Inside, the house looked like any other upper-middle-class home. Demon, Nemo, and the dog headed down into the basement. TB stayed in the living room, booting up several computers on the coffee table. Meanwhile, Steel led Daleyza into the main bedroom.
She whirled on him to start speaking, but he put a finger to his lips. “A few more minutes,belleza. Please. Take a shower. Make sure your leg is good and clean. Then we’ll talk.”
Before he could stop himself, he pulled her close. He closed his eyes, breathing in her sweet scent and praying silently in thanks. He’d never once believed they would be in the same room together again, let alone that he’d be holding her. She was stiff in his arms, but she was here, and she was safe. It was enough.
Drawing back, he dropped his hands. “Go ahead. Our handlersent some clothes for you if you want to change. We’ll be out in the main room.”
Leaving her in that room was the hardest thing he’d done since going back to the Navy and the future he knew would take her from him. He only hoped that when he had to leave her again, he’d be numb to it.
14
AUGUST 21, 2024
Daleyza
The warm waterpounded down onto her back. Rather than washing away the emotions, it only allowed her to feel more, which in turn made her even more confused. Who the hell were these men? Black clothes and balaclavas. Firepower she’d only ever seen among the cartel. Voices from afar—the man named Midas had been tracking them using satellites, she’d found out, all the way from Los Angeles—like in a spy movie. A handler, something she’d heard of from government agencies. A husband back from the dead. It was like some terrifying action movie.
When she exited the shower, she pulled herself back together, dressed in the clothes Ildefanso had left for her on the bed, and went out to the main room.
The men were standing in a half circle, staring at the big screen television on the wall, their faces grim. They weren’t saying anything. The picture looked strange to her, like the framing of the movie wasall wrong. Heads were cut off as they got closer to the camera, when they normally would still be in the picture. The color was vibrant, the noises of the crowd loud, but not controlled like in a Hollywood film or television show. Not ambient. They were real. Whatever they were watching was live.
The voice from the car came over the speakers. “No idea how long the camera will be functional, but Nova will record as long as it’s active.”
“Copy that, Midas.” It was another voice over the speakers, one she hadn’t heard before. Low. Quiet. Like he was trying not to draw attention to himself.
As she drew closer to the television, she began to recognize the street. The wide thoroughfares. The obelisk. Whoever was on the screen, he was looking downAvenida 9 de Julio.
“No contact yet.”
“Just stay in view as much as possible. The chain reaction will occur quickly. Chatter has reached the Colonels, so they know you’re there. The bounty on you rises with each hour you’re not brought in, so you can expect swift capture.”
As if the voice channeled action, two men stepped in front of whoever sent the images back to the men in the room.
She flashed a frightened look at Ildefanso, but his eyes were glued to the screen. However, ever aware of her, he held out a hand to her. Instinctively, she took it and let him draw her to his side. Who was this person in Colonel territory, and why? It sounded like they were there on purpose.
“Fuck, I can’t stand this,” the giant muttered. He turned his back, walked two feet away as he ran his hands through his hair, then immediately walked back to his original position, eyes riveted to the screen.
The two men on the screen, native Argentinians, had weapons subtly exposed.
“What’s going on?” she whispered. “Those are two of Ignacio’s soldiers. Who’s in Argentina?”
“Our team leader, Waters. Short version—he’s trying to get caught by the cartel so he can draw out whoever’s pulling my father’s strings.
“Maico hunted me down. ThreatenedMadre. You. Claimed they have Ka-Bar hostage. Said they’ll release him and leave the two of you alone if I go back to the cartel.”
“And you said no.”
“Sí. It’s why we came for you.”
“So if they hadn’t threatened us…”
“You’d still be at home.”
“And you’d still be ‘dead.’”
He didn’t answer, which told her all she needed to know.
“If they threatened you, why is your team leader giving himself up to the cartel?”
