“I didn’t get to finish my interview,” Dani says, raising her chin and pulling her shoulders back. “I was promised a full hour with Luis Rojas, and I got less than half of that. When will this lockdown be over with?”
“Not until tomorrow. If you wish to continue your interview then, I will make the necessary arrangements.” The general’s eyes don’t match his conciliatory tone. He’s pissed as hell at something, but he’s trying to hide it and play nice with the Americans. But why? He could probably have us jailed in a heartbeat and no one would ever hear from us again. If I didn’t kill him first.
“I do. What time?” Dani doesn’t move, even though the guards are holding the front door open, clearly encouraging us to get the hell out of there.
“Noon. I trust that will be acceptable?”
“Yes. Come on, Lejune. Let’s get back to the hotel and change our flight.” Without a backwards glance, Dani strides through the open door, and I follow.
Chapter Ten
Trevor
The old tiressqueal as I speed out of The Crypt’s parking lot. As soon as we’re beyond the gates, I look over at Dani. “Did they hurt you?”
“What the hell happened back there?” she asks as she pulls the voice recorder from her bag.
“Answer the question, Dani. Did. They. Hurt. You?” My fingers are so tight on the steering wheel, two of my knuckles crack.
“Huh? No. I’m fine, Tre—“
“Not another word. Not until we’re back at the hotel.”
Her eyes widen as realization washes over her face. Yeah, that’s right. I’d be surprised if theydidn’tbug the car. After what happened back there, it’ll be a fucking miracle if they didn’t bug the hotel room, too. At least I’ll be able to use Wren’s scanner once we’re back at the Hotel Diamante.
Dani stares straight ahead the whole way back, but when we get caught at a stoplight, she reaches for my hand and mouths,“I’m sorry.”
I want to tell her it’s okay. But that would be a lie, and I’ll never lie to her. Never again, anyway. I did that once, and it ruined everything between us.
No one’s following us, so I keep hold of her hand as I maneuver through the slow-moving traffic. I may be angry, but if she needs reassurance, I’ll give it to her. No matter what.
The silence has a physical presence all its own as we ride the elevator to the fifth floor, but I wrap my arm around her waist and keep her close until we get to the room. Only then do I let her go so I can ensure the clear filaments are still in place over the doors.
Once inside, I dig Wren’s scanner out of my duffel bag and sweep it around both rooms before shoving it into my pocket.
“We’re clear. It’s safe to talk now. And you’d better have a damn good explanation—“
“Trevor,” Dani interrupts, “I didn’t mean to keep it from you. I tried…I wanted to tell you last night. But…”
Fuck me. “But I was an ass. You can say it.”
She huffs, then sinks onto the bed. “You were. But I should have told you back in Boston.”
“What were you thinking, Dani? General Ochoa knows. Luis knows. It was so obvious I’m sure the soldiers know too. You just put a huge fucking target on your back. We need to get out of here.”
“No. I have to go back tomorrow—“
“Not an option.”
Pushing to her feet, Dani gets right in my face. “Luis Rojas is part of a resistance movement that could legitimately overthrow the Farías government. I need to tell more of his story.”
“And get yourself killed in the process? You hired me to protect you.” I thread my fingers with hers and pull her over to her backpack. “Grab your stuff. We’re going to the airport and getting the hell out of this country.”
“I need more time! Luis saved my mother’s life, Trev. Didn’t Austin ever tell you about her? About what Jorge Sosa did to her?”
Those two words cut through my anger and frustration. A band tightens across my chest, and I take two steps back. “Jorge Sosa was Gil’s father. Obviously I knew your mother had left him at some point, but Austin didn’t say anything about Sosadoinganything to her.”
Dani eyes me like I can’t be serious. “Sosa kidnapped my birth mother. He took her from Aruba and kept her prisoner in Venezuela. Luis worked for him for almost ten years. He and my mother fell in love, and when she got pregnant with me, he helped her escape to the United States.”
