The Vargas Cartel Trilogy (Vargas Cartel #1-3)(122)

“What’s your name?”

He cocked his head to the side as though he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to tell me. He blew out a breath. “Raul.”

I attempted to smile, but I strongly suspected it resembled a grimace. “Thanks for the food.”

“It’s not much, but it should hold you over for a while.”

I nodded. “It’s better than nothing. Can I have a fork?”

“No,” he answered, shaking his head. “You might use it as a weapon.”

“With these on?” I lifted my shackled arm and flinched. “Fuck,” I mumbled. It felt like Enrique had dipped my arm into the fires of hell.

He pursed his wiry lips. “Let me see your arm.”

“It hurts to move it,” I said as I stared at the angry puckered flesh on my bicep.

“This will help.” He pulled a silver key out of his pocket and unlocked the shackle on my right wrist.

Red cuts encircled my wrist. I bent my wrist up and down and then in a circle. “Thanks.”

“Eat. I have to put those back on soon. Juan or his son will stop by to check on you soon. They don’t trust anyone.”

I shoved a piece of watermelon into my mouth. The sweet juice burst in my mouth and coated my cracked lips. I hadn’t eaten anything since I left the hotel room for a jog.

“What day is it? How long have I been here?” I asked as I grabbed a handful of white rice and shoved it in my face like an animal. If my mom were here, she’d be shaking her head.

“Thursday. You’ve been here almost two days.”

“Do you think they’ll let me go?”

Raul glanced over his shoulder.

“Or are they going to…” The words stuck in my throat. I wasn’t ready to hear his answer.

He drummed his fingers on his thigh and his gaze flicked to the side. “I don’t know. They haven’t discussed their plans with me.”

“Are you friends with Ryker?”

“No,” he answered.

My brows scrunched together. “Then why are you being nice to me?”

He chuckled. “Money. Everything is always about money. Don’t you know that?”

“Who’s paying you?”

“Here.” He handed me an open bottle of water. “Drink this.”

I drained the entire bottle, shaking the last few drops onto my tongue. I still felt dehydrated. I could’ve drank ten bottles. “Are you going to answer my question?”

“No. Are you done eating?”

I popped the last grape into my mouth. “Now I am.”

“Good.” He grabbed the empty paper plate and the plastic bottle. “Get some rest.”

“As opposed to what? Doing jumping jacks while chained to the wall? Talking to myself? Watching the non-existent TV?”

He squeezed my chin between his thumb and index finger. “Listen,” he growled. “Your friends and family might dismiss the way you talk to them, but the Alvarez Cartel won’t and neither will I. If you want to get out of here alive, you need to shut your f*cking mouth. This isn’t a game. This is real. There are no second or third chances. They won’t hesitate to carve you up into a hundred pieces and feed you to the animals.”

Fear ghosted down my spine. “Okay. Okay,” I whispered as I scooted backward. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Can you tell me why I’m here?”

He sighed and rocked back on his heels. “You’re here as collateral for Anna Alvarez. The Vargas Cartel took her so they took you.”

“But I thought she wanted to go with Rever.”

“It doesn’t matter what she may or may not want. Rever and Ryker humiliated Juan Alvarez and Ryker shot his son. If he didn’t respond, he’d look weak. Looking weak won’t do you any favors in the drug smuggling business.”

“But what does any of that have to do with me? I don’t have anything to do with the Vargas Cartel.”

He shook his head as he wrapped the metal shackle around my wrist again. “Don’t play dumb. We both know that’s not true.”

“Wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Don’t lock it. My wrist is killing me. If anyone comes in, I’ll put it on.”

He stood and wiped his hands on his pants. “Fine, but don’t forget.” He opened the door.

“Will I see you again?” Using the wall as support, I climbed to my feet. My vision blurred, and I swayed to the side like a drunken sailor.

He dragged a hand through his shaggy hair. “Maybe. Maybe not, but if everything goes as planned, you should be out of here soon.”

“Soon? As in today?”

A faint smile spread across his face. “It’s a secret. You don’t need to know anything. Just keep your mouth closed and do what you’re told when the time comes.”

The door slammed and I slid down the wall, curling into a ball on the floor. Silently, I prayed I’d sleep until this nightmare ended.

***

“Wake the f*ck up.”

An open palm collided with my cheek and pain vibrated from my chin to my temple. My eyes popped open. Enrique’s nose was less than a foot from mine. His dark hair curtained the sides of his face. A sneer stretched his lips. My heart thumped in uneven intervals inside my chest. I scratched the side of my neck.