Without a goodbye to Silas, I slide the phone into the next stall and pray that whatever is about to happen, God will give us the courage to face it.
Jagger
The next hit comes lower—kidney shot.My knees buckle, but I catch myself, breathing through clenched teeth.Paco circles, enjoying this.Taking his time.
"Funny thing about Adena."He nods, and another fist slams into my ribs.I grunt, doubling slightly."We can't find a record of her.No digital footprint.No history.It's like she doesn't exist."
I straighten, forcing the words out."She's that good."
Paco laughs, cold and sharp."Maybe.Or maybe she's a rata.A fed.You bring a snake into our house, Rourke?"
"She's clean."
"Clean?"Another hit—this time my side again, same spot.The pain explodes, radiating outward."Then why can't we find her?Why does she vanish every time we look?"
I force my voice steady."Because she knows how to stay off the grid.That's why I chose her."
He leans in close, breath hot against my ear."You chose her.Or did she choose you?"
My mind races.The options narrow, suffocating.
I can't win this.
Another blow—abdomen this time.My vision blurs.I stagger, catching myself on a workbench, oil smearing under my palm.
Paco grabs my shoulder—the wounded one—and squeezes.Pain shoots through me, white-hot."Last chance, hermano.Who is she?"
The prayer that forms comes as much of as a surprise as the desire to purchase the cross did last night.Don’t let them see I’m not one of them.
Because this isn’t about me anymore.It’s about protecting Adena.
Like he’s been waiting for the opportunity, he draws his gun and presses the muzzle to my sternum, almost lazy.“You know what happens to liars in this crew, sí?”His smile widens.“But what happens to the ones they bring with them…” He tsks softly.“That’s worse.”
My pulse spikes.Keep the mask.Keep it steady.
“She’s loyal,” I grind out.
“That right?”He tilts his head, considering.“Because my guys?They’ve been looking for days.”He taps the gun lightly against my chest, rhythmic, mocking.“And you want to know what we finally found?”
I swallow hard.“What.”
“Nothing.”He steps closer, the barrel lifting to my collarbone, then my throat.“Not a trace.Not a traffic ticket, not a school record, not a single photo that isn’t conveniently blurry.”His smile is a blade.“You know who else looks like that?Informants.Undercover plants.”
Adena.Adena with her forged past, her too-clean slate, the skills that make her invaluable—and lethal if anyone guesses the truth.Adena who has no idea every second I’m in here is a countdown aimed straight at her head.
Paco’s eyes gleam.“Maybe we bring her here too.”
My chest locks.“You touch her, I’ll kill you slow.That’s a promise.”
He laughs and the gun dips to my abdomen, presses hard into the bruise forming under my ribs.“Your littlenovia,” He shakes his head, amused.“She’s a ghost wearing skin.And ghosts usually work for someone.”
I force myself upright even as the pain radiates hot through my side.“Not her,” I grind out.
Paco steps back just enough to aim properly.“Here’s what we’re going to do.You name her handler.Right now.You tell me who she reports to, and maybe—maybe—I let her keep breathing long enough for you to say goodbye.”
The world narrows to the black circle of the barrel.
And for the first time since he threw the first punch, fear claws up my spine—not for me.
