Page 82 of Something Tangled Something True (Rosa Ranch #1)

PARTNERS IN CRIME

I rush through the front door, and when I get inside, I’m stunned and elated to hear Mayte on the phone with a dispatcher.

I run to Isabela’s room, and my stomach roils at the sight of Russ curled up on his side, clutching his knees in a puddle of his own blood. Amy is sitting on the ground in one of her signature over-the-top outfits, hands clamped down on her son’s knees, her whole body trembling.

Mayte’s standing with her body half concealed by the closet door. Her eyes meet mine, lighting up, a wide smile stretching across her lips. It’s entirely misplaced given the circumstances, but my blood sings with relief.

I step around the crime scene, rushing to Mayte’s side as the dispatcher says, “Okay, Mayte. Help is on the way. Sit tight and stay on the line.”

“Thank you so much, Lisa!” she tells her. “My best friend showed up, so she’s here too. Her name is Lola Lima. She has dark-brown, curly hair, and she’s wearing a red Adidas sweat suit that's at least two sizes too big and makes her look like she belongs in a nineties boy band. ”

“Can you get to the point?” I ask her, groaning.

“Oh yeah, sorry. She’s here, so please tell everyone not to shoot her—” My eyes grow wide, jaw dropping. She mouths, “You never know!” before continuing. “I have to step away to use the bathroom, and I’m leaving her with my gun and my daughter.”

She looks down to see I have a gun of my own and shoves hers into my hand.

“Just in case!” she says before sprinting through the room, her thighs pressed together, ass cheeks dimpled in her brightly colored leggings as she hurries away to do what she does best in high anxiety situations.

I’m left here with a million thoughts, but the most powerful is that I’m just glad there’s a reason to laugh at a time like this.

Which reminds me—there’s now a more pressing matter to tend to.

“Hey, Lisa?” I ask, drawing a glare out of Amy at the sound of my voice.

“Yes?”

“Could you send someone to my home too? A friend of mine, Teddy, is over there, and he was assaulted by the same people who broke into Mayte’s home.” I take a few minutes to recount all the necessary information to Lisa before I hear sirens traveling up the driveway.

When the officers make their way inside, escorting me out, I glance over at Russ.

Out of everything, it’s the flicker of something inscrutable that crosses his face as he meets my gaze that confuses me most. But whether it’s momentary regret, frustration, or something else entirely, I don’t care to find out.