recognized they reflected Nate's underlying fear. "The doctor said ten minutes."
She stood. Leaning close, she smiled, but the sparkle in her eyes Ty had grown to like was gone. "Nate's right. Visiting hours for intensive care are over. We'll talk more later."
ICU? How serious was the injury? Ty opened his mouth to argue but found himself alone. He wanted to talk. But talking made his body hurt and his eyelids heavy.
He needed to know what was being done to stop Ortega. Too bad his body had other plans. He felt himself being sucked into the darkness.
****
"You saw the news?" Manny sank his teeth into the meat of the lemon, sucking the juice into his mouth. He tossed the useless rind on the table and reached for his glass.
" Si, jefe ." Carlo Medina sat relaxed in his chair as if he thought Manny wouldn't kill him in public. "It is unfortunate that so many died."
Manny waved a fly away from the table. He cared little about the villagers or his men who'd died tracking the woman. He battled back irritation. Loyalty to this man who'd helped his father teach him the business had worn thin. Maybe age had weakened Carlo's resolve. A few years ago, he'd have stalked the responsible parties to the ends of the earth, leaving a bloody trail of death behind him. Today he made lame excuses.
"You misunderstand. I'd hoped to hear news of Ana Cisneros. Where is she? And where is her protector?" He ran his fingers down the sharp crease on his slacks. "I lost millions of dollars in salable merchandise. If I can't produce, my customers will turn to another supplier. Why do I feel no one understands my need for retribution?"
"You are not alone. It's horrible what happened to your business, jefe ." Carlo signaled for the waitress. "Your money has brought reliable information. I have learned that the United States and our government collaborated on the destruction of your compound. The woman fled to America. Names and locations of all involved are coming." His gaze constantly shifted. "Do you still want the woman alive?"
Manny shook his head in disgust. As much as he wanted the pleasure of killing her, he didn't expect the woman to be captured and brought back to Colombia alive. "If you figure a way to lure her back, I will be pleased. If not, I want them both dead."
"Consider it done. I will personally deliver them or bring the ears of the Cisneros woman and her American protector to you."
Carlo smelled of fear, and it pleased Manny. "Make sure you do."
" Hago el voto ," Carlo swore vehemently, reverting to his native tongue.
"Don't make vows you can't keep."
****
Thirty years old and Ana Maria Vega Cisneros had no country. Forced to leave Colombia. Expected to turn her back and never return. Her own government didn't want her, fearing the retaliation from the Ortega cartel would continue.
Rumors of a sizable bounty for her life had spread like hot lava rushing down the side of a mountain. Of course, if her leaving saved lives, it was the right thing to do. Didn't make the pain hurt any less. The feeling of loss overwhelmed her. Sickened her soul.
She pressed her cheek against the small window pane, straining to see even a remnant of her native country. Blinking hard to prevent the flood of tears threatening to fall, she stared, frantically taking mental snapshots, as the Airbus continued its ascent.
Next stop, Miami. After that? Would she really wind up in Texas? Who knew? If the American government had a plan, no one had shared it with her.
A hand touched her arm, reminding her that she had an escort.
"You okay?" Jack Fury released his seat belt and leaned closer.
"How would you feel if you could never return to your homeland?" Her words sounded bitter, which suited her fine because they tasted sour.
"Like shit." He nodded, apparently understanding a little of what she was going through.
At least he hadn't lied to her. "I appreciate your honesty."
"I get you're scared. Trust me when I say, you won't be dumped on
She stood. Leaning close, she smiled, but the sparkle in her eyes Ty had grown to like was gone. "Nate's right. Visiting hours for intensive care are over. We'll talk more later."
ICU? How serious was the injury? Ty opened his mouth to argue but found himself alone. He wanted to talk. But talking made his body hurt and his eyelids heavy.
He needed to know what was being done to stop Ortega. Too bad his body had other plans. He felt himself being sucked into the darkness.
****
"You saw the news?" Manny sank his teeth into the meat of the lemon, sucking the juice into his mouth. He tossed the useless rind on the table and reached for his glass.
" Si, jefe ." Carlo Medina sat relaxed in his chair as if he thought Manny wouldn't kill him in public. "It is unfortunate that so many died."
Manny waved a fly away from the table. He cared little about the villagers or his men who'd died tracking the woman. He battled back irritation. Loyalty to this man who'd helped his father teach him the business had worn thin. Maybe age had weakened Carlo's resolve. A few years ago, he'd have stalked the responsible parties to the ends of the earth, leaving a bloody trail of death behind him. Today he made lame excuses.
"You misunderstand. I'd hoped to hear news of Ana Cisneros. Where is she? And where is her protector?" He ran his fingers down the sharp crease on his slacks. "I lost millions of dollars in salable merchandise. If I can't produce, my customers will turn to another supplier. Why do I feel no one understands my need for retribution?"
"You are not alone. It's horrible what happened to your business, jefe ." Carlo signaled for the waitress. "Your money has brought reliable information. I have learned that the United States and our government collaborated on the destruction of your compound. The woman fled to America. Names and locations of all involved are coming." His gaze constantly shifted. "Do you still want the woman alive?"
Manny shook his head in disgust. As much as he wanted the pleasure of killing her, he didn't expect the woman to be captured and brought back to Colombia alive. "If you figure a way to lure her back, I will be pleased. If not, I want them both dead."
"Consider it done. I will personally deliver them or bring the ears of the Cisneros woman and her American protector to you."
Carlo smelled of fear, and it pleased Manny. "Make sure you do."
" Hago el voto ," Carlo swore vehemently, reverting to his native tongue.
"Don't make vows you can't keep."
****
Thirty years old and Ana Maria Vega Cisneros had no country. Forced to leave Colombia. Expected to turn her back and never return. Her own government didn't want her, fearing the retaliation from the Ortega cartel would continue.
Rumors of a sizable bounty for her life had spread like hot lava rushing down the side of a mountain. Of course, if her leaving saved lives, it was the right thing to do. Didn't make the pain hurt any less. The feeling of loss overwhelmed her. Sickened her soul.
She pressed her cheek against the small window pane, straining to see even a remnant of her native country. Blinking hard to prevent the flood of tears threatening to fall, she stared, frantically taking mental snapshots, as the Airbus continued its ascent.
Next stop, Miami. After that? Would she really wind up in Texas? Who knew? If the American government had a plan, no one had shared it with her.
A hand touched her arm, reminding her that she had an escort.
"You okay?" Jack Fury released his seat belt and leaned closer.
"How would you feel if you could never return to your homeland?" Her words sounded bitter, which suited her fine because they tasted sour.
"Like shit." He nodded, apparently understanding a little of what she was going through.
At least he hadn't lied to her. "I appreciate your honesty."
"I get you're scared. Trust me when I say, you won't be dumped on
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