Page 20 of Four Cards Exposed

“It’s for you. This is going to hurt like hell.”

“You can get started. I have a high pain tolerance.”

Mendoza shrugged. “It’s your skin. Just make sure you don’t move. I’m not a plastic surgeon.”

“I’m not too worried, as long as it stays closed. Or else, I won’t be able to fight next week.”

James closed his eyes, grateful when Mendoza got on with it. He had a confident, competent stitching technique.

His eyes were still closed when Susan stepped back into the room, but he could feel her presence. Finally, Mendoza moved back. “There. Done,” he said, looking pleased with himself.

Susan stood quietly in the corner. Her hands shook around the alcohol bottle she was carrying.

At that moment, Mendoza got a call. “Of course. I’ll be right there,” he said. “I have to go. You know how to make your way back upstairs?”

James nodded.

Mendoza turned to leave the room, stopping to address Susan. “Dale un trago, preciosa. Lo necesita.”

Moments later, they were alone.

“What did he say?”

Susan smiled gently. “He suggested you might need a drink. I’m sure there’s a glass here somewhere.”

James jumped off the table and moved towards her. “I don’t need a drink.”

Susan’s expression became somber. “Are you okay?”

He took the bottle from her shaking hands and set it on the table, then took hold of her arm.

She looked down at her arm as if his touch burned. He loosened his hold. The thought of causing her pain made him feel ill.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He blinked away the memory of her blistered hands when he’d found her pulling an unconscious Darryl out of a burning house. The scars were still there—lighter, but still there.

“You didn’t hurt me.” She licked her ruby red lips. “It’s just, this is the first time you touched me.”

It wasn’t. He’d picked her up as she’d fainted outside the burning house. But he wasn’t about to bring that up.

Susan looked around for cameras. He’d already done that himself, and didn’t think there were any, but they couldn’t be too careful.

“I’m Jay,” he said, taking a step back. It wouldn’t help him if she called him by his real name.

“Milena Rojas.”

James frowned. He’d thought of Susan when he’d seen pictures of the real Milena Rojas, but he’d never said anything. Clearly, he wasn’t the only one to have had that thought.

I’m going to kill Lorraine.

“What are you doing here?”

“Daniel Guerrero helped me get a job. He used to know my brother,” she said, staying in character.

“I don’t want you here,” he whispered.

“I don’t want you here either,” she said in a low voice. Her fingers grazed his forehead, her touch light as a feather. “You look so different.”

He leaned into her touch for an instant before stepping back.