CHAPTER NINE
As the sun rose high into the afternoon sky, the small group of four riders neared another pueblo. This one was much larger than the one they’d just left. There were at least five times as many buildings, some even three stories high.
Olivia had been uncomfortable entering Forgata, but this place made every hair on her body stand on end. They were Texans deep in Mexico with no one to help them or back them up.
If anything went wrong now, they would be dead. There was no doubt in her mind about that. Given the last twenty-four hours, she was prepared for just about anything, and yet her stomach burbled with fear. Not just for herself, but for Brody and for Benjy, wherever he was.
She had to be strong and that meant not showing fear. The town grew larger and larger as did her anxiety over exactly what Elena’s mother, Lucinda, was like. If she ran a brothel and a tavern, she must be smart, but Elena had had nothing to say about her mother. It added to her misgivings about the quiet beauty. Olivia’s mother was gone forever; Elena’s mother lived, yet she ignored her.
“We go straight to Lucinda’s, sí?” Rodrigo didn’t appear to actually be asking a question because he led the small party into the main street and toward the largest building.
This town reminded her of home; it was not so very different from where she would go every Saturday with Matt and the rest of their siblings. While the younger ones would play checkers, they would do their shopping, get supplies and conduct their business in town. Her throat tightened at the sight of three little girls playing on the side of the street, laughing and whooping as they ran in a circle. The reminder of her siblings, of safety and love hit like a mule kick.
The buildings were mostly of wood construction, with some adobe ones as well. There were a few wooden sidewalks, but not many. She expected it didn’t rain much in this dry land, therefore not much mud, and no need for sidewalks. A few people turned to look at them, then moved quickly away or averted their eyes. She knew it wasn’t because of the two gringos but because of Rodrigo. It appeared the young man with big dreams had already conquered part of the land he loved.
She’d been surprised to discover he was Texan, but chose to be a Mexican. There were so many haciendas scattered around southern Texas, owned by wealthy men who had made their money on the backs of others. She wondered if his father was such a man, or if Rodrigo had imagined him that way. It shouldn’t matter to her, but it seemed neither Rodrigo nor Elena knew a true family’s love and for that, she pitied them. The most important thing in the world to her was family.
They pulled up in front of a three-story building made of wood. Many of the boards were new, or had recently been replaced. There were at least eight windows and a terrace on the second floor. The sign had been painted in bright red letters, using bold strokes: LUCINDA’S.
It was an enormous building by anyone’s standards and to find it here in the middle of nowhere sent a chill up Olivia’s spine. How did Lucinda have so much money? Was the blood of innocents fueling the building of this place?
“Estamos aquí, amigos. Now that we are here, let us have a drink to quench our thirst.” Rodrigo dismounted and waited for the others to do the same. He tossed his reins to Elena. “Put them in the barn.”
Elena nodded and held out her hand to Brody and Olivia. The ranger took off his saddlebags and gave Elena his horse’s reins.
“She needs a good rubdown.” Olivia took her time dismounting and taking off her saddlebags. She didn’t care to hand over her mare to the woman but there was no choice. “And some feed if there is any.”
Silent still, Elena tugged the horses’ reins lightly until they started following her. She walked to the side of the building and disappeared. Whatever hold Rodrigo had over her, it was strong, very strong.
“Does she need help?” Brody scowled at the spot where she’d been. Olivia was curious why he cared enough to ask. That woman had tried to force both of them into having sex with her. She was definitely not a friend.
“No, Elena is very good at doing what I say.” Rodrigo gestured to the door, which had also been painted red. She’d never seen such a color or so much of it. “Bienvenidos a Lucinda’s.”
He opened the door and Olivia took a deep breath and stepped inside. The inside was plain, much to her surprise. There were a few tables here and there, with one old man sleeping at one, but there was no crowd of people, no brightly dressed loose women lounging about. She’d expected to see a great deal of debauchery and whiskey, but there was none. The place was almost empty.
She smelled a mixture of things, including a sweet, spicy aroma mixed with a musky overtone and another pungent odor, perhaps the old man. Beneath all of them, a dark scent lurked.
“Kind of quiet in here.” Brody glanced at the man and all around the room, as though memorizing it.
“It is siesta time, señor. People will come later.” Rodrigo walked toward a curtain at the back of the large room. “Follow me.”
Brody took her hand and squeezed it. She wouldn’t admit this to him, but it made her feel better. They had been together physically of course, but not like this, not in comfort. It meant a lot to her that he considered she needed a bit of reassurance right about then.
The curtain was a coarse brown material but well made and thick. Brody held it aside so she could walk into a huge kitchen. Lucinda’s was a restaurant?
An older woman stood at the stove frying something that smiled heavenly. She had thick silver hair braided down her back, reminding Olivia of Elena. Perhaps this was her mother.
“Mama.” Rodrigo came up behind the woman and kissed her cheek.
She turned and spread her arms wide. “Mi hijo!”
When he picked her up and spun her around, she squealed like a little girl. Olivia was surprised by the gesture, and it skewed her perception of the outlaw.
The woman spoke in rapid-fire Spanish as he set her down. Olivia followed some of it, but the dialect was unlike anything she knew. Then the older woman spotted the two of them in the kitchen and she stopped speaking. The woman was beautiful, strikingly so. Her skin had wrinkles but not a significant amount. Her cheekbones were high and pronounced, balanced by a strong jaw and chin. Her eyes were dark as pitch, and they stared with the sharpness of a dagger.
“¿Quien es los gringos?” Her voice had dropped to a quiet monotone. Of course she would question who they were, but her tone made Olivia tighten all over.
“Mis amigos, Stuart and Meredith.” He smiled at them. “They have come to do business, but first, we must eat.”
The woman stared at them for what felt like an exceptionally long time before she turned back to the stove. Olivia recognized that whoever this woman was, she held the power in this building. She was no ordinary cook or just someone’s mother. This had to be Lucinda.
Rodrigo hung his hat on a hook on the wall and gestured to the square table in the corner. Brody took off his hat and held it as they sat down. A charged silence filled the big kitchen.
Olivia folded her hands on the table and tried to appear casual. She’d darkened her skin to appear to be someone she wasn’t and at that table, she felt like someone else. Instead of being at home, safe and comfortable, she was in a strange place, dusty, scared and surrounded by strangers who could kill her for just being a gringa.
Brody was as still as a statue beside her, his gaze constantly roaming the room, yet landing on the woman and Rodrigo with regularity. He looked calm, but she wondered how he felt on the inside. She knew what he planned, but how could they possibly find out what they needed to know when only Rodrigo spoke to them? At least in his small place in Forgata, the barkeep had talked to her after he found out she spoke Spanish. Here, she was even more out of her element and afraid she didn’t know what to do.
Perhaps they would get a few moments alone so she could talk to Brody. The last thing she wanted to do was make a mistake since they were literally in the lion’s den.
The older woman brought a plate of steaming food and set it in front of Rodrigo with a fork.
“Mama, comida para todos.” His voice was gentle, another surprise, although he was ordering her to serve food to everyone.
“I don’t want to make her—”Olivia started to say.
The woman’s gaze snapped to Olivia’s, cutting her off in mid-sentence.
“You are in my house and I will decide what is done.” The woman spoke nearly perfect English with barely an accent. “You may be Rodrigo’s ‘friends’ but you are not mine.”
Olivia realized she’d offended the woman—just what she’d hoped not to do. “I apologize.”
The woman made a quick motion with her hand and turned back to the stove. Brody glanced at her and she tried to apologize with her eyes. He turned his attention back to the old woman and did not take his eyes off her again.
To Olivia’s surprise, Lucinda set down plates in front of the two of them. It was meat, peppers, onions on top of a big tortilla layered with beans. Not only did it smell delicious but after Olivia took her first bite, her tongue confirmed it was delicious and spicy. She groaned before she could stop herself.
“You like spicy food.”
“Sí, señora. I grew up eating it.” A full truth at last.
The old woman sat down across from her and watched as they ate. No matter the strange circumstance, Olivia was ravenous, and dug in with gusto.
“Why are you here?”
Olivia’s fork hung in mid-air and she set it down slowly before she dropped it. Brody set his down deliberately and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
“To do business.”
She steepled her fingers under her chin, her dark eyes sharp. “Rodrigo brings you so he must think you are a businessman.”
“I am a businessman. I’ve taken what I wanted and now I want more.” Brody had slipped into his cool ranger persona, unflappable and controlled.
“You wish to do business with me?” She narrowed her gaze.
“I wish to find a buyer to do business with. If that’s you, then yes.” He didn’t even blink as he spoke.
She turned to Rodrigo and spoke in that rapid-fire Spanish again. Olivia tried to follow the conversation but only picked up words here and there. After a few minutes of dialog with the outlaw, the woman got up and walked to the curtain. With one last probing look, she left the kitchen.
Olivia picked at her food while the men continued to eat as though nothing had happened. She wanted to know more about who this woman was, what Lucinda knew about the buyer and most important, if she knew where Benjy was. It wasn’t easy being patient when she was used to pushing until she got what she wanted.
“Are we leaving or staying?” Brody finally asked.
Rodrigo sipped at the glass of liquid the old woman had given him. It had a powerful enough scent that Olivia knew it was liquor but she had no idea what. It didn’t smell like whiskey.
“Staying. Mama wants to think about your offer. She does not go into business with everyone, señor. That would be stupid and she is very smart.” Rodrigo threw back the rest of the liquor and smacked his lips. “She has good tequila too.”
Tequila—that’s what he was drinking. Olivia did not want to know what it tasted like. Too much was riding on keeping a clear head. Although right about then, a stiff drink might’ve helped her nerves.
“Was that Lucinda?” Olivia couldn’t help asking.
Rodrigo smiled at her, looking almost boyish with his tousled black curls and wide grin. “Lo siento, amiga. Sí, she is my mama, Lucinda.”
“Wait, does that mean Elena is your sister?” Olivia wasn’t expecting that bit of news. Who treated their sister the way Rodrigo treated Elena? Like a slave born to serve him and commit salacious acts at his command. The very idea horrified Olivia.
“Sí, she is mi hermana.” Rodrigo’s smile faded. “I was born of the jefe of a big hacienda. Elena, she is a mongrel born of a vaquero’s lust for a woman who took his money.”
Olivia didn’t know how to respond. Not only had he confirmed the beautiful seductress was his sister, a disturbing piece of the puzzle that was Rodrigo, but his mother was Lucinda, who was apparently a whore. What a family life they had. It was apparent Rodrigo thought himself above his sister and treated her accordingly.
Brody kept on eating as though the information was of no import. She wanted to kick him and slap Rodrigo.
“Is there a place Meredith and I can take a siesta?” He asked as he scraped the last bite into his mouth.
Rodrigo’s grin wasn’t genuine this time. It was lascivious and dark. “Ah, time to ride your filly again, eh? I don’t blame you. I would fuck her as many times a day as I could.” Olivia knew if Brody wasn’t with her, Rodrigo would probably try to do just that. She promised herself never to be alone with the outlaw.
Brody didn’t respond to Rodrigo’s crude taunt. This time his silence aggravated Rodrigo, judging by the look on his face, which gave Olivia a certain measure of satisfaction. She wasn’t the only one annoyed by the taciturn ranger.
“Sí, I will put you in one of the rooms upstairs.” Rodrigo got to his feet. “I have my own business to do up there.”
Olivia wondered what lucky woman would be the recipient of Rodrigo’s business. Then again, she didn’t want to know. The man was as twisted up as any person she’d ever met.
They left the kitchen through a staircase in the back. The smell of the house changed from the warm, spicy foods to something entirely different. Sweet perfume, human body odor and again that underlying scent of something dark. She wondered if Rodrigo would be offended if she covered her nose.
Something lurked within this building, something that stayed in the shadows, keeping out of sight. She felt it, knew it was there, and was worried it would reach out and snatch away any chance they had to find Benjy. Olivia didn’t think she’d be closing her eyes for a siesta—her inner warning bells were ringing so loudly, her ears hurt.
Brody paced the small room, his boots too loud in the eerie quiet that had fallen over Lucinda’s building. The entire town seemed to take their siesta seriously. Olivia stood at the window, staring out onto the deserted street.
He needed to make a deal with Lucinda and find out exactly who her buyers were. Or at least enough information to track down Benjy Graham and the rest of the missing folks. He had to keep reminding himself that he wasn’t there just for Olivia. Although, she bossed him around enough one would think he was.
Brody expected some dark people to enter his life, but he hadn’t expected her. This situation had gotten so far out of hand now, he didn’t know how to stop it, or save them. He knew they were risking their lives, knew they were helpless and at the whim of a Mexican outlaw. A loco one at that. The man whored his sister, for God’s sake.
It chilled him to see just how little Rodrigo valued except for himself and the profit he could make. Brody suspected the buyer he was looking for was actually Rodrigo. The man delighted in playing word games and spinning things around until he made his opponents dizzy. Brody knew he was dangerous but didn’t think he’d seen the full extent of the threat just yet.
“What do we do now?” Olivia asked in a hushed voice. She turned to look at him, her beautiful blue-green eyes full of worry and fear. It was probably the first time he’d seen that particular emotion from the prickly rancher’s daughter and he didn’t like it. She needed fire and sass there, not fear. The weight of their situation weighed even more heavily on him.
“We wait. We are in their world now, Liv. If we go snooping around here, our bodies will never be found.” He didn’t want to be anything but frank with her now. There was too much at stake to tell half-truths.
She blinked rapidly but she didn’t flinch. “What do they do with the bodies?”
He didn’t expect the question. “Leave them for the vultures and critters probably.”
This time she did flinch. “Tell me what Elena said to you back in Forgata. Now.” Her normally demanding voice had shrunk to a shaky whisper.
Brody sat on the bed and patted the spot next to him. “Sit down and I’ll tell you.”
With reluctance in her step, she sat down beside him and crossed her arms. She might just as well have put up no trespassing signs.
“She recognized you. Well, your eyes anyway.”
Her expression exploded and the arms fell away. “She’s seen Benjy.”
He winced at the hope in her voice. “Yes, she said he’d been through here months earlier. He’d been difficult and kept calling for your mother and Eva. She said they’d taken him away with the others, but she remembered him. And she knew why you had come.”
“He was alive then, at least.” She pressed her hands to her eyes, her fingers trembling. “Is it good or bad that she recognized me?”
“Both I suppose. Elena now has information that can buy her favor from Rodrigo and Lucinda. But she also didn’t say anything, as far as I know, to her brother, and that could mean she might not.” Brody couldn’t read Elena. He needed to get her alone. “I need to talk to her again, but in the meantime, I want to set up a business arrangement with Rodrigo and his mother.”
Olivia blew out a breath. “What should I do?”
“Keep pretending to be my woman, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.” It was futile to tell her to be quiet, but he would at least try.
“I want to talk to Elena.” She took his hand and squeezed it, her palms damp. “Please, I have to.”
Brody knew there would be trouble if the two women were together, alone. “No, let me do that. You are too emotional about this. I’m here to do my job, not to rescue my little brother.”
“Please, Brody. I can’t do nothing.” She got up so fast, he almost fell sideways. “I have always pitched in, done what I could, haven’t I? I have to help.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“I helped in Rodrigo’s place. I distracted everyone so you could talk to him.” She crossed her arms again, frowning fiercely. “You are not my husband or my employer. I can do what I feel necessary.”
Brody got to his feet slowly, cool anger flowing through his veins. He stuck a finger in the air, inches from her. “You will not risk our lives because you can’t be patient. This isn’t going to happen in ten minutes. It’s going to take time. If you cause trouble, you will get us both killed.”
“I wasn’t going to cause trouble, I was going to flirt with Rodrigo or Elena and get what information I can from them.”
Brody’s mouth dropped open. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me. You thought it was fine when I acted like a whore with Sanchez. I will do what I have to for my family.” She stuck her chin in the air in challenge, daring him to act.
He stuck his nose right against hers. “You will not do any such thing.”
“You can’t stop me.” She whirled around and headed for the door.
Before he could reach her, she’d flung it open to find a burly, unshaven man outside the door. His face was scarred with what might have been a pox or acne, his eyes black holes in his face.
“Hola,” Olivia said breezily, but Brody heard the undercurrent of dismay beneath. “Me llamo Meredith. ¿Como te llamas?”
“Manuel.” His heavily accented English was thick and deep.
The last thing they needed was a babysitter, but apparently they had one. The man was a wall of muscle in nondescript brown clothes with a knife strapped to his left thigh and a pistol on his right. No doubt he did whatever Rodrigo or Lucinda bade him to do. This would definitely put a crimp in his plans to snoop later on. He wouldn’t have told Olivia what he was doing since she would insist on coming along and he couldn’t risk it.
“Is siesta time over?” Olivia held onto the doorknob with whitened knuckles.
“Sí, come downstairs now.” He turned sideways like a human door and Olivia stepped out.
When she turned to look back at him, he saw a glimpse of defiance in her face, then she schooled her features. Brody followed her and hoped like hell she wouldn’t start something that would finish them.
As they walked back downstairs, they entered the main area again; this time, there were a few ladies lounging about. Each one was dressed in a plain cotton skirt and peasant blouse, their cleavage clearly displayed. Dressed for customers, their faces, however, reflected boredom.
Lucinda stood at the bar, this time wearing a form-fitting green gown that hugged her ample curves. Her silver hair was piled into a mass of curls, tendrils hanging down over her shoulders. Her lips were painted the same shade of red as the sign outside.
She was not nearly as old as he’d thought, given her performance earlier. But it was just that, a performance for two gringos. She thought to be a simple kitchen woman and watch them unawares. It was clever of her to do so and although she was obviously a criminal, Brody did appreciate a keen mind.
Olivia pinched his arm and he realized he’d been staring at the formidable Lucinda like a village idiot.
“Did you enjoy siesta?” Lucinda cocked one brow at them.
“It wasn’t restful but we enjoyed it.” Brody took Olivia’s stiff arm and wrapped it around his own.
“You didn’t enjoy it enough and neither did she, I think.” Lucinda shook her head. “I ask about you in the pueblo and no one knows you, Stuart. You are nobody then, eh?”
Brody wasn’t surprised to learn she had been busy trying to figure out who he was while he’d been upstairs pacing. Hell, she probably knew he had been pacing. This was a family of predators, a snake’s den.
“I am nobody now, but I plan on being somebody. If I can find the right buyer for my merchandise.” He was careful to keep his face blank, and his tone even.
She nodded. “Bueno. We talk business then.” She gestured to the table nearest to her.
Brody glanced around pointedly at the whores staring at them. “I won’t do this with an audience.”
Lucinda cocked one brow, then clapped her hands. The other women wandered to the far end of the room, out of hearing distance. It would have to do.
Manuel loomed behind them like a wall that hovered in mid-air. He stood closest to Olivia, which annoyed Brody. His big body couldn’t be more than six inches from her smaller form. Hell, her flyaway hairs were touching the man’s arm.
Brody felt a surge of jealousy and swallowed it back with difficulty. The man could probably knock him out if he chose to do so, long before Brody could reach his gun. It didn’t matter if Manuel got too close to Liv—it was his job to do that.
Foolish, lovesick man.
The idea that he was in love with Olivia made his stomach flip twice. He definitely didn’t want to be in such a state, and he sure as hell didn’t know what to do about it. Definitely one of those times he wished his brothers were here so he could ask them. They’d taught him how to pleasure a woman, but they’d never taught him how to love one.
“Talk, gringo.” Lucinda watched him with her sharp, probing gaze.
“We can get merchandise out of Texas, but we can’t sell it there. I was with Jeb’s men when he was doing the same, but he was sloppy about it, which is how he got caught.”
“Jeb Stinson? This is who you speak of?” Lucinda sat up straighter.
“Yep, that’s him.” He noted the play of emotions on her face and wondered if Jeb had spent some time in Lucinda’s bed.
“Is he dead?” Her brows drew together and formed a dark V on her forehead.
“Yes, ma’am. He was strung up last month.”
She closed her eyes and paused for a few moments. Olivia reached out and put her hand on the older woman’s. Lucinda’s eyes snapped open and she snatched her hand away.
“Too bad. I liked him.” Lucinda sighed and turned to Olivia. “He was your man?”
Olivia’s face crumpled just a bit, enough that Brody wasn’t sure if she was acting or not. Damn. What a situation he found himself in.
“Yes, for a while. At least I hoped he was.” Olivia glanced down at her hands. “Until he was arrested.”
“Ah, yes, I hear the rangers got him.” Rodrigo appeared from the shadows, his dark hat shading his eyes.
At the mention of the rangers, Brody’s heart picked up but his face didn’t even twitch. If the outlaw had discovered who he really was, he’d already have a bullet in his heart.
“That’s what I heard too. I found Olivia hiding at this little shack where he stored the goods he took.” He turned a feral smile on her. “Then I took her.”
Olivia found the muster to grin back at him. “I wanted to be taken or you wouldn’t have had a chance.”
Lucinda looked between them and then waved her hands. “I don’t want to know about this. Tell me about the business now.”
The danger seemed to have passed and Rodrigo sat at a stool behind them near the bar. His presence didn’t complicate things so much as annoy Brody. The outlaw had flirted with Olivia and sent Elena to seduce them. He was as dangerous as his mother.
“I need a buyer. If I have one, I can take orders for specific types of, ah, merchandise, and bring the types likely to fetch the highest bid.”
Lucinda leaned forward and a small grin played around her mouth. “Let us talk about specifics.”
Olivia felt rather than heard Rodrigo step up behind her. Every nerve ending jangled at the close proximity of his body to hers. His breath tickled her ear.
“Querida, they will be talking for a while. Why don’t we have something to eat?” He pulled her toward the kitchen, and Brody was so deep in conversation with Lucinda, he didn’t even notice.
It was enough to convince her she needed to do what she could to find information. No matter what Brody said, Olivia was capable and strong. She would use whatever means necessary to get details from the outlaw. Rodrigo was smart, but she was smarter.
She let him lead her into the deserted kitchen. As he walked toward the table, she mustered up enough courage to stop in her tracks. He turned to look at her, surprise on his face.
“What is wrong, Meredith?”
The sound of her mother’s name was enough to push her into what she needed to do. This was for her family, her brother and the future of the Grahams. She would be a warrior for them.
Olivia stepped closer, pressing her breast into his arm. The surprise on his face turned to curiosity and interest.
“Does your Stuart know you play with me in here?” He turned until she was chest to chest with him, a hair’s-breath away from actually touching his body. The heat between them slithered up her skin, making her shiver.
“I don’t play.” She ran her finger down his chest, not surprised to find it as hard as granite. He was every bit as muscular as Brody, but instead of quiet fierceness, Rodrigo exuded dangerous sexuality.
He captured her hand and brought it to his mouth. As his lips closed around her pointer finger, Olivia’s stomach quivered. The wet slide of his tongue against her finger made every inch of her want to run in the other direction.
But she didn’t. She simply watched as he pulled the digit out of his mouth, then blew on it. A chill raced through her.
“Oh, yes, you play.” His grin appeared to be designed to melt her resistance, but there was no chance she would fall prey to his wiles.
He had to fall prey to hers.
She extracted her hand and reached out to cup his face. His grin deepened as he waited. Her heart thumped harder than it ever had as she pulled his lips down to hers.
His mouth was softer than Brody’s and tasted faintly of an exotic spice. She nibbled from side to side, then ran her tongue along the seam of his lips. He chuckled softly as his mouth opened to hers.
Even as her tongue slid against his, she closed her eyes to forget what she was doing. She could barely acknowledge that she was betraying the love she felt for the man in the next room. It was necessary for her to do what she did. No matter how much it hurt.
She sucked his lower lip into her mouth and slowly let it out before she pulled back.
“I don’t play.”
“I can see that, querida. What do you want from me?” He cupped her behind and rubbed his cock against her mons.
She was startled to realize she’d made him hard by kissing him. She had wondered if she could arouse him. Now a surge of confidence battled with the uncertainty and fear churning in her gut.
“I want a little boy.” Now that the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to swallow them back. Judging by the way Rodrigo’s eyebrows shot up, she had rushed her request.
“In your bed? I did not think you were that dark, but perhaps I was wrong.”
“No, not in my bed.” Her stomach threatened to regurgitate her food at the thought. She tried not to show him the disgust she felt that he had jumped to such a twisted conclusion. “I lost my boy last year. He was five and Stuart has promised me another one, but he hasn’t let me keep any we took.”
His eyebrows now lowered into a scowl. “You lost your boy? You are a mama?”
Olivia let her grief well up and her eyes stung with tears. “Elliott died from a fever. I’ve missed him every day since.” Using Benjy’s middle name made her heart pinch so hard, she gasped at the pain.
“Why don’t you make another boy?” Rodrigo’s hard staff had waned and she knew her window of opportunity was shrinking.
“I can’t. Elliott’s birth was too tough on me.” She pushed her breasts into his chest. “I want another boy like him. If Stuart can’t or won’t, I need you to.”
His face reflected no emotion as he stared down at her. She ran her hands up his arms, not surprised by the width of his shoulders. His scent surrounded her, making her all too aware he was not Brody.
“You have beautiful eyes, Meredith. Such a strange color.” He wrapped his arms around her so tightly she couldn’t move and it was almost hard to breathe.
“Th-thank you, Rodrigo.” She managed a small smile. “Now where were we?” She lapped at his neck, the taste acrid on her tongue and lips.
His cock pulsed against her and she knew she had distracted him from her foolhardy attempt to buy a child from him. She knew it was likely impossible that Benjy was not already sold to the highest bidder, but she’d had to try.
In a split second, Rodrigo was yanked from her and Olivia stumbled at the sudden change. She heard flesh against flesh and grunts. By the time she was able to regain her balance and look up, she saw Brody locked in battle with Rodrigo.
“No!”
The two men were grappling for control, even as Brody landed a punch to Rodrigo’s jaw. She tried to grab the outlaw’s arm as he pulled back to retaliate. Instead, he punched her and she fell backwards. She landed hard on the rough wooden floor, her teeth clacking together enough to vibrate through her skull.
Her cheek throbbed from the fist, but she got up, ignoring the pain and tried again to intervene. An elbow landed in her shoulder and her foot was smashed beneath a boot, but she managed to wiggle between them.
“Stop. It. Now.” She reached up and pinched both of them under the arm.
“Jesus.” Brody jumped back and glared at her.
“Puta, you do not dare touch Rodrigo like that again.” The outlaw had changed into a different person. Gone was the seductive grin and gentle tones. He looked more like a thundercloud with dark rage covering his face.
“Don’t call her a whore. And if you ever put your hands on my woman again, I will fucking kill you.” Brody punctuated his threat with one finger to Rodrigo’s chest.
The sound of a gun cocking was the next thing Olivia heard over the roaring in her ears.
“You dare not touch Rodrigo like that again.” Lucinda repeated exactly what her son had just said, in her own quiet, deadly way. She put the gun to the back of Olivia’s head, the muzzle cold and hard against her skull. A trickle of sweat rolled down her back.
Her mouth went cotton dry and the reality of the situation hit her square between the eyes. Ignoring Brody’s warning and pushing ahead to find information about Benjy might have cost them both their lives.
“I will kill her and then you if you do not step away from mi hijo right now.” Lucinda pushed the gun even harder into Olivia’s skull, enough that she sucked in a breath of pain.
“Don’t hurt her.” Brody wasn’t asking and he sure didn’t look scared. Heck, she was scared enough for both of them. This was all her fault, every heart-pounding second of it.
It could cost her the man she’d come to love and the brother she ached to hold again.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Lucinda clucked her tongue. “Get down on your knees, big man, and put your hands behind your head.” Her thick accent was gone, her voice steely flat. Perhaps she wasn’t Mexican born either.
Olivia had no idea who either of these people were, or even who they pretended to be. She had stepped into a world of shadows and deceit. Brody had been right about her—she had no idea what she was doing. She caught his gaze and saw nothing in his eyes but anger as he got to his knees.
Olivia’s eyes pricked with tears and she had to stomp down the self-pity that rose within her. She was big enough to admit when she’d made a mistake, a huge one.
“I’m sorry,” she mouthed.
He shook his head and looked away, his hands locked behind his head. Rodrigo snatched the gun from Brody’s holster while Lucinda took Olivia’s from her skirt pocket.
Lucinda punched Olivia in the back and pain radiated from the spot. She dropped on her knees and fell forward, landing hard on her wrists; pain shot up her arm.
Olivia bit her lip to keep the moan of agony locked inside as she straightened up. She refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her suffer.
“I can kill you both right now and no one would care.” Lucinda knocked Brody on the side of his head with the butt of the pistol. It wasn’t hard enough to knock him over, but she drew blood. A few drops welled up at the spot, which was already turning red.
“Whoever had to clean the floor would care.” Olivia hardly believed she’d had the audacity to say that.
Rodrigo chuckled in that low, unusual way of his. “I like you, Meredith.” She noted he wasn’t calling her querida any longer. Perhaps Brody’s threat had meant something to him after all.
“Then let us up and you can do business with Stuart.” She clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. Panic wasn’t pretty and it certainly wasn’t going to help the situation.
“You like her because she is a bruja with a big mouth.” Lucinda kicked Olivia in the knee. “Not many women dare to talk back to you.”
Rodrigo smiled at her and in his face, she saw her own death. He would have no compunction about killing her or using her before he did.
“Put them downstairs and tie them up,” Lucinda ordered and Manuel appeared by her side, rope in hand.
Olivia had to do something to stop this.