Page 47 of Hit Man

Not this time.

Fucking shamrock.

“You don’t think it’s guns in those crates?”

“We’ve no intelligence, not even on how those crates arrived in Mexico City. They didn’t come through the ports. Fortunately, you’re in a position to investigate the contents while McDuff pursues the weapon issue. And as luck would have it, you’ll never guess which cartel Fahder has watching the warehouse?”

I feel my lips twitch. “Los Lobos.”

“Masterful, right?”

For a second, I’m reminded of the teenagers we were. Hayden the lord of the Loreto underworld, and the vicious, unyielding leader of, you guessed it, the Lobos. And me, right by his side.

“Masterful.”

“You know what to do. We’ll talk in a few days,” my boss tells me, back to business as usual.

“Claro.” I’ve already grabbed my swim trunks and am pulling them on. I burned one expensive suit too many. I’ve taken my sweet time planning this little trip to the cave, down to even the most minute detail in acquiring black construction paper for the cameras. My waterproof bag is packet with minimal yet essential items. This time around, I’ve a rope so I won’t be free-fall climbing the cliff adjacent to the waterfall. My adrenaline kicks in as I consider the challenge ahead of me. I thrive on a good challenge, love the rush I get from having to think on my feet.

“Do me a favor?” Hayden asks, in a demanding this-is-an-order-not-a-request-like tone.

“You got it.”

“Do this task quietly. No big booms. No drawing attention to us. No going overboard.”

“Next you’ll be asking me to paint rainbows on Fahder’s doorstep.” Yeah, I’m not going to easily admit I’m in 100-percent agreement on this.

“Understood?”

“I’ll be as quiet as a drunken Irish church mouse.”

Hayden snorts with understanding of who I’m referring to.

“I’ll try not to blow anything else up,” I grind out.

“Good. Keep it that way. Things need to remain quiet until more information is learned.”

Hayden disconnects.

I sigh, then shrug. Simple is safe. Simple is boring. Yet if it means showing up the Irishman and getting this job done quickly and without a hitch, simple it is.

14

Aubrey

“How did you get in here?” I murmur.

Freshly showered, I pause to adjust my towel more securely around my damp body. Am I really that surprised to find Diego sitting on my bed? Not really. Still, how did he manage it?

The furniture I barricaded against the door is exactly where I placed it. Though now the ugly cow picture lies in bits and pieces next to it. A small, shattered camera lies next to that. I frown, briefly wondering where it came from and abruptly fearing the worst.

A warm trickle of air causes me to look up.

“You dropped in through the skylight?” I demand, dumbfounded.

His lips curl up into a lazy smile.

I roll my eyes. “Happy to see you’ve kept your clothes on.”