Page 8 of Faded Gray Lines

I scrubbed my hand over my mouth. “That’s one of Emilio’s men. I remember the name.”

Which complicated things even more. Emilio Reyes was the head of our Houston operations, the position Val held before his father’s death. Tensions had run high since Val had passed him over for underboss in favor of me.

“I assume you’ve called a cleaner,” Val conceded, the corners of his eyes pulled tight.

“Not yet. I wanted to get your approval first.”

He smirked. “Because that worked out so well for you in the first place.”

I took over before things escalated. “Your sister had no problem leaving a dead body lying around an apartment?”

“Leighton is innocent to all we do.” He paused as if saying the words out loud would taint her. “I told her I’d handle it, and she trusts me.”

Val shifted his gaze to me, but I avoided it. “But do you trusther?”

“What are you saying?”

“He’s saying we have bigger issues than your sister’s happy trigger finger,” Val blurted out. “Gunshots aren’t quiet. Someone knows what she did. If she gets picked up, your little phone call implicates you.”

For a moment, I thought Brody hung up, but then he sighed. “When I said she’s innocent, I meant it, but something isn’t adding up. The ‘why’ is bothering me.”

Val shrugged. “Innocent and evasive are a dangerous combination in any woman.”

This time, Brody interrupted. “Luis never struck me as the type to willingly violate our code. It’s why I chose him in the first place. That means—”

“He was involved in something outside this cartel.” Val finished for him, scrubbing a hand down his bearded face. Turning, he focused his attention on me. “Call for a cleaner then check out Delgado’s place. After that, I want you to go to Houston and keep an eye on Harcourt’s sister. I need someone I can trust.”

“Wait a minute, having Cortes on my sister wasn’t part of the deal,” Brody broke in. “I can take care of Leighton on my own.”

“You have no say in it for going outside of rank and sending Delgado to San Marcos in the first place,” Val growled. “Stay put and keep your mouth shut until Mateo gets there.”

After disconnecting the call, he slouched back onto the couch and stared at the vaulted ceiling. “Tread lightly with Emilio and try not to raise suspicion. Just tell him we’ve lost too many men, and you’re there to work with him to figure this out. Keep your cards close.”

“You don’t think one of our own is involved in this, do you?”

“I don’t think our men would be that stupid. However, I’m still alive because I assume everyone has a price.”

Standing, I gathered my keys as Val called for his private jet. “Not everyone.”

Three

Leighton

San Marcos, Texas

Brody said to leave in twenty minutes, but it was an hour later, and I’d scrubbed the bathroom sink in my apartment with bleach four times. It didn’t matter, a faint coppery stain still rimmed the drain from washing my bloody hands.

“Screw this.” Balling up the rag, I tossed it into the trash bag by my feet. It landed with a swish on top of my sweatshirt, Luis’s hoodie, and the gun. I didn’t want any of it near me, but Brody’s instructions had been clear.

Do not leave any incriminating evidence behind.

Tying off the trash bag, I kicked it into the hallway and checked my principles at my bedroom door. The time for right or wrong was over. Everything depended on my ability to act quickly and without emotion.

Fear did irrational things to rational people. I’d never broken the law in my life. Now I stood over my bed stuffing handfuls of clothing and electronics into an oversized duffel bag, preparing to run.

Stopping to grab the trash bag, I slung my purse and the duffel bag over my shoulder and

dove for the doorknob. I gave it a hard jerk and fought for air. Only two steps until the safety of darkness.