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“I doubt Ortega had the balls to come at me on his own.” Caleb slid into the wrecked Jeep. “If Lopez wants me dead, he’ll need to come himself.”
The man was dangerous. But he let his minions do his dirty work for him.
I’m willing to get my hands dirty.
“The hotel isn’t safe for you anymore,” Zach said. “It’s too exposed.”
“I’ve got to get to the clinic.” Caleb cranked the engine and sent up a silent thank you when the Jeep purred to life. “I’ll worry about my sleeping arrangements later.”
“You gonna show up in this?” Zach pointed to the battered Jeep.
“I need her to see. Understand the only way she’ll be safe is by helping us.”
Ford was crouched by the rear of the Jeep. “Your tire’s toast.”
Caleb stuck his head out where the window should have been. “Fuck.”
The bottom half of his rear tire was nothing more than a black crease of rubber folded in on itself.
“Leave it here.” Zach thrust his chin toward his cruiser, his voice steel. “I’ll drive.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Thisisthelastone.” Gia slid a carton of blue nitrile gloves beneath a storage shelf and wiped her forehead, drying her fingers on the hem of her doctor’s coat. She unclipped her hair, finger-combed the damp strands, then secured it in a twist again.
Jennie sliced open another box and pulled out adhesive sterile gauze. “You didn’t have to help. Reggie and I could’ve handled it while you grabbed lunch.”
“I’m not sitting in my office eating while you two do all the work.”
“You need to learn to act like a doctor.” Jennie grinned. “Did you see the hottie delivery driver? He must be new.”
“I noticed he was a flirt.” The man had been attractive—late twenties, Hispanic, charming. He’d chatted up everyone as he hauled in boxes. “Did he ask for your number?”
“He tried you first, but you were oblivious. I told him you had a boyfriend.”
Gia’s cheeks heated. “I do not.”
Any chance she’d had with Caleb died when he found out the man she’d once loved was the man he held responsible for his mother’s death.
The fact your ex is the son of the head of the Espina Negra cartel changes everything.
A strange melancholy dragged on her chest. It was absurd, really—worrying more about Caleb’s opinion of her than staying alive and one step ahead of Vincente.
“Uh-huh.” Jennie shot Gia a knowing look. “So where’s your handsome bodyguard? And how’d dinner with President Blackwater go? You’ve been off today.”
“He had errands. And, dinner was…strained.”
For too many reasons to explain.
“But it was a start.” She glanced at the clock.One p.m.“He should have been here by now.”
Reggie, the clinic’s lab technician, poked his head in. “Lieutenant Blackwater and his cousin are here, Doctor Barone.”
His brows lifted. “Came barging in like they expected to arrest someone.”
Jennie clucked her tongue. “Eager to see you, no doubt. Two hotties. You need to start sharing.” She laughed, but something in her eyes—warm, wistful—lingered.
Gia rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. College and med school had left little room for close friends, and Miami? The few girlfriends she’d had drifted away as Vincente monopolized her time.