Page 44 of Our Tricks

“So is it just impossible for us to have a normal day?” I asked, turning the kid over and patting him down. In his pocket was another round of ammo, all ready to go. He just had to drop the empty clip and shove in the new one. “Clearly, he was prepared to fight his way out.”

“Nate,” Cam called over his shoulder. “Is there an empty room nearby we can toss him into?”

“Ah…” Nate paused, chewing on his lower lip as he looked at the surrounding room. “Yeah, we had a patient get transferred to another section. It’s right over here.”

I grabbed one arm while Cam grabbed the other, then we dragged Mariana’s son past her room and into another. It was stripped down, waiting for someone else to occupy. “The bed… I want to tie him down so he can’t do anything stupid. Nate, do you have any safety tie-downs for us to use?”

“Give me a sec. I have to run to the supply room to get them,” Nate said and headed for the door.

“Wait,” Cam called after him, then tossed the gun when he looked back.

Nate caught it with ease and checked it over with practiced movements. “Got it, thanks.”

“Cam, do you have your cell?” I asked in a low voice. “We need to tell the guys what’s happening and where we are.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone but frowned. “I’ve got no signal.”

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I muttered as I paced the room. “This place is a secure facility with FBI, CIA, NSA, DEA, fuck it, all the letters, you get the point. So, of course, they would make sure no signals could get in or out of this place. These aren’t just your average recovering junkies and basket cases, they’re skilled.”

Walking over to the door, I tugged the handle but then realized it was locked. Letting out a scream, I slammed my fist on the door. “If Nate doesn’t come back to get us, I’m going to skin the bastard alive.”

“Is that what you did to my father?” a raspy voice asked.

Blowing out a breath, I inhaled slowly, trying to calm myself down so I didn’t wring this idiot’s motherfucking neck. He was young, stupid, and manipulated his whole life. Turning, I faced Alvaro who’d pushed himself up on his elbow.

“If you really want to know, I shot him in the head execution style, quick and painless,” I informed him. “Your father was a rat who needed to be put down. Really, you should be thanking me I only went after him, and didn’t plan to take out his whole family like other crime bosses would. Then again, you’re the one who was here to kill your mother, so why exactly are you pissed at me?”

His eyes went wide at my words. “I wasn’t here to kill my mother. Just the opposite, I’m here to break her out of here and get her somewhere safe.”

Chapter 17

Dax

Now it was my turn to give him a surprised look. “What was with the drugs and weapon?”

“I knew I was going to need to take out guards if I got caught, and the drugs were to knock Mom out. She hates small places, and I was going to put her in the food cart to roll her right out the back entrance,” Alvaro explained as he sat up and swung his feet over the edge of the bed. “This place isn’t safe. Franco is going to hunt her down… she knows too much.”

“You can’t take her from here, Alvaro. She needs help, and she’s finally getting the treatment that’s been needed for a long time,” Cam argued. “If you love your mother, then leave her here. Dr. Lowe is one of the best and does whatever it takes for her patients.”

Alvaro shoved to his feet with a frustrated growl. “You’re not listening to me. Franco is looking for her, and if I can get in this place, then so can he. It’s not as secure as they make you think it is.”

My gaze caught Cam’s, and I lifted a brow in question. Did we believe this kid was telling the truth? Was he really here to protect her?

Just as he was about to say something else, the door opened, and Nate stood there with the restraints in hand. “I found the—”

His body jerked twice, eyes going wide with fear, then he dropped to his knees before falling forward. Two bullet wounds bloomed with blood against the white fabric of his uniform. Diving out of the way, Cam and I positioned ourselves near the door now propped open by Nate’s body. The gun was tucked into the back of his pants, so I just needed to get to it without getting shot myself, preferably.

“Franco,” Alvaro whispered, diving out of the way of the door to plaster himself against the wall and sank to the floor. “We’re all going to die.”

“Cheerful one, isn’t he,” I muttered as I squatted.

Peering around the edge of the door, I heard the shuffling of feet and didn’t know if it was friend or foe. Seeing as Nate was now bleeding out on the floor, I was going to go with foe. Glancing once more, seeing the hall was clear for the moment, I snatched the gun from Nate and tossed it to Cam.

“Keep Alvaro alive, Cam. When we save his ass and his mother’s, I’m betting he’ll be more than happy to tell us anything we want to know,” I instructed as I slipped Nate’s keycard from the lanyard on his belt.

“What are you going to be doing?” Cam demanded.

I simply looked at him over my shoulder, holding his gaze. “You know what I’m going to do.”