“Xander?”
He clenched his teeth. Essie—correction,Estrella—had become a big fucking problem. A part of him wanted to get in the truck and drive away. Leave her juicy ass stranded there. Shecould hike back to town and wait for her bastard brother to come pick her up. But the more conniving part of him began to wonder how he might be able to use her to his advantage. Find a way to help him get to José in order to achieve his end goal.
“C’mon!” he yelled. Climbing into the truck, he swiped up the cell phone and called Brandon Ward. The former Delta Force operator picked up right away.
“Ward.”
“Hey, Ward. Bet you never thought you’d hear my voice again.” His attention shifted to Essie who was struggling to open the passenger door. Apparently, the collision did some extra damage to that side and the damn thing was stuck.
“Hawke! Holy shit, you’re like a cat with nine lives!” Brandon exclaimed. “We just heard from Mitch you were alive and being held captive.”
“I escaped.” Flat. “With a little help.” He couldn’t hide the dry and slightly amused tone as he watched Essie still trying to work the dented door open. “Put a little more muscle into it,Estrella.”
She glared at him. “Help me!”
“Who’s that?” Brand asked. “Do not tell me you picked up a woman already.”
“Long story. But, yeah, I have a female companion with me.”
“We’re coming down to get you. Can you get to the airport in Playa de Oro?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly where we’re heading.” The Playa de Oro International Airport was located about thirty-five minutes north of Manzanillo, and they’d be driving straight there. God knows, he certainly was no longer entertaining any thoughts about spending the night with Essie. That ship fucking sailed the moment he learned her true identity. “Thanks, Brand. See you soon.”
“Be careful.”
“Will do.”
Essie managed to wrench the door open as he hung up. “Thanks for your help,” she muttered, climbing inside.
“Oh, I think you’re quite capable, Ms. Barrera. Especially if you’re anything like your brother.” Was that a fair comparison? No, probably not. Did he care? Not one bit.
She had the gall to look angry as he started the engine. He pulled back onto the road and began driving, freezing her out. Focusing on the pavement in front of him and his inner thoughts. The road was surprisingly smooth. His thoughts? Complete turmoil.
But distancing himself, clearing his head and coming up with a strategic game plan, seemed best. Because he’d vowed not only to kill Barrera, but also his entire family.
Now, no matter how much he hated Barrera, the idea of hurting Essie made Xander’s stomach revolt. He might be a cold-blooded killer who could easily pull the trigger when it came to removing his enemies from the face of the earth, but Essie was different. He’d sensed a certain innocence in her. A light, a goodness. She was the complete opposite of her twisted brother.
Even so, he couldn’t help but wonder if everything that had happened between them was utter bullshit. Had she only used him to aid her escape? Were the kisses they shared merely a ploy to gain his protection?
“So now you hate me?” she asked flatly.
He pressed his lips together, staring straight ahead. A muscle jerked in his cheek.
“I have no control over who my brother is—”
“I’m going to kill your brother.” Blunt, cruel. No need to tiptoe around the facts.
“I know he’s not a good man—”
“He’s a fucking murderer!” Xander roared, cutting her off, and she jumped.Calm down.His fingers loosened, flexed around the steering wheel. Losing his temper wouldn’t solve anything.
“He killed someone you love,” she correctly and quietly surmised.
His nostrils flared, but he didn’t trust himself to speak.
“I’m so sorry, Xander,” she whispered.
“Sorry doesn’t help my sister.”
