Page 151 of Forbidden Fate

Cream silk blouse. Dark trousers. Hair pulled back. Sunglasses tucked into the front of her shirt. Red mouth. Gold earrings. No visible weapon.

But Adriana never needed to be armed to be dangerous.

She stares at me. At my bruised jaw. My split knuckles. The dirty shirt. “You’ve looked better.”

I don’t reply.

She glances toward the porch.

Zabala’s body isn’t fully visible from where she stands, but the blood is. Enough of it.

“Did you kill him?” Her tone is nonchalant, as if she’s asking if I broke a glass.

“Yes.”

A faint smile touches her mouth. “Finally.”

“Finally?”

“I couldn’t stand the motherfucker.”

I stare at her. “Señora Valentina is dead.”

Adriana’s face doesn’t change. “Unfortunate.”

My blood boils. This woman practically raised me, and Adriana is dismissing her like she was an inconvenience. Like a flat tire on the way to work. Not a living, breathing human being who put more good into the world as a brothel keeper than this snake of a woman could ever hope to do.

But I take a deep breath. Because letting my emotions get the best of me is exactly what Adriana wants right now.

I take one step toward her. “Did you send him?”

“No.”

“Did Vega?”

“Zabala was following orders.”

“Whose orders?”

She simply sighs. “You’ve made quite a mess.”

I grit my teeth. “Yes.”

“But not an irreparable one.”

I almost laugh. “There’s no repairing this.”

“There is if you come with me.” She extends a hand.

I stare at her. “You expect me to believe that?”

“I expect you to listen.”

“You expect me to go back to Vega.”

“Yes.”

“After Robin.”