”
Dewi felt a little guilty about that. “I didn’t mean wait years.”
“She wants to finish her degree. And we still need to see what’s going on with Bebe and Dania and the twins.” He stared out the window.
“And you’re worried about Nami castrating you if you accidentally get Malyah pregnant before she’s ready.”
“Fuckyes, I’m worried about Nami castrating me.” Joaquin laughed, but then his smile faded. “Truth be told, I’m still…processing.”
“Processing what?”
“Felicia Escobar.”
Dewi sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh. Sorry.”
He slowly shook his head. “I’m already vulnerable enough with Malyah. I am not yet ready to have a child who could potentially be at risk. And I know I shouldn’t let her murder stop me from finding joy, but it still weighs on me.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“She was one of mine to protect,” he said, finally looking at her. “I swore an oath as an Enforcer, and she died on my watch. Everyone can tell me all they want that it wasn’t my fault she was murdered by Raul Segura, but it doesn’t change how Ifeel, okay? Not to mention the entire pack compound, including mates and kids, were all put at risk because the Seguras were chasingme. Ken and Nami could have died because ofme. And I’m still working through all of that.”
“That’s why you’re an Enforcer, Joaquin.” She stopped at a light and looked at him. “Because despite the personal bullshit you and I went through before I assigned you to Mexico, I saw your heart and knew you were a pain in my ass but you were tenacious and driven and focused. You’re damned good at your job, and I’m glad you’re one of the Enforcers. I’m sorry if I don’t say that to you often enough. You know me—I’m a hard-ass. I wouldn’t have someone working for me if I didn’t think they could keep up with me or if they weren’t the best candidate for the job. You also know I don’t bullshit people. I’m not just saying that to make you feel good.”
“Thanks, boss. I appreciate that.”
Dewi pulled up to the front entrance of the yacht club. When one of the valets tried to step in and help her out, she waved him off. “No need.” She got out, leaning in to speak to Joaquin. “Go park it and meet me out back.” She leveled a finger at him. “Donotput a scratch on it.”
“Sure thing.” Joaquin quickly climbed out and rounded the car to get behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Dewi headed inside after Priming the guy in charge of the valet stand to not hassle them about parking.
By the time Joaquin rejoined her, Dewi had already Primed the man at the front desk for information on where they might find Cordoba, and had him look at a picture to confirm the man was, in fact, working there.
They headed through the building toward the piers. “How are we playing this?” Joaquin whispered.
“Quickly and quietly,” she said. “In and out. Corner him, and then I’ll Prime him to see what he knows. I want no fuss, no attention drawn to us. Then we can hopefully get the hell out of here and retrieve Hannah. Easy-peasy.”
“Chicken squeezy?” He grinned.
“Fuck you,” she growled.
The place was huge. Outside, Dewi stopped an employee on their way out to the pier to ask where they could find Cordoba. The man turned, looking.
But when he pointed out their quarry, Cordoba, who was over sixty yards away from them, at that moment turned around and saw them looking at him.
He bolted.
“Motherfucker!” Dewi yelled.
Cordoba was already to the parking lot and had knocked over a woman passing by on a bike and took it from her by the time Dewi and Joaquin rounded the building and spotted him.
“Shit!” Dewi screamed.
As Cordoba took off, heading north, Dewi realized there was no way with his head-start and as fast as he was pedaling that either she or Joaquin could catch up with him on foot. As it was, she had a good twenty yards on Joaquin already.
So she improvised.
