Deceived by Stella Barcelona

a reward for solid information. Not bullshit. Something that leads to the trigger man.”
    Marvin nodded, as Boy barked in the front yard. He put the envelopes down, picked up his Uzi, and was still a minute. Brandon held his breath, listening as the barking stopped. Marvin’s cell phone rang. He answered it, then laughed. He ended the call. “Fucking cat,” he explained, as Marvin’s wife, Maria, and their young daughter, Anna Maria, entered the living room. They were olive-complected, with long dark hair and dark eyes. Maria rolled a black suitcase, while Anna Maria, a miniature, five-year-old replica of her mother, rolled a small pink suitcase. Brandon had met them before. He told them hello, and introduced Taylor. Anna Maria had a long ponytail, with a big pink satin bow with chartreuse polka dots. She wore pink pajamas, with bright green trim.
    Anna Maria glanced at Brandon and Taylor, then scooted to her father, who bent and lifted her with his free arm. Aww hell, Brandon thought, as he got an eye full of the beautiful child in Marvin’s arm and the Uzi that Marvin held in his other hand. This wouldn’t sit well with Taylor. Anna Maria pressed her face into her father’s chest, then turned back to gaze at Taylor, to whom Anna Maria whispered, “You’re pretty.”
    “Thank you,” Taylor said. She was pale. Brandon could see that her hands were shaking, yet she managed to focus on Anna Maria and give the child a smile. “So are you. I bet that you’re a smart little girl, too.”
    The little girl beamed. “Anna Maria Paquin is my name. I can spell, too. P-a-q-u-i-n.”
    “That’s very, very good,” Taylor said.
    “I can spell dog too. D-o-g.”
    “That’s great.”
    Anna Maria rested her head on her father’s chest, while her gaze stayed on Taylor. Brandon stared at the young girl, the big man, the pink satin bow, and the Uzi that seemed like it was as much a part of Marvin as his hand.
    Damn it.
    He glanced at Taylor. She had kept her voice steady when she spoke, but she was so pale that she looked like a wax mannequin of herself. She glanced at Brandon. Her hazel-green eyes were wide, her expression was blank. She lifted a shaking hand to smooth her already-perfect hair. Jesus. He had to get her out of there.
    “Anna Maria,” Maria said, “kiss your daddy.” The girl obliged. “We gotta go.”
    Maria kissed her husband on the cheek, then took her daughter’s hand as Marvin stooped and steadied Anna Maria on the ground. The child broke free from her mother’s grasp and ran to Girl and her puppies.
    Brandon said, “We’re going.”
    Marvin nodded. “Wait.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, made a call, and asked, “Clear?” He broke the connection and nodded to Brandon. “You’re good. I’ll be in touch in the morning, or sooner,” he said to Brandon, “let you know what I figure out.” Marvin walked out with them, with Maria and Anna Maria at his side.
    Brandon guided Taylor by the elbow to the passenger side of the car, then opened the door. She sat without a word. He hesitated, waiting for a question, like what the hell were you thinking, taking me to a place like that? If not that, he expected a retort, a sharp, sarcastic comment like Gee, thanks, Brandon, for that lesson. I really needed that.
    Taylor stayed silent, though, and glanced at him with pained eyes as he shut her door. He walked around to the driver’s side. Once again, in the confined space, he became aware of the lush scent of her expensive perfume. It wasn’t overpowering, and that was the problem. He wished that he didn’t like it, but it was delicious, a subtle siren song that vaporized her into his thoughts. He started the car and lowered his window for outside air. He didn’t want to be distracted. He drove away from Marvin’s, past Black-Eyed Jack’s, and stopped at a red light. Her gaze was fixed on a distant point. Her jaw was set, but he detected a slight tremble in her lower lip, and her