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Tina

U nlike the last time we were here, the parking lot is empty when we arrive. In the back, I park my little clunker next to Lucius’s fancy Bugatti and Rosa and I exit my car at the same time. I follow her to where Lucius is waiting at the top landing of the stairs. The closer we get, the more I can see the worry in his eyes and the stiffness in his shoulders.

He leans into Rosa when she gets close, whispering in her ear, then greets me over Rosa’s head. With an arm around her shoulder, he directs us inside. I try not to wish Dustin were here for me to lean on, reminding myself what we had probably wasn’t real.

The artwork on the wall above the couch gives me pause. Maybe if Rosa’s body wasn’t fresh in my mind from watching the recording, I wouldn’t see the resemblance to my friend, but I do. Her words from earlier come back to me: “Every room gets surveyed and recorded for safety purposes.” My guess is that not only do some use the images for spank bank fodder, but some (I’m looking at you, Lucius) enlarge still shots and hang them on their walls like a shrine.

I chance a look at Lucius, startled to find his eyes locked on me. A subtle shake of his head tells me all I need to know. I guess I’m not the only one clueless about relationships.

Which brings me back to the problem at hand. I clear my throat, queasiness hitting again. “Did you find anything out?”

“This truck’s plate is registered to one of Hernandez’s dummy companies.”

Rosa’s head whips around. “What? But why follow Tina?”

He tucks a loose hair behind her ear. “When you’re not with me or Raul, where are you, princesa ?”

She glances at me, guilt in her eyes.

“What do you mean by this truck?” I think back to all the times I’ve seen the truck. Were there different ones? Lucius just stares at me like he’s trying to telepathically nudge my slow brain. I sigh. There’s only one person I can think of who would follow me. “It’s been two different people?”

“But it was the same truck, right?” Rosa asks me.

Lucius already knows the answer, it’s written all over his face. “The same type of truck was a coincidence.”

“Why does Hernandez want you so badly?” I ask Rosa, but again, Lucius answers.

“There are many things you don’t know, Tina, and for good reasons. But trust I will take care of this.”

Rosa rolls her eyes. “I keep telling him keeping me in the dark only puts me in more danger. It’s a classic scenario, bound to get me killed.”

Lucius growls beside her. “No one is getting killed. Especially not you, you’re too valuable.” His wording strikes me as odd.

“There are worse things than dying,” Rosa mutters, and I get the impression she knows more about this whole mess than he gives her credit for.

I cross my arms. “Fine, but why would Dustin have me followed?”

Rosa’s head rears back. “Dustin?”

I can’t say I blame her. I’m getting quite the whiplash myself.

“That’s something you’ll have to ask him.” There’s a knock on the door. “And here’s your chance.” He swings the front door open, revealing Raul and Dustin.

“Come to pick up the baggage?” Rosa’s snide question earns her a stern look from Lucius and one of sympathy from her brother. Raul steps forward while Dustin remains on the landing as if waiting to be invited inside, looking guilty as hell and more handsome than ever.

I take a few steps in his direction, open my mouth to demand answers, and promptly throw up all over his shoes.