The Vargas Cartel Trilogy (Vargas Cartel #1-3)(64)

“How’s that?” I asked, even though I didn’t want to know. The depravity of the drug smuggling business stopped surprising me years ago.

“You leave a group of people on the river bank or an open area where border patrol can easily find them. They draw all the attention while the drug smugglers slip over the border undetected.”

I stood up and headed for my bedroom. “I have to get ready.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have plans,” I answered without glancing over my shoulder, suddenly feeling older than I had in years. Once again, I was being sucked into a life I wanted to leave far behind. I should’ve shoved Rever out the door or called the authorities and had him arrested, but I wouldn’t do it. Ignacio had drummed the need for family loyalty into my head for as long as I could remember. As much as I wished I could abandon them, I wouldn’t.

“Don’t you think you should cancel and spend the night strategizing with me?”

“No. I have an engagement party to attend.”

“An engagement party? For who?”

“Hattie Covington.”

Rever’s dark eyes narrowed into glittering slits, and his mouth pressed into a firm line. “You’re playing with fire. This game is going to blow up in your face.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

He groaned under his breath. “Then why are you going?”

“Because I want to see her.”

“That’s a dumb reason.”

“You asked a dumb question.”





Chapter Four




Hattie



“Hattie,” my mom said the minute Evan and I walked into Senator Deveron’s home for our engagement party.

She air-kissed my cheek, a frozen smile on her face. She looked as perfect and as icy as I remembered. Every strand of her blonde hair was immaculately groomedinto an elegant twist, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and the curve of her jaw. She wore an ivory tailored suit with subtle fringed trim, buttoned flap pockets, large jeweled buttons, and princess seams. She looked like the perfect politician’s wife. She was the perfect politician’s wife. Unfortunately, she was far from the perfect mother, or at least my idea of the perfect mother.

Some small portion of me had believed my mom would behave like a normal parent after I returned from Mexico. Less than fifteen minutes into our first conversation, I realized nothing had changed. She truly subscribed to the notion that you shouldn’t let a crisis go to waste. She scolded me for going to Mexico, for breaking up with Evan, and for being abducted.

“Mom. It’s nice to see you,” I said, taking a few anemic steps away from her.

As my eyes drifted over the smiling faces of our family, friends, and business associates, I felt nothing. Not happiness. Not sadness. Just a complete lack of interest in everyone and everything around me.

“Where’s Dad?”

“He and Senator Deveron had a few things to discuss before the party gets into full swing. He should join us any minute.”

I nodded absently as Evan slid his arm around my hips. As irrational as it sounded, I wished he’d stop touching me. Instead of saying anything, I leaned into him, pretending for the moment he meant something to me and I still loved him.

I scanned the white flower arrangements advantageously placed all over the Deverons’ home. I hated white. If my mom or Evan’s mom had consulted me, I would’ve never picked white anything. After spending too many days staring at the white walls and floors at the Vargas Cartel compound, I hated the absence of color.

If I had my choice, I would’ve selected red roses. Red seemed more appropriate given the circumstances of our engagement. Red was the color of blood, the color of anger, the color of sacrifice—and tonight marked the moment when I’d sacrifice everything.

The future I wanted.

My heart.

My soul.

My dreams.

My dignity.

All of it would evaporate into a pile of used up pixy dust the minute Evan announced our engagement, and I couldn’t even be mad at Evan. He wasn’t the one keeping secrets and living a lie. I fell in love with another man, but he didn’t want me enough to fight for me, for us. I may have looked fine on the outside, but on the inside I was bleeding and broken.

Smiling, Evan handed me a glass of champagne from a small round table draped in white fabric. “Here they come now. My dad’s going to give a toast.”

Senator Deveron lifted his glass into the air, and the low murmurs stopped as all eyes focused on him. His trademarked veneered grin slid into place, and he cleared his throat. “When Evan first brought Hattie to our house, my wife and I fell in love with her. She’s smart, beautiful, and kind. We knew she was the right woman for our son. So when Evan told us that Hattie agreed to marry him, we were thrilled. Evan, we are so proud of the adult you have become. With the love of your life at your side, nothing will be impossible. To Evan and Hattie.”

Clapping, cheering, and congratulations floated through the air, and I felt disconnected from the moment. It didn’t seem real. Nobody acknowledged my abduction. Nobody cared about my mental withdrawal. My life kept moving day after day.

My engagement party was planned.

Evan selected my ring.

Invitations were sent.