Cruz
Blinding pain pierced my skull as I tried unsuccessfully to peel open my eyes and take in my surroundings. My head was foggy, probably from the loss of blood, the repetitive head blows, and dehydration. I wasn’t ready for another round with Juan Carlos or Chavez, so I barely opened one eye to take in where they’d put me.
It felt as if I was on a bed, and I was definitely not chained to the ceiling in the basement. And I didn’t smell the foul odors of blood or urine. Where the hell was I?
“You’re awake.”
That definitely wasn’t the voice of Alvaro or Chavez.
“Levi?”
“Hey, man, I was wondering when you’d wake up.”
“How long have I been out?”
“About two days.”
Two days. Forty-eight hours of my life that I would never get back. I jerked to an upright position, fear inching along my spine. “Lydia!” The pain from moving too fast nearly doubled me over, nausea swirling in my gut. I leaned back against the pillow, trying to mitigate the pain and dizziness.
“Whoa, there. She’s fine. And you’re going to be fine, too, thanks to her.”
Bits and pieces of what had happened began to piece together in my mind. Waking up to find her beautiful face inches from mine. Chavez crumpling to the floor under her touch. An explosion and being pulled through a massive hole in the wall surrounding Chavez’s Miami compound.
“I need to see her.”
“In a minute. You should have told me that you had a connection with her. I never would have sent you in.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“You could have both been killed.”
“But we weren’t.”
“Cruz—”
I lifted a hand. He did have a point. “You’re right. I should have told you. I honestly didn’t think she’d recognize me. I underestimated her. I can promise you, I won’t do that again.”
“How did she figure it out? I mean, you could clearly pass for Lorenzo’s brother, but the changes are stark enough that, coupled with the news of your death, it should have been enough to keep her from guessing the truth.”
“She just knows me better than I thought, I guess.”
Levi shook his head, scratching his hand over a couple days’ beard growth.
“How’d she get you out of there? She’s only told us that she managed.”
“Some kind of Krav Maga voodoo magic, I think. She hit a pressure point near his neck, and he was lights out.”
“Damn impressive. And pretty hot.”
A low growl purred in my throat, shocking even me. Levi grinned, his pearly whites on full display.
“Oh, so it’s like that. I see.”
“It’s not like anything.”
“Don’t BS me.”
“Okay, fine. I don’t know what it is.”
“That… I believe.”
I slowly lifted up to a sitting position, the pain in my ribs so intense I was sure I’d throw up at any moment. That certainly wouldn’t feel good.
“So, what’s the damage?”
“Broken rib—the others are badly bruised. You may have a crack in your cheekbone, but without an x-ray it’s hard to say. The doc who came by to treat you straightened your broken nose. Won’t be so picture-perfect now.”
He nodded towards me, his arms crossed over his chest. Feigning nonchalance, I knew. It must be pretty bad if Levi was uncomfortable.
“Other than that, your back is a mess from what I’m assuming was a brutal flogging, and you’ll have bruises for weeks, but you’re one lucky SOB.”
I was lucky. Lucky that Lydia had found a way to get us out of there. Lucky she remembered where I kept my valuables. Lucky she cared enough to save my life. I knew I’d have to face the music for lying to her about my death and about my purpose for being in Chavez’s employ. I just hoped she’d forgive me.
“Brass knuckles have a tendency to do significant damage. And Juan Carlos is a master with a whip.”
“Geez, man.”
“They had a tray full of goodies lined up and ready to go, but Lydia got me out of there before they let Santiago loose on me with his knife and playthings.”
Levi placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Glad you’re okay, man.”
“Me too.”
We sat in silence for a few moments, and I had no doubt we were both thinking the same thing. The situation could have ended a lot differently. I could have been killed. Lydia could have been killed.
“I need to talk to Ryder.” I suddenly remembered the listening devices I’d planted before Santiago had found me in the library.
Levi took out his phone and dialed the number to headquarters, then handed it to me.
“Blake.”
“Hey, man.”
“Cruz, dude. Good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too. Listen, I was able to get some devices planted at Chavez’s house. In his office and the library. Are they online yet?”
“Yeah, I saw them blink to life right after you must have turned them on. I’ve got recordings already. I can send them to you and see if you recognize any names or hear anything concerning.”
“Excellent. Thanks. Oh, and any word on Los Caballeros?”
Put him on speaker, Levi mouthed.
“Putting you on speaker, man. Levi’s here too.”
I switched the audio over and placed the phone on the bed beside me.
“Whoever they are, they are super-secretive. All I can find out is that they’re some sort of semi-religious organization run by a man who goes by El Vicar.”
“What is it with crime lords and their nicknames?” It always seemed like these guys had some sort of moniker they used. We did it all the time in the military, call names and such that we usually earned—and sometimes not in the most favorable way.
“Fear tactic, maybe?” I could hear Ryder’s fingers pounding away at the keys in the background.
“It’s like they think they’re supervillains or something. Anyway, Chavez kept asking me about my connection with Angel Rubio and Los Caballeros. Thought I was working with them somehow.”
“Very odd. I can’t find any information on the connection between Rubio, Los Caballeros, and Chavez. At least not yet.”
“Did you say Los Caballeros?”
My head swiveled to the door at the sound of her voice, and my eyes ate up the sight of her as if I was a man starving and had just been served a hearty steak.
“We did. Know of them?” Levi answered, since all I could do was stare at Lydia. Her long, brown hair was swept to the side and gathered in a tie next to her ear. Her caramel-brown eyes searched my face, looking for something, but I wasn’t sure what. It was almost as if she finally had permission to really look at me.
As if it pained her to see whatever she saw, she looked away and back to Levi.
“I’ve heard the name.”
“At Chavez’s house?” I had finally found my voice.
“Yes, and, well, there’s someone I think can help us.”
“Who is that?”
“Dante Munoz.”
“The notorious gang leader? The man who burns people alive if they cross him?”
“Yep. That one.”
“How the hell do you know him?” I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that Lydia would know Munoz personally enough to ask for a favor. The man was one of the most dangerous criminals out there. Next to Chavez, he was smalltime, but unlike Chavez, the gang leader seemed to lack any restraint in his proclivities.
“I worked inner-city, remember? Most of my patients were gang members or had some sort of ties to the gang community.”
“Why would he help you?” I knew Lydia wasn’t associated with the man romantically, but for a moment it was hard to remember. Not to mention, she had been engaged to Chavez. Albeit she was a prisoner, but her connections with gang leaders were making it damn hard to remember.
“I saved his son’s life. The day Chavez took me from the clinic. He owes me.” Her chin lifted in defiance, and I knew she was reading the momentary doubt that popped into my mind. I couldn’t help it, even if I knew it wasn’t true. She’d saved me. Risked her life for me. But her connections to the criminal world just kept mounting against her.
I opened my mouth to speak, although I wasn’t sure yet what I would even say, but Levi spoke first.
“If we get you a secure line, do you know how to reach him?”
Lydia nodded. “I’ll need access to my office, though. All of my contacts are there, since I don’t have my phone.”
“Can you access your database remotely?” Ryder’s voice sounded from the phone on the bed.
“I don’t think so. I don’t have any kind of app or anything on there that runs a remote connection.”
“But you have Wi-Fi connected to it?”
“Of course.”
“Leave it to me. Give me thirty minutes, and I’ll have you in.”
“Impressive.”
“That’s not all that’s impressive about me.” The flirtation and innuendo was clear in Ryder’s voice. I heard the growl sound in the room, realizing too late that it came from me.
Lydia smiled, giving me a saucy wink. “I look forward to meeting you, Ryder.”
“Once we get the number, you can contact Munoz and set up a meeting place. We’ll go with you, just to ensure there’s no funny business.” Levi directed his comment to Lydia, but his raised eyebrows were leveled at me.
“No. It just has to be me. He’ll never talk if he sees you guys there. You don’t exactly blend in with the background.”
“No way. You’re not going in alone.” I looked to Levi for confirmation. She’d be a sitting duck, and the rumors about what he did to women made my skin crawl. I wasn’t putting her in harm’s way. Not again.
Lydia glared at me, her hand going to her luscious hip.
“Fine. How about you guys wire me up and stay in the car?”
“No.” I wasn’t budging on this.
Levi looked as if he was considering it, so I did what I had to do.
“I’ll go with her. You guys can stay in the van.”
He shot me an amused grin, his gaze landing on my numerous wounds.
“You’re too banged-up, man. You need rest.”
“I’m fine.”
“You can’t even sit up without wincing in pain. And I saw the color green you turned minutes ago. You’re in no shape to go with her.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Levi shook his head, his whole demeanor saying he thought I was a fool. And maybe I was. But there was no way I was letting Lydia out of my sight again.
“We’ll see how you feel when it’s time to go. If you can get up and walk around without tossing your cookies, then it’s a deal.”
It didn’t make me happy that Lydia was putting herself in harm’s way. Again. But at least I’d be by her side.
“I’ll be in touch.” The line went dead with Ryder’s signoff, and the three of us sat in the silent room. Levi cleared his throat.
“I’ll just go check on Cade and Piper.” When he’d disappeared from the room, Lydia crossed over to the bed and sat on the edge. Her hand, as if on reflex, darted up to my face, then she pulled it away as if burned. I reached for it, and rested her palm on my cheek.
“I can’t believe it’s you.” Her voice was soft and husky and filled with emotion. Tears puddled in her eyes, and I wanted to draw her closer to me, but I knew she’d have reservations. She knew Lorenzo Gallos. She didn’t know Cruz Ortiz.
“It’s me.”
“I have so many questions.”
“I know. I’ll do my best to answer what I can.”
“Levi told me a little about you guys. You’re a private-security firm. You were undercover in Chavez’s organization.”
“Yes. I was there to gather intel so we can take out his organization. And the other part was to keep you safe.”
“Did you know I was there?”
I nodded. “I knew it was you. I just didn’t know if you were there of your own accord or if you were being kept against your will.”
“How could you think I’d willingly marry that monster?”
“It’s been a long time, Lydia. Once I saw you, I had a pretty good idea that you were a prisoner, especially after speaking with Chavez about my role as your ‘guard.’ I use that term loosely.”
She dropped her head, fiddling with her fingers in her lap. I knew she had more she wanted to say.
“Why?” The whispered word barely registered, and when she lifted her face, I caught the anger simmering just below the surface.
“I had to.”
“I mourned you, Lo—Cruz. I grieved for months. After losing my mother, too. I can’t believe you would do that to me.”
“It’s a long story, Lydia, but I didn’t have much choice. There are reasons I have to keep my identity a secret.”
“Reasons you can’t tell me about.”
“Not right now.”
Levi stuck his head in. “Hey, Ryder has the connection up to your database. You can use my computer.”
“Thanks.” She squeezed my hand and stood.
“Lydia?” As she turned to face me, I saw the emotions warring within her. The anger, the hurt, the relief.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
Levi stood by to let her pass, then brought me a laptop and headphones. “Everything okay?”
Shrugging, I took the offered computer and put it on my lap, booting it up. “It will be, I guess.”
“Give her time.”
I typed in my password and waited for my email to pop up. Ryder’s email with the recordings sat in the Inbox, and I clicked on it and opened the program.
“Want some help wading through these?”
“Sure.”
I turned the volume up and pressed play. Levi and I sat there for over an hour listening to conversations between Chavez, Alvaro, Domingo, and other thugs in his employ. Chavez yelled and screamed at everyone to “find the damn traitor and kill him.” That would be me, I guessed. He also had quite the colorful language regarding Lydia, too, and I knew we wouldn’t be able to stay in Miami long. They were actively searching for us, and in a city that had its pockets lined with Chavez’s money, we’d be sitting ducks.
After another hour of listening to Chavez rant about Rubio’s humiliating him, and the loss of control over the deal going down the following evening, although not the shipment I’d overheard Chavez talking to Rubio about, we finally had a pretty good idea of what Chavez had planned. We still knew very little about Los Caballeros, but if Lydia’s contact came through for us, maybe we’d have a little more to go on.
We had twenty-four hours to put a plan in motion. Levi left to get Cade and Piper, and then dialed Ryder and Oscar Cortada, putting them on speakerphone.
“Chavez is pissed that the Knights are running the show. From what we can tell, it sounds like this meeting tomorrow is a decoy. A ruse to put the Knights at ease and then move the next deal to Atlanta.” Levi jumped right in with the facts as we knew them.
“I thought his Atlanta compound was destroyed. Why would he bring it back here?” Oscar’s voice rang through the speakerphone, followed by Ryder’s explanation.
“His compound was, yes. But not his other properties. He has a warehouse on the outskirts of town. From what I’ve gathered, it seems he ships his smaller shipments to Miami and the larger ones to Atlanta, using the smaller Savannah port, and then stores them in his warehouses in Atlanta to be distributed. If we can take down his Atlanta facility and Chavez in the process, we end his reign of terror in the Southeast.”
“And what about Los Caballeros?” I couldn’t get them out of my mind. It just felt like something bigger was on its way.
“Let’s eat this elephant a bite at a time. We can tackle that problem when we have more information about who they are and what their role is.” Levi’s measured response was in stark contrast to his pacing in the room. He may believe it was the right move, but he didn’t like it any more than the rest of us.
“Roger that. So, recon tomorrow?” Cade asked, casually draping his arm around Piper and tugging her close.
Levi nodded. “Precisely. We go in; see what we can hear and find out. Ryder, I’ll send the plane for you and Oscar. Get down here so we can set this up right.”
“We’ll be there soon.” Ryder and Oscar ended the call just as Lydia peeked around the door.
“Hey, guys, I just got a call from Dante. It’s a go. Tonight at Havana Nights, in Little Havana. He said I should come alone.”
“Did you inform him you would not be alone?” The anger in my voice and also the resolve was hard to miss.
“I told him I was bringing my fiancé.” Her cheeks blushed a lovely shade of pink, and she hid her face, staring at the floor.
The silence in the room was heavy. Cade cleared his throat, and Piper grinned widely, like the cat who’d caught the canary. Levi shuffled his feet, and I looked at a space on the door next to Lydia’s head instead of at her. I assumed the whole team knew about my history with Lydia at that point.
“Good call.”
Relief spread across Lydia’s face, as if she’d been worried that playing her fiancé for the night would have upset me. “If I’d said boyfriend or friend, he would have balked at that. I had to go with something a bit more permanent.”
“Understood.” I tried to cover the emotion clogging my throat at the thought of Lydia being my future wife. It ripped me up inside to think about what could have been. Could we have had a future together had I not run off?
No, after that night, the night that everything changed, there was no way I’d have been able to offer her a life. At least not until much later. And that night was the catalyst that made me the man I was. I wasn’t good enough for her then. And even after years of trying to prove myself worthy, I knew I never would be.
“Piper and I will check out the surrounding area beforehand.” Cade’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I tried to get my mind back on the task at hand and not in the past.
“We probably won’t be able to get inside, but we can at least scope the area to be on the safe side.” Piper was still grinning, as if she loved how uncomfortable I was.
“Sounds good. We’ll be ready to roll.” Levi dismissed the team, including Lydia, and waited to speak until it was just him and me again.
“I want you to stay back tomorrow night. If things go south, you’re in too poor shape to help.”
“I’m fine. I will be fine.”
“Cruz…”
“Look, Levi, I’m a part of this. If I can’t pull my weight, I won’t go. But I swear, I can.”
Levi nodded. We trusted each other. Always had our teammates’ backs. There was nothing different about this. If I said I was ready, Levi trusted me to be so.
“Once this is done, we need to get you and Lydia back to Atlanta. They’ve got people scouring the city for you both. You won’t be safe here for long.”
“I’ll break the news to Lydia.”
“And I don’t think it’s good that you stay at HQ. We can’t afford to have our cover blown to pieces. Your best bet is your cabin on Lake Lanier. You can stay there until we have this thing under control.”
“Good idea.”
“It’s eleven a.m. If you’re really planning to go with Lydia tonight, you need to get up and move around. Take a shower. Get some food in you.”
“Did someone say food?” Lydia showed up at the door with a tray containing a sandwich cut into triangles, chips, and bottled water. She set it down on the nightstand next to the bed and turned to walk out.
“Thanks.”
She looked over one shoulder and winked.
“You need to get your strength up.”
When she’d left, Levi shook his head. “You’re so screwed.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s got you wrapped around her little finger. You should see the look on your face when she walks into the room. Must have been some kind of history.”
“Yeah, well.” I smiled, thinking about who Lydia had been all those years ago, and the woman she’d become.
“She’s some kind of woman.”