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I resisted the urge to flinch and nodded. Telling him I would never betray him was pointless. Benito had already made up his mind; it was up to me to show him that I was behind the family. And that Tex didn’t need to be killed. The latter was going to be a bit harder, but I’d do anything to prove it.

We continued to go over what we’d each found. I hadn’t found shit in the past week; too busy looking for Tex. I couldn’t tell Benito that, so I stayed silent. His unwavering gaze told me he already knew I hadn’t been doing my job.

When our meeting was done, I turned and hightailed it out of there. The tension was even getting to me. I normally thrived under it, but I was feeling out of sorts.

Stepping out of the office, I faced the blaring club music. It was full like always, even on a Thursday night. I leaned over the ledge and stared down at the sea of people.

Familiar blue eyes framed by thick black lashes caught my attention. A square jaw and lips I dreamt about had me taking the stairs down two at a time. I was on the floor, rushing through the crowd of people. Sweaty bodies pressed against me slowing me down as I headed for him.

The closer I got, the further away he ran. I chased after Tex wanting nothing more than to catch him. This time, I wouldn’t let him escape. The backdoor flung open, and a few seconds later, I ran out.

Instantly, I spotted the jacket he’d been wearing. My feet couldn’t carry me fast enough to him. I wanted to call out his name, but my mouth stayed shut. I grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.

“Shit, what the fuck, dude?” A stranger with a heart-shaped face and brown eyes stared back at me. A mouth that wasn’t Tex’s turned down in a frown. He jerked out of my hold. “Man, the hell is your problem?”

I knew what I saw. There was no way I was hallucinating. I grabbed the stranger before he could go anywhere.

“Where did you get this jacket?”

“What business is it of yours?”

I stepped closer and looked down at him. Either he saw his death in my face, or his instincts kicked in. The stranger’s body went stiff, and he broke eye contact.

“Some guy tossed it at me with some cash and said stay there.”

“Where did he go?” The desperation in my voice rang in my ears. I just needed to see Tex. No, that wasn’t true. I needed to hold him and keep him close.

“He ran across the street. I didn’t see which—”

I pressed hard against the pressure point in his shoulder. The stranger’s legs wobbled, and he let out a strangled cry. His hand reached up to wrap around my wrist, but I only applied more pressure.

“O-okay.”

“You’re wasting my time. Which way.”

He released my wrist with trembling fingers and pointed to the left. I let him go and ran. Cold air sawed in and out of my lungs. The burn was nothing compared to the steadily growing ache. I came to a stop at the street light and looked each way.

My heart was pounding, and my lungs burned. I searched each way, but there was no Tex. I pushed my fingers through my hair and tugged. In the place of the tumbling emotions crashing through me, one took control. The one emotion I understood above all.

Anger.

“If I can’t have you, then no one can.”