Page 63 of Married with Blood
“So, what, your brother’s turning the Colombians away from doing business with us now?” I demanded.
“I don’t know. I am wondering if he got word of this sudden shipment and wants to thwart it.” She cringed as she admitted it, as if this wasn’t good news to share.
“If he is…”
“Maybe he’s just trying to catch up with what’s going on adjacent to his turf.” She pointed out the windshield. “This route bisects this territory.” Looking toward the east, she tipped her chin. “That’s all Garcia territory. It could be that he’s being diligent in what’s going on.”
Or it could be that he’s trying to tease us. To remind us that things aren’t as certain with him anymore.
I clenched my jaw and hated how this former ally could be so severely interested in going against us now. “If he tries to get his hands on these guns and redirect them…”
“Then you’d have your answer. I would too.” She set her phone back down on her lap as she resumed watching out the window. “It would be a fact that he’s not interested inanyshow of good faith between the families anymore.”
With what Enrique said, we could speculate as much. If Arturo was up to sabotaging his shipment and compromising the handoff, then it would be evidence.
“You stay close to me,” I warned her as we neared the handoff location. The coordinates weren’t too far ahead. “You stay with me in case anyone is planning to do anything stupid.”
“I know.” She nodded, not showing a hint of that sass that she still held on to when being controlled or ordered.
“You stay right with me.”
Because I’m unwilling to risk your being taken.
I cared too much about her and she’d be leverage to use against me now.
22
CARINA
Asixth sense prompted me to pay attention while Maksim drove. I was already in the role of being the lookout while he was at the wheel. But something about this suddenly proposed operation pricked at my mind.
This route along the scorching highway wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Compared to other areas of smuggling activity, this wasn’t necessarily a hotbed of action that would be watched by many. I worked with the Bratva runners to double-check the navigational variables for this run and it wasn’t too far-fetched to pull off on short notice.
Risks were always inherent. But as far as smuggling trips went on land, this was a manageable one to pull off this far out of the tourist season.
As if many tourists come way the hell out here to bake and suffer, anyway.
No parkland was close to this area to clog up the roads, either.
What had my nerves firing hot and my spine tingling with the need to stay cautious was another sign of a lookout parked along the edge of the cracked pavement.
“Fuck.” I whispered it so quietly under my breath so as not to bother Maksim while he was on the phone with Dean.
Another one?
This isn’t good.
After we passed the third one, it was impossible to relax. My senses were heightened with this feeling of being watched and tracked. I kept my eyes peeled for any clue of further trouble waiting for us. So when I spotted another lookout positioned strategically out this way, I knew Maxim was right.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
This stunk of a setup, but I couldn’t figure it out.
Who is setting up who?
How could anyone have had the time to get word on this shipment and run?
Or how could anyone have had the chance to arrange spies like this, to put any lookouts in place?
