His brown eyes glimmered, teasing.
Come here, they said. I dare you.
Martin squinted sternly, his voice low. “Hungry?”
“Always.”
“Dinner.” He held up the warmed can of broth.
A groan vibrated from the beauty in Ricky’s arms. “I feel like death.”
Ricky grazed his lips along her slender neck. “If death looked as good as you, suicide would be all the rage.”
“Oh, God, stop.” She pushed against his chest and rolled to her back. “I need a shower.”
He and Ricky tensed.
Privacy didn’t exist in the communal showers. How did she wash without getting assaulted? Is that where Garra came in? Did he clear out the bathroom while she showered?
“Where’s Garra?” Martin shifted down the mattress, erasing the distance to hold out the broth to her.
“I relieved him from his job.” She sipped from the can and handed it back.
“Why?”
“I wanted to talk to you, get to know you. I couldn’t do that with him breathing down my neck.”
He detected truthfulness in her words, but not the whole truth.
“You gave up your protection.” He bent toward her, propping his forearm on his leg. “You think that was wise?”
Her face reddened. “I came here last night, hoping for friendship. Showing up with a guard doesn’t exactly engender good will. Was I naive to think I don’t need protection from you?”
“Yes. Extremely naive.” Ricky gripped her arm when she started to pull away. “You know nothing about us. We could’ve hurt you.”
“But you didn’t.” She yanked her arm free. “I trusted my gut, and it didn’t steer me wrong.”
He met Ricky’s eyes over her head. She preferred their protection over Garra’s, and they both knew why.
“How many times did Garra rape you?” The question burned like venom from his throat.
“Just the one time.” She struggled to look up, but after a moment, she summoned enough courage to meet his gaze. “I’m tired of being alone.”
They were leaving in three months. Where did that leave her?
Here. Alone. For three more years.
“You’re safe with us.” Ricky touched her chin, guiding her face to his. “But I’ll be honest. The prospect of you showering in a bathroom full of hard dicks is horrifying. We can only fend off so many men.”
“Oh, I…” She picked at a frayed hole in her jeans. “I always shower between three and four in the morning, when everyone’s asleep.”
Martin nodded, impressed with her adaptability. “We have a few hours to wait. How do you feel?”
“Better. I haven’t been that wasted since college.” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know whether to be mad that you got me drunk or thankful you stuck around to clean up the puke.” She slumped back on the bed. “How many secrets did you wheedle out of me?”
“Only your dirtiest, darkest ones.” Ricky leaned his back against the wall and lifted her denim-clad legs to rest across his lap.
“I’m serious. What did I tell you?”
He appreciated her directness and couldn’t think of a reason to lie to her. “You described your first few weeks in Jaulaso, how your relationship with Hector came to be, and why he made Garra your personal guard. You asked Hector to castrate him? That was a risky move.”
“I was desperate.” She stared down at her lap and bit her lip.
“We know you have three years left on your sentence.” He waited for her to look up. Then he let his eyes convey his sincerity. “You’re serving time for a crime we know you didn’t commit.”
“None of that is a secret.” She shrugged.
“You told us you lost your little sister.” Ricky traced a finger along her calf.
“Oh.” Her shoulders hunched forward. “I vaguely remember her crying last night. I dream about her sometimes and wake up thinking she’s here. As a child. It’s fucked up.”
“What happened to her?”
“Wish I knew. The morning I was arrested, Vera called me. She was in trouble again…”
She talked through the events that led to her arrest, her sister’s possible connection to the cartel, the mistaken identity, and how the military tortured and framed her for drug smuggling.
“I’ve kept in touch with the detectives at the Ciudad Hueca police department.” She hooked an arm around her waist. “There have been no leads, no body, nothing. She just…vanished.”
Ricky gave him a knowing look.
Yeah, they knew a guy. Cole Hartman had a specialized skill set and a military background that connected him with a lot of unsavory people. He located Camila’s missing sister and rescued Kate when she was abducted. If anyone could find Vera Gomez, it was Cole Hartman.
But they couldn’t contact him. Not until they were released.
Matias Restrepo had warned them that all cell phones in Jaulaso were strictly controlled by La Rocha Cartel. The inmates tracked transmissions and monitored every phone call.
Cole Hartman was tied in with Restrepo Cartel, a sworn enemy of La Rocha. Calling him from any phone would expose their loyalties.