Page 146 of The Devil's Thorn

“Comforting,” I muttered.

Kellan chuckled lowly across the aisle. “Let’s just hope we do neither.”

The jet came to a slow stop, and the door began to open, the rush of hot air smacking us in the face like a warning. My heels clicked against the floor as I stood, adjusting the gold chain around my waist. I ran my fingers through my ponytail, giving myself one last look in the window’s reflection before grabbing my bag.

We stepped out onto the tarmac and the heat hit me fully, sinking into my skin. It was the kind of weather that made you sweat secrets out of your pores.

I let my eyes drift to the activity happening near the rear of the plane—Rafael stood by a line of blacked-out SUVs, talking on the phone, his voice low and unreadable. Around him, his men were unloading large, sealed crates from the cargo hold. Weapons. Money. Something worse? Probably. I didn’t ask.

I let my gaze roam over the crates, then back to Rafael. He turned slightly, his sharp gaze flicking to me for a moment before returning to his call. No nod. No smile. Just acknowledgment. That was all I ever got from him when we weren’t playing some sort of verbal war game.

Kellan whistled low as he joined me. “This place screams private cartel resort. We’re either going to leave with more money or less blood.”

“Both,” Ash said, tossing his bag into the trunk of one of the cars.

Rafael finally ended his call and walked toward us. “This one’s yours.” He held out a key fob toward Kellan.

Kellan took it without hesitation. “Directions?”

Rafael handed him a folded sheet of paper. “Follow this. Don’t stop. Don’t get cute. I’ll meet you there later.”

“And the rest of the rules?” I asked, arching a brow.

He looked at me like I was a challenge he already accepted. “Try not to kill anyone before I get there.”

I didn’t answer. I just turned and walked toward the SUV, sliding into the back seat as Kellan took the driver’s side and Ash got in on the passenger’s.

As we pulled away from the jet, I glanced in the side mirror. Rafael was still standing there. Watching us leave.

The city gave way to long stretches of winding road lined with trees and low buildings in the distance. Cartagena wasn’t quiet, but the further we drove, the more silence crept in between the noise. I leaned my head against the window, letting the vibration of the road pulse through my skull.

“You thinkwe’re staying somewhere with actual security?” Ash asked.

Kellan didn’t look away from the road. “If Rafael’s staying there, it’ll be locked down tighter than hell.”

I stayed quiet, fingers lightly tapping against my knee.

“Still thinking about the dagger?” Kellan asked, cutting his eyes toward me.

I didn’t answer. Because I was. I was thinking about how clean it looked when he handed it to me. How he held it like it didn’t weigh a damn thing, even after what I almost did with it. How he made me look at my own weapon like it meant something more now. Like it had touched his skin, drawn the memory of death without spilling it.

The car rounded another curve, and finally, we reached a long stone drive flanked by tall palm trees and an open iron gate.

The resort.

It looked expensive. Remote. The kind of place people came to when they wanted to disappear without really disappearing.

Ash whistled. “At least we’ll die somewhere pretty.”

I cracked a smile. “Speak for yourself.”

We parked the SUV, the engine ticking as it cooled. I stepped out, my heels crunching against the gravel. The air smelled like heat and salt and danger. I breathed it in like I needed it.

Rafael wasn’t here yet. Good. Let me catch my breath before he tries to take it again.

The humidity wrapped around me like a second skin the moment I stepped out of the car. The golden hour sun soaked the villa in soft warmth, the breeze rolling off the coast doing nothing to ease the thick, sultry heat of Cartagena. Palm trees swayed lazily in the distance, and the sky bled soft orange and pink hues. But none of it reached the unrest sitting low in my chest.

Kellan and Ash had already popped the trunk, pulling our luggage out in silence. I stood still for a moment, just breathing in the unfamiliar air. I could smell salt, citrus, and something faintly tropical. This place was too beautiful for whatever darkness Rafael had planned.