“Not so much,” he said. “I have committed no crime in the United States for which I may be held liable. Not so much as a speeding ticket. And here, at home, I have so many allies that it is impractical to send law enforcement after me. The neighbors would be offended. Along with many of my relatives who occupy extremely high positions in government.”
“But what about your boss?” she asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “Duarte is my middle name. My surname is Velasquez.”
She just gaped at him. She was absolutely without words. “You know who I am, but you brought me here and treated me. Am I a hostage?” she asked. “Are you going to trade me for somebody?”
“I would not harm a hair on your head for any profit,” hesaid gently. “You are too rare a person. No, actually, at the moment I am doing a favor for a cousin.” He turned to the young woman. “Elena, will you ask the gentlemen to come in, please?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
Velasquez turned his attention back to Josie. “You have more friends than you realize, it seems. On both sides of the law,” he added with a chuckle.
She was still processing that when two men walked in. One was her boss. The other was Rodrigo Ramirez from Jacobsville, Texas.
“Hello,” she said, unnerved.
“Smart move, what you did,” her boss said with a grin. “You did us proud, Josie!”
“Very proud,” Rodrigo said, and smiled. “We expected to be too late when Raines double-crossed his boss.”
“Fortunately, we were close by,” Velasquez said, rising to exchange an embrace with Rodrigo. “And even more fortunate, my cousin here knows his way around official channels.” He grinned at Rodrigo, who chuckled.
“You’re cousins?” Josie exclaimed.
“Yes, our grandmothers were sisters,” Rodrigo said.
“And we were always close, despite our opposite views on how to make a living,” Velasquez chuckled. “At least, I have to make one. He—” he indicated Rodrigo “—has the worth of a small European country, but he works for wages.” He sounded disgusted.
“I wouldn’t be happy sailing around the world on a yacht,” Rodrigo said easily. “Besides, my wife works. And our son thinks he might like to work for the agency when he grows up.”
“More American feds to make my life a misery.” Velasquez grinned.
“Unlikely that any of us could do that,” Rodrigo replied. “Besides which you’re a very bad drug lord. You make too many friends.”
He just shrugged.
“What about Vega?” Josie asked. “And what about the purebred calves that Raines had put drugs into?”
“The calves have already arrived,” Velasquez assured her, “and they are being cared for by my own vet. We only lost one.” He sighed. “As for Vega, he continues to be a thorn in my side.”
“We have plans for him.”
“Into which I see myself being sadly involved,” Velasquez said with a glance at Rodrigo.
“Of course. We’re cousins. We have to help each other, don’t we?”
Velasquez glared at him. “Your idea of help is extreme.”
He just shrugged and smiled.
“When can I go home?” Josie asked.
“When you’re better,” Velasquez said. “They tell me that you live in an apartment in Dallas and that you have no family or close friends. Here, you are safe and I have a doctor on call and even an infirmary. Nor can Vega approach you here.”
“He’s right,” Rodrigo said.
“The Everetts,” Josie said, her face falling. “They still think I’m a criminal.”
