“A spy?”
“You get close to one of them, then when you’ve hooked one of them, keep your ears open. Listen in on phone conversations. Find out their weaknesses, then report back to Benito.”
“And what if that doesn’t work?”
Give them some sad story about how you were kidnapped and abused. Men love that.” He waves his hand over my body. “You’re a good-looking girl; use what God gave you.”
“I can’t believe you just said that out loud to your own sister.” I lower my eyes. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
Quick as a snake, he closes the distance between us and grabs my arm. “I’m your twin brother, I’m in trouble, and you need to help me.”
“You’re always in trouble. That’s nothing new. I’ve been bailing you out for years, and yet you just don’t get it. You go from one disastrous situation to another thinking someone is going to take care of you.”
He releases my arm and lowers his gaze. “This time is different. This time?—”
“This time is what?” No matter what he says, I refuse to fall back into his trap.
“I’ve screwed up bad. I had the money I owed them, and I lost it. I’m ashamed to say it,” he whispers. “But it’s the reason Benito held you for so long. The original deal was two months, but when I couldn’t pay up, he kept you longer.”
I digest his words, and my fists clench at my sides. “And now you expect me to help you again?”
“It’s the end of the road for me. If I make this deal with you, they’ll wipe away my all debt . . . If I don’t—I’m dead.”
I stare up at the ceiling.
“I promise after this, I’ll never deal with the cartel again.”
My mind plays back all the other times Eduardo promises to do better, be better, but it never happens.
“You have to believe me ‘cause this time is different. I’ve learned my lesson. I want to change and make a new start, but I can’t until I make this right with Benito.”
He just gets in deeper and deeper.
“I want to go back to the States and help you and Mama out. Everything will be better, but you have to help me this one last time.”
I don’t trust or believe one word he’s saying. I want to tell him to go straight to hell, but my mother would never forgive me if I was the reason Eduardo never came home.
“I have your passport.”
“What?” I hold out my hand. “Then let me have it.”
“It’s safe.”
“Where?”
“It’s yours after you do this for me and my debt is paid.”
I blow out a heavy breath. “Let me get this straight. You’re holding me and my passport hostage until I do this.”
“That’s not fair.” Eduardo frowns.
I bark out a harsh laugh. “Nothing’s changed. You’re still the same conniving, selfish person who uses family to fix your problems.”
“All you have to do is get close to one of them. Make them believe you’re on their side.”
“How about you give me my passport, and then I do this for you?”
His expression changes, and for a split second I think I have him.
