Page 40 of Cartel Rose (Jorge)

“I told you I have none. Not yet, at least. I just hack the accounts. I don’t interpret the data. I’m going to send you several financial statements. After you review them, if you need me to get you into anything, let me know.”

“Fucking hell.”

“Pretty much.”

“When can you get them to me?”

“I’ll send them now.”

“Fuck.” I release an aggrieved huff. I close my eyes before exhaling deeply.

“What now?”

“My laptop is not only out there with the women, it’s also next to the box that has Gunter’s hand in it. I can’t walk over to get the computer without drawing attention to the package. I haven’t heard any screaming, so I don’t think Anneliese’smother or sister have seen it yet. Once I’m out there, it’ll only lead to a ton of questions about why I only came out to get the computer before heading back into the bedroom.”

“Do either of the women know about our family?”

“I didn’t get the impression they do. The mother is aware that at least some of Gunter’s business wasn’t entirely aboveboard. But I doubt she knows details.”

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think Anneliese knows what her father’s been up to. But that may be because she has her own secrets to keep.”

“Can’t you give me a hint?”

I’m fighting my impatience. I’m certain my brother’s doing the best he can, but it doesn’t quell my growing irritability.

“She has a separate encrypted email account that isn’t for work, but it’s about work. I haven’t backtracked far enough to see who’s sending her emails, but there are plenty. They use no names, and there’s nothing definitive enough to raise legal red flags. But you and I know what language we’re looking for.”

“Is it someone intimidating her?”

I’ll kill a motherfucker.

“Not now. Maybe it started that way.”

“She’s a willing participant?”

Was I wrong to trust her after all? I’ll still help her, but I won’t forgive her.

“I wouldn’t say that either. They’re too vague to tell. I checked her digital calendar for some dates and times mentioned, but there’s nothing showing meetings or travel that match. You and I know we’re both far less suspicious than Javier is about everything, but we also know when to listen to our intuition. Something is off, Jorge.”

“All right. Thank you. I’ll figure this out. Once I’ve had a chance to review the documents and speak to Anneliese, I’ll get back to you.”

“Morning, noon, or night,manito.Te quiero.” We’ve pledged that since our dad died.

“Te quiero también.”

I hang up and lock my phone before shoving it back into my pocket. When I return to the suite’s living room, I find Liesel sitting on the edge of the coffee table as she tries to reason with her mother and sister. All three are crying, not that I can blame them.

I’ve been calling her Anneliese instead of Liesel, and it feels odd. I’m worried Liesel will slip out one of these times. My family might understand, but hers definitely wouldn’t. I don’t need an irate boyfriend to deal with right now.

I focus on the box and my computer. They’re on the desk behind where the women sit on the sofa. It appears untouched from when I put it there. There’s no way I can get the laptop without them guessing what’s in the box. Liesel rises when her mother and sister’s attention shifts to me. She hurries to me as I approach the three women.

“Anything?”

“My brother’s going to send me some documents to review.”

I keep my voice low, but I dart my gaze to the desk then back to Liesel. Her eyes widen, and thankfully, only I see her reaction. She understands what I meant.

“I don’t know what to do.”