Page 105 of Faded Gray Lines

My voice caught in my throat. “What does it mean?”

“Badge of a leader,” he said so matter-of-factly it almost sounded normal. “It signifies we belong.”

Seeing that same tattoo on my brother strengthened my resolve. “Val also said the cartel doesn’t strike their own unless struck first. Is that true?”

Fierce loyalty flashed bright in Brody’s hazel eyes. “Absolutely. Once we take the oath, inner-cartel violence is one of the worst crimes a soldier can commit. No action can be taken without Val’s approval.” He hesitated, looking away. “Well, not without consequences.”

“So, in someone’s mind, having something stolen from them would constitute the first strike, right?”

“I guess so. Why?”

Because what was stolen was power, and the first strike was me.

I wanted to break down. I wanted to collapse in my brother’s arms and scream for time wasted fighting with Mateo when the man arguing with Luis was right under my nose. But, I didn’t. Instead of drawing more attention toward my brother, I’d agree to his terms, and bring it on myself.

“I’m just trying to understand the world I’m about to be bound to,” I answered.

Brody’s eyebrows lifted in cautious hope. “Does that mean...”

“Mateo didn’t do this.” I waited until he’d fixed his shirt before diving into unholy matrimony. “What do we have to do?”

Digging into his pockets, he pulled out a vinyl booklet and rectangular card and dropped them on the table. “I’ve got Mateo’s passport, and social security number. You just have to take them to the Harris County Clerk’s office over on Caroline Street and ask for Melinda.” I was still focused on the documents he’d tossed on the table when he lightly tapped my cheek. “That’s important, Lil’ Bit. You must ask for Melinda. Usually, both parties have to be there, but she owes me a favor and will push it through. Ask her for a Declaration of Informal Marriage.”

I blinked up at him. “What’s that?”

“A common law one with official documentation.” He shrugged, a little grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “Basically, if you agree you’re married, they say, ‘why the hell not?’ Since you have a child, it proves you’ve been together for a long time and holds legal validity. Just to cover our asses, I had the lease for your apartment in San Marcos put in Mateo’s name.”

“But how is that even—”

He leveled a stare at me. “Do you really want to know?”

It sounded easy. Way too easy. “And that’s legal? I still can’t be forced to testify?”

“As much as one with all the bells and whistles. Provided you pay them the required thirty-one dollars, of course.”

“Fine.” I sighed.

“You’ll need to tell them you’ll testify so they’ll go ahead and charge him.”

I bit my lip and winced. “I did that already.”

I waited for him to ask for an explanation. Hell, he deserved one and even though I knew a shitstorm waited to rain down on me for my snap decision, I’d give it to him. Instead, he just rolled his neck.

“Well, okay, that just expedites things, I guess. I’m sure they charged him last night, and he’ll be arraigned today. After that, we can post bail.” Reaching for my hand, he gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Ready to do this?”

Mustering all the courage I had, I nodded. “No.”

Thirty-Five

Mateo

The three bluewalls surrounding me bothered me more than the steel bars keeping me in. The longer I stared at them, the more they seemed to close in on me.

Maybe that was by design. Maybe they wanted the unfortunate asshole who found himself sitting on the hard bench painted the same disgusting teal color to feel like he was drowning in his own stupidity. I’d stared through the bars of a holding cell more times than I cared to remember, but not once had I ever wavered in my loyalty to the cartel.

That was before they threatened her.

Atwood may have told me more than he’d intended, but it wouldn’t help me if my mouth was covered in so much bureaucratic red tape no one could hear me expose him. Besides, I didn’t want to sell him out yet. Not only did I have bigger scores to settle, Atwood was the only one keeping my daughter safe. I’d let him bask in his false sense of security for now. Until someone else could do a better job of protecting Stella, he was more useful to me alive.