“Looks that way.” Smoke pulls a cig out of his cut and lights up. “Either that or it’s some hell of a coincidence.”
“How could that even be possible?” Blood asks. “You said she was from California.”
“No fuckin’ clue.” I sit on the edge of the couch. “Are they still downstairs?”
“Probably still sitting with Bolt and the others.”
“She’s obviously afraid of him,” Blood says.
“Do you think he saw her?”
“I don’t know, but I guess she definitely saw him, and whatever he’s got on her scared her into some kind of a panic attack.”
When Marisol comes out of the bedroom, Smoke asks, “Didshe ever say anything to you about running away from someone or something?”
“No, but she and Maxie talk more in the gym. Maybe she knows something.”
“Have her come out here.”
Two minutes later, Maxie joins us in the living room. “I changed her out of her dress and gave her one of your t-shirts so she’s more comfortable.”
“She ever say anything to you about knowing a guy named Benito?” Smoke asks.
“No, never. She’s always a bit guarded about her past, and I never pushed after what all I’ve been through.”
Maxie came to Tijuana as a fight slave after witnessing a cartel murder in California, so she could relate to having secrets and running for your life.
“We all heard her say his name loud and clear.” Smoke stubs out the cig. “What we have to find out is their relationship and how this does or doesn’t affect us.”
“She’s sleeping now.” Maxie motions to the bedroom. “I don’t think there’s really anything wrong with her aside from being scared to death.”
“She can stay here for the rest of the night,” I offer. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Fine.” Smoke points to me. “But when she comes around, you find out what the hell is goin’ on with her and Benito.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” I offer. “But there’s no way?—”
“Never say never, brother,” Blood adds.
“We’ve been fooled before, and anything is possible,” Smoke says.
“She’s not a fuckin’ spy,” I spit out exactly what Smoke and Blood were implying.
“She drops into the club outta nowhere and gets close toyou,” Smoke points to me, “but not too close. Just enough to get you to take her to the fight club.”
“That was all my idea.” I don’t like Smoke’s reasoning, but I can’t deny it either.
“Or she made you think it was your idea,” Blood says.
“Bullshit!”
“What better way to infiltrate the club than to have someone on the inside.” Smoke paces in front of the couch. “Someone we’d never suspect.”
“Nah, I don’t buy it.” I refuse to believe another woman has lied to me—but...
“She’s a Harlot now.” Marisol anchors her hands on her hips. “So, whatever goes down, I wanna know about it too. For all we know, if she’s working for him, she might be doing his dirty work under duress.” She motions to the bedroom. “That was no act. She was genuinely scared, and if Benito’s intimidating her, we can’t let that stand.”
“Benito’s a shifty fucker, and I wouldn’t put it past him. He only cares about the bottom line at all costs, but we can’t afford any slip-ups. We need this deal with him for the club, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize it.”
