I checked my watch again, cursing under my breath as I pounded my fist on the door for the third time. “Adriana, this isn’t a damn vacation. Get your ass up and get dressed. We still have a three-hour drive to Guadalajara.”
Silence.
Propping my free hand against the doorframe, I pressed my thumb against my temple, trying to ward off the headache brewing behind my eyes. Most of it stemmed from irritation from Adriana’s stubbornness. However, spending the night wide awake while jerking my dick raw didn’t help my mood.
I pounded again. “Adriana, open the door, or I’m leaving your ass here.”
Lie.
There was no way in hell I’d walk my ass into Muñoz territory without her by my side. I had a reckless streak, not a death wish. Still, I had the keys and a drug house in the middle of Mexico was the last place I assumed she’d want to be stranded.
Threats had a fifty-fifty payout, but I was getting antsy.
Silence.
“Fuck this.” Planting one foot on the floor, I grasped the doorframe and pushed my heel out. I let out a grunt as my foot thrust against the flimsy wood. Once, it rattled. Twice, the center bulged. On the third kick, the hinges tore away from the wall, sending the whole damn thing crashing inward. As I stepped inside the tiny room, it took me a minute to realize what I saw.
And then I got pissed.
Adriana lay curled into a little ball on the dirty mattress, her knees tucked into her chest and her arms crossed low around her waist. Her long hair hung like a blanket over her face, but I had no doubt she was still asleep.
My entire life was on the line and she slept like a baby.
I sank the toe of my shoe in her ass cheek. “Adriana, if you don’t get up in the next five seconds, I’m dragging you off that mattress by your feet.”
She didn’t move. In fact, as still as she was, it didn’t look like she was even breathing.
Fuck.
Blind instinct brought me to my knees next to her, my hand pressed against her back. I held my own breath until I felt the shallow rise of hers, rattled, but steady. My head dropped back in relief, and I sank onto the mattress next to her. “Jesus, Carrera.”
My unguarded relief confused me. It wasn’t like I wanted her dead, but the fear that shot through me in those few seconds unnerved me. The conflict sparked a wave of anger in me I never saw coming, and my fingers dug in between her ribs.
“Brody?”
I had no idea if it was the confused, fragile look in her dark eyes that did it, or if it was the gray tint of her skin, but the need to lash out diffused. It was only when her eyes creased in pain, that I realized how hard I still gripped her. Snapping my arm back, I ran my hand through my hair, tugging hard at the strands.
“You wouldn’t wake up.” Clearing my throat, I scratched the back of my head and stared through the destroyed doorway. “I called you four times.”
“I’m tired.”
“Yeah, well, take a number, princesa. We all are,” I huffed, wincing as the words left my mouth. I knew I was being a dick.
Adriana groaned behind me. “I just don’t feel so good. Must be the scotch.”
“You didn’t drink any,” I muttered. When she didn’t answer, I risked a glance over my shoulder, noticing she now sat hugging her knees against her chest. “You poured your shot down the sink remember?”
Her gray skin flushed a bright pink. “Right.”
“Yeah, right,” I echoed.
I didn’t have to elaborate. I could tell by the way her breath hitched that she was thinking about what happened after that. I had no doubt we’d send each other straight to hell, but if last night was any indication of what was to come, the ride would be worth the fall.
I climbed to my feet before I started the descent right here. “Get dressed. We have to get on the road if we want to be in Guadalajara by noon.”
Offering me a quick nod, she tightened her arms around her middle and grimaced. “I’ll take a quick shower. I’ll be ten minutes.”
I raised an eyebrow. She sure looked hungover. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
Forcing a smile, she tossed out a weak excuse. “I’m just hungry. Once we stop for breakfast, I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t buy the smile or the excuse, but I didn’t push it. I turned to leave when my eye landed on her dingy army green bag lying on the floor. I didn’t even remember her bringing the damn thing. Jesus, like one packed suitcase wasn’t enough? We were cartel runners on an intel mission, not rock stars on a world tour.
Fucking women.
Grumbling, I grabbed it off the floor. “I’ll take this to the car.”
“No!” I didn’t even have time to react before Adriana launched herself off the mattress and ripped the bag out of my hands. Stepping back, I eyed her suspiciously, and she offered me another fake grin. “I mean, I need that. Girl stuff.” Climbing to her feet, she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her, leaving me with a whole lot of questions and no answers.
Like the line of bullshit she just tried to sell me.
That woman rode my hand like she was on the final straightaway at the Kentucky Derby, came like a tsunami, then watched me lick it off my fingers like it was goddamn candy.
Girl stuff, my ass.
She was lying, and I’d find out why.
I didn’t have the highest conviction rate in Texas for nothing.
Chapter Twenty-One
Adriana
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Besides the crackling static from useless radio stations, Brody and I spent the first hour and a half of the drive to Guadalajara in complete silence. Since the last twenty-four hours spun on a continuous loop in my head, I couldn’t decide if I was grateful for it or unnerved by it.
I was grateful he didn’t care to analyze and dissect what happened between us. And what happened was that everything had turned upside down. Layers of skin were shedding, and I felt more exposed sitting in this car than when I hung half-naked from the rafters of a warehouse.
I came to Houston with a plan. Everything so far had fallen into place. Box after box checked off as if I’d bound everyone to marionette strings. I made them move. I made them dance. Then I somehow twisted the strings.
However, I was unsettled because last night should never have happened. As confident as I was playing the seductress, I’d never found myself so entangled in a web that I couldn’t walk away. But the minute Brody touched me, not only was I entangled in his web, I wanted to be his prey. Breathlessly waiting to be devoured inch by inch.
In one weak moment, the tables turned, and I found my wrists bound by wires and dancing to his command. My body was his to manipulate and his to control. My lips called out his name both pleading for mercy until I shattered into irreparable pieces.
And the worst part of it all?
I wanted more.
If he hadn’t walked away, I would’ve handed over something he hadn’t earned, and would never deserve.
The more I thought about it, the more claustrophobic I got. Passing cars became a swirl of blurred colors, and my vision darkened. I gripped the edge of my seat, a thin layer of sweat beading across my top lip.
I had to get out of this car.