Page 4 of Hammer’s Fall

“Keep quiet just a little longer, chica, and we’ll be out of here. Once we’re in the truck we don’t have to worry so much about noise,” one of the men said. She kept going, following the man in front of her, the only one who had any light, and not much of that. The other three were behind her and it wasn’t like she could go anywhere. The tunnel was short enough she had to bend to keep her head from brushing the ceiling, she couldn’t imagine what it must be like for the men.

She’d known about several tunnels crossing the border, but had never been in one. She made her way along the rough floored tunnel and hoped this was one of the shorter tunnels. She didn’t know if she could walk like this for half a mile or more. Her lower back throbbed but no one else seemed to be having a problem so she kept her mouth shut and kept walking, kept focusing her breathing and trying to ignore how close the walls were.

Just as she was ready to tell them she needed a break and sit on the floor of the tunnel, the man in front of her straightened. He took a few more steps, stopping at the base of a narrow ladder and giving her enough room to follow him and stand upright. One by one they all made it into the tiny space and stood. It was a tight fit, but they managed it. No one spoke, so she followed suit.

The one who woke her took something out of a small niche carved into the wall about a foot over her head. A moment later a light told her it was a phone and he was powering it up. She expected him to make a call, but instead he hit the screen a few times. Maybe he was sending a text?

“It’s clear. Go on up.” The man with the phone said. The one who’d been in front of her started climbing. She went next and when she reached the top, the first man took her hand and helped her out. While they waited for the rest of the men, she looked around. It looked like they were in a kitchen, but not like any kitchen she’d ever been in. From the size, she would guess it was some restaurant, but everything was covered in a thick layer of dust, so she didn’t think whatever it was, was open anymore.

Once everyone had made it out of the hole in the floor, the men flipped the hinged door she hadn’t noticed in the dim light to cover the opening, then rolled some big rack over it. She guessed it was to keep anyone from noticing the door, though why they bothered, she didn’t know.

“Come on. Let’s get to the truck.” The man who woke her nodded toward where the other men were already headed away from them. Not having any other choice, she followed.

Chapter Five

Hammer shook his head as she stared at the tiny screen in his hands. How had the fucker hidden her? Not just from him but from the world?

“Tell me again what your father said before he left.” Hammer looked up at the woman who had done what he’d said and hadn’t uttered a word of complaint.

“He said he had a meeting in Juarez tomorrow.” She turned and looked at the clock on the dashboard. “Or today. Anyway,” she shook her head, then continued, “he said he wouldn’t be back for at least a week, maybe more. That’s all.” He glanced at the clock. It was a little after midnight, Not terribly late but obviously late for her.

“What kind of work does he do?” Hammer knew the answer to that, but he wanted to know if she did, or if she would try to lie to him about it.

“I don’t know. I know he’s not a good man. I know he deals with men like him, but what he does?” She shrugged. “I have no clue. He doesn’t talk to me about it or say anything around me. I don’t know if he knows I would use it against him or if he’s that careful with everyone.”

Hammer looked up at her and lifted one brow. “Use it against him?”

She sighed. “I hate my father. If I had any information I could use to get away from him or to put him in prison, I would.” She shrugged again. “It wouldn’t do much good. He has too many connections, on both sides of the law, to stay in prison long.”

Hammer frowned. This woman, Camila she’d said her name was, was nothing like he would have expected, had he even known she existed.

“Why?”

“I told you. He has too many connections.”

“No, not that. Why do you hate him?”

“Because he’s an evil man. He is cruel and thinks nothing of hurting or killing people who cross him.”

“He’s the one that gave you the bruises?” He scowled as he remembered the marks he’d seen while she dressed.

She frowned, appearing confused for a few seconds then seemed to remember. Her frown cleared but she looked away.

“Yes.”

He wanted to ask why, but something told him he wouldn’t like the answer and, while the truck was roomy by most standards, with six of them in the cab it was a little tight. He let the question go, for now. He’d find out later.

“Why haven’t you left?”

“Because I’m watched. He has men around the house to make sure I only go where I’m allowed. They follow me when I go out, and they report everything I do to him. When I misbehave, I am punished. Or worse, he punishes those I care about ... and makes me watch.”

“What will happen now that you’re gone?”

“Who knows? But with him not planning to be back for at least a week, at least Maria will have time to leave too. What did you do with his men?” She tilted her head as she turned back and watched him.

“We never encountered any.” Hammer looked at Vicious, “Did you?”

His brother shook his head.