might be useful. Looks like the boss was ready to collect.
The boss —
Wiry gray hair. Penetrating green eyes and a hard jaw—D.B. saw himself in a chair, heard a man speaking.
You sure you want to take this job?
Job…
The memory fell away and he shook his head.
A job.
He’d been working a job.
“He’s got a job for you, ghost.”
D.B. ignored the name. They’d called him the ghost for weeks. Because you slip in and out of places and nobody sees you .
“Any idea what it is?”
Hector shrugged. “I’m just his money man. He doesn’t share.”
There was a flicker in Hector’s gaze, though.
Something that spoke of nerves.
D.B. tended to handle Luis—and his men—with a modicum of caution and a hell of lot of suspicion. That faint glimmer of fear in Hector’s eyes did nothing to allay D.B. either.
“What’s up?” he asked softly.
A thin smile twisted Hector’s lips and he lifted one skinny shoulder. “Not your concern, my friend. Not your concern.”
D.B. found himself in Luis’ cell —what a joke.
It wasn’t palatial or anything the man would choose outside this prison, of that, D.B. had no doubt. But there was a bar stocked with booze, a big screen T.V., a long, low sofa that looked like a custom piece and when D.B. entered, Luis was sharing a glass of wine with a woman so beautiful, she could make a man’s teeth—and cock—ache.
Looking away from her, he focused on Luis. “I heard you wanted to speak with me,” he said, automatically speaking Spanish.
Luis understood and spoke English, but he rarely chose to use it.
Because he understood the pecking order, D.B. did the smart thing.
“Yes, yes, my friend. Come. Sit.” He swatted the woman on the thigh. “Give us some privacy.”
With a lazy smile, she rose, her eyes lingering on D.B. as she walked by.
“I think she likes you,” Luis said, lifting a black brow as the woman left, leaving Hector, D.B. and Luis alone. “Perhaps after our business is resolved, I can let you have her.”
“I’m good.” D.B. stood waiting, hands at his side. He knew he looked relaxed. In reality, he was tighter than a bowstring.
Luis didn’t look surprised. A smile curved his lips. Leaning back in his chair, he lifted his wine and took another sip. “I watch you, you know. Even before you…” Luis made a gesture toward his brow, indicating the fading red scar D.B. now carried. “You’re strong. Fast. Clever. You kill without hesitation but you only do it when you must.”
“I like breathing.” D.B. didn’t like the way this conversation was going.
With a low chuckle, Luis nodded. “A wise man.” He put down the wine glass and linked his hands over his flat belly. “You are aware that you live because of my men. After you were injured, you were brought to us and I was asked to allow you to be cared for.”
“Yes.”
“It is time you repay me for my kindness.” The words were delivered in a genial tone, but Luis’ eyes were hard.
“What did you have in mind?” D.B.’s gut was twisting hard and viciously now.
“Nothing a man of your skills can’t handle.” Luis waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve recently been made aware of a…mole? I believe that is the phrase you Americans would use. I have a mole among my people. Now…” he leaned forward. “I am used to having moles. I have moles among my competition. But this one…he has made me angry. He’s working for your government.”
As his blood turned to ice, D.B. fought and won the battle to keep his voice steady. “Sounds like a fool.”
“Yes.” Luis’ lids drooped. “A fool.”
He didn’t…? D.B. wracked his brain. He didn’t work for the government, did he? No, he didn’t think he did. He had —
Another flash of memory had him closing his eyes. A hot desert wind, two men at his side, all of them laughing. The uniforms were dusty and their faces tanned dark by the relentless sun.
Yeah. Yeah he had worked for the government. He’d been a
The boss —
Wiry gray hair. Penetrating green eyes and a hard jaw—D.B. saw himself in a chair, heard a man speaking.
You sure you want to take this job?
Job…
The memory fell away and he shook his head.
A job.
He’d been working a job.
“He’s got a job for you, ghost.”
D.B. ignored the name. They’d called him the ghost for weeks. Because you slip in and out of places and nobody sees you .
“Any idea what it is?”
Hector shrugged. “I’m just his money man. He doesn’t share.”
There was a flicker in Hector’s gaze, though.
Something that spoke of nerves.
D.B. tended to handle Luis—and his men—with a modicum of caution and a hell of lot of suspicion. That faint glimmer of fear in Hector’s eyes did nothing to allay D.B. either.
“What’s up?” he asked softly.
A thin smile twisted Hector’s lips and he lifted one skinny shoulder. “Not your concern, my friend. Not your concern.”
D.B. found himself in Luis’ cell —what a joke.
It wasn’t palatial or anything the man would choose outside this prison, of that, D.B. had no doubt. But there was a bar stocked with booze, a big screen T.V., a long, low sofa that looked like a custom piece and when D.B. entered, Luis was sharing a glass of wine with a woman so beautiful, she could make a man’s teeth—and cock—ache.
Looking away from her, he focused on Luis. “I heard you wanted to speak with me,” he said, automatically speaking Spanish.
Luis understood and spoke English, but he rarely chose to use it.
Because he understood the pecking order, D.B. did the smart thing.
“Yes, yes, my friend. Come. Sit.” He swatted the woman on the thigh. “Give us some privacy.”
With a lazy smile, she rose, her eyes lingering on D.B. as she walked by.
“I think she likes you,” Luis said, lifting a black brow as the woman left, leaving Hector, D.B. and Luis alone. “Perhaps after our business is resolved, I can let you have her.”
“I’m good.” D.B. stood waiting, hands at his side. He knew he looked relaxed. In reality, he was tighter than a bowstring.
Luis didn’t look surprised. A smile curved his lips. Leaning back in his chair, he lifted his wine and took another sip. “I watch you, you know. Even before you…” Luis made a gesture toward his brow, indicating the fading red scar D.B. now carried. “You’re strong. Fast. Clever. You kill without hesitation but you only do it when you must.”
“I like breathing.” D.B. didn’t like the way this conversation was going.
With a low chuckle, Luis nodded. “A wise man.” He put down the wine glass and linked his hands over his flat belly. “You are aware that you live because of my men. After you were injured, you were brought to us and I was asked to allow you to be cared for.”
“Yes.”
“It is time you repay me for my kindness.” The words were delivered in a genial tone, but Luis’ eyes were hard.
“What did you have in mind?” D.B.’s gut was twisting hard and viciously now.
“Nothing a man of your skills can’t handle.” Luis waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve recently been made aware of a…mole? I believe that is the phrase you Americans would use. I have a mole among my people. Now…” he leaned forward. “I am used to having moles. I have moles among my competition. But this one…he has made me angry. He’s working for your government.”
As his blood turned to ice, D.B. fought and won the battle to keep his voice steady. “Sounds like a fool.”
“Yes.” Luis’ lids drooped. “A fool.”
He didn’t…? D.B. wracked his brain. He didn’t work for the government, did he? No, he didn’t think he did. He had —
Another flash of memory had him closing his eyes. A hot desert wind, two men at his side, all of them laughing. The uniforms were dusty and their faces tanned dark by the relentless sun.
Yeah. Yeah he had worked for the government. He’d been a
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