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“Jerry is about twenty feet from us, scanning the area, but Agustin is talking to some men. They’re looking this way. Paul, I’m nervous he might spot me or—” He looked over my shoulder then threaded his free hand into my hair, so I’d look at him.
“Keith has him in his view,” he said in a calm tone. “The boat is currently unoccupied, and Mark just gave me the signal they’ve planted the cameras. In just a moment, we’ll move on.”
“I don’t think my legs will work,” I admitted.
“Hey,” he pulled me back to look straight in my eyes, “I know these guys. I know how they think and how they operate. Trust me when I say I won’t let anyone touch you.” I gave him a nod and took a much-needed deep breath. I believed him. “We just have to wait until he leaves.” He took my hand and used the post to shield me until Agustin got into a car.
His head tilted slightly, and I knew someone was on the radio. “Time to move,” he said. He hesitated, and I got the vibe he didn’t really want to let go, but then the moment passed. He just needed to make sure to keep up the romance for show.
The hotel looked over the marina. Mark took the first shift to watch the boat, Keith kept an eye out from the balcony, while Paul was in another room on a call. Cole talked to Mike about something I couldn’t follow, so I let myself zone out for a bit and finished my salad. Once I was done, I tossed the container in the trash and joined John on the couch. He was reading something on his phone, but when I sat down, he tucked his phone away.
“How ya doing?” he asked with a smile.
“A little uneasy, but all things considered, I’m fine.”
“You’re good at your job, Nicole. I’m impressed with how well you’ve hung in there.”
“I appreciate that.” I unscrewed the cap on my water and took a sip as I thought. “I got myself into some situations when I first started this job that I honestly wish I could forget.” I grimaced. “It left scars that remind me in moments like today that I’m not as untouchable as I imagined. I constantly do research on all the Cartel families in Mexico, even the smaller ones, because what’s small today can be huge tomorrow. Things here can change with one gunfight.”
“Very true.” He leaned back and propped his feet on the table. “I know you have history with Bruno.” My stomach twisted. “Which means you probably know the Perez family’s history.”
“I do.”
“Do you know much about Bruno’s uncle, Martin Castillo?”
“I do, yes.”
Paul stepped into the room and pocketed his phone. He gave John a quizzical look then sat down across from me.
I turned back to John. “Actually, I was asked to cover the story after you guys took down Castillo’s operation.”
John’s gaze moved to the roof like he remembered something. “I didn’t see any story, and at the time, we were watching the press closely.”
“Yeah, that’s because my assignment got pulled at the last minute. My story changed from one on Castillo to his right-hand man, Eric Noah.”
Paul coughed, and I thought I saw something dark go across his face. It made me wonder if Blackstone had had a few run-ins with Eric Noah before they made their move on Castillo.
“And what is your take on the infamous Eric Noah?” John pulled me back to him, and I thought about all I knew.
“He was an American who moved to Mexico when he was in his late twenties or early thirties. No family that I could find. He ran a very successful human trafficking business out of Rosarito. Business was so good, his operation among the locals was referred to as The Tunnel to Hell.” I threw a look of disgust at John, but he didn’t react, so I continued. “At some point, he joined forces with Martin Castillo. I’m sure once Castillo saw what he had to offer, he was only too happy to get in on the action.
“He had an on again, off again relationship with Talya Canos, who was also rumored to be dating the head of a mafia syndicate in Vegas at the time. A guy named Grim Gates. Although I never really believed that.”
Paul bit into an apple. “Why?”
“Call it a hunch, and now I know that the child is hers and Eric Noah’s, I don’t believe Grim Gates was ever romantically involved with Talya. Plus, when he left for Vegas, she didn’t go, and later he got married to someone else. I don’t know. I just don’t see it.”
John nodded like he could follow my line of logic. “Did you ever meet the guy?”
“Eric Noah?” At his nod, I continued. “Yes, once, just in passing, but I’ll never forget it.”
“What was that about?” Paul interrupted and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“I had a run-in with Bruno and was trying to find a way back to my team before he could catch up with me. I took the side streets, and when I came around a corner, I saw him. I recognized him right away. It was Eric Noah, and he was dealing with some guy. Before I could move, he shot the guy right in the head. He looked directly at me then turned and walked off in the other direction. Bruno appeared and started yelling. I took the opportunity to get the hell out of there. I saw enough to know I never wanted to see that man again.”
Paul looked at John then back at me. “Well, it’s a good thing he’s dead.” He shrugged.
“See, that’s the thing. It was said he died in the explosion, but his remains were never found. Isn’t that odd? Surely, there’d be at least a tooth?”