Alejandro (18 page)

Her desperate plea reached his ears, and suddenly Ale lost all interest in the birth certificate. Now was the time to reveal his — no, Special Agent in Charge Cord Phillips’s — plan to involve Angel in the investigation.

“I will, but I’m going to need… Angel.”

Audrey’s lower jaw slacked. Her eyes shifted rapidly between her nephew and Ale, and finally settled on Ale with perplexity. “I — I don’t understand.”

Ale released a heavy blast of air. Penny left Trujillo for the sake of her baby and gave her life to keep him safe. Audrey’s life had been in the line of fire more than once because of her nephew. Ale had promised to keep Angel safe from a man whose conscience had died long ago, and who hadn’t hesitated to murder a child’s mother. “We need to draw Trujillo out.”

“What does that have to do with Angel?”

“Trujillo is searching for him.” He held her gaze, waiting for the idea to sink in. Eyes widening, a shadow soon clouded them, and Ale inched back in anticipation of the storm’s fallout.

“You want to use my nephew as bait?”

The low hiss of her voice snaked its way through his heart, causing it to constrict in pain.
She’ll never trust me after this.
Ale’s lips remained glued together and he could only nod.

Audrey launched from the couch, her hands weaving through her loose hair. “I can’t believe this.”

“There’s a possibility the raid we’ve planned won’t succeed. Not knowing exactly when Alba will show his face — it’s the one variable we can’t control unless…”

She whirled to face him, her lips thinning as her rigid jaw set in defiance. “And you want to use a five-year-old boy to what, control the equation?”

“Aud—”

“He’s just a boy!”

“Audrey!” Ale shot up, catching a brief glance at Angel, who’d turned his attention from the television to observe the two of them. Taking Audrey’s arm, he propelled her into the kitchen area a few yards away from the couches. She tugged and pulled, but Ale kept her restrained — and close. “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind,” he said, defensive over her lack of faith in him.

“Then what
do
you have in mind?”

The only time he went against his judgment was in his dealings with the woman who stood a breath away, and he still hadn’t regretted it. But using Angel to draw out a man like Trujillo — he’d rue the day Trujillo controlled him — and that day was today.

Control was something Ale hated to lose. Ever since his mother kicked him out of the house and he had to depend on family he barely knew, Ale made a plan to never let someone rule him again.

Until Audrey.

I’ll tackle that problem later.
Right now, Audrey expected an idea from him that wouldn’t involve her nephew. With the operation only hours away, the likelihood Phillips would entertain new ideas was slim — especially if he didn’t think of them first.

Audrey held his gaze, her dark pupils shrinking as her eyes iced over. “I’m waiting.”

“You don’t trust me.”

“Perhaps I trust you too much.”

A corner of his mouth twitched upward. “Something tells me you’re not talking about Angel, but we’ll get to that later.” Blood seeped into her cheeks, her thin lips plumping as she wet them. The action should have had his own blood surging through him, but the birth certificate sparked an idea.

“I’m waiting—”

“Carlos.”

Her brows meshed. “What?”

“He’s your nephew’s father, right?”

Eyes widening, Audrey inhaled sharply. “If you’re suggesting we give Angel to Carlos—”

“I’m suggesting we turn Carlos.”

****

“That might not be a bad idea,” Brooks said as he stroked the hairs of his jet-black goatee, a look of contemplation on his face.

Phillips set scrutinizing eyes on Angel’s birth certificate. “And you’re sure this is authentic.”

Ale resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “It makes perfect sense — why Penny was so adamant about not wanting to work with us. Trujillo would think the child was his, and when he discovered it was actually Carlos’s kid…”

Phillips nodded slowly. “So you want to tell Carlos he has a son — Penny’s son — and you think he’ll give us information on Alba?”

The plan was simple enough, and that meant anything could go wrong. Would Carlos believe the birth certificate? Ale recalled the look that had crossed Carlos’s face at the mention of Penny’s death. The man was in love with her.
But will he chance it?
What if he saw a picture of his son? Using even an image of Angel wouldn’t go over well with his aunt. Ale frowned. “Carlos has to have an incentive to turn on Alba. He had to leave Penny here with Trujillo — the man who killed her. If he knows he has a son—”

“He may be up for a bit of revenge.” Brooks chuckled while rubbing his hands together. His gleeful smile brought out one from Ale.

Phillips’s unconvinced voice put the celebration on hold. “Knowing his son might not be enough to convince him to work with the feds.”

“Can we get some top cover from the district attorney? Immunity perhaps?” Ale asked.

“Immunity for a drug runner? That’s hardly likely.”

“Come on, boss.” Ale kept his eyes on Phillips, who took another look at the birth certificate before eyeing the men in the room.

“Alright, I’ll get on the phone with the DA. Santiago, if you’re going to turn Carlos, you need to do it
now
. We raid in less than forty-eight hours.”

Ale gave him a curt nod in acknowledgment. “I’m on it.” He moved immediately to the door before Phillips could change his mind.

Now all I have to do is convince Audrey to play along
.

Chapter Ten

CARLOS ran a shaky hand through his greased hair and licked his dry lips. He continued to glance around as if he expected to be followed.

“Relax, this won’t take long,” Ale reassured him in a low voice.

“You said Trujillo—”

“Doesn’t know a thing.”

“
Hermano
, that’s dangerous.”

Ale shifted the junk part in his arms as he led Carlos to the far edge of the lot. Tossing the mangled metal part onto a pile of other useless pieces, he turned to Carlos, who came up behind with his trashed part, a ruse Ale used to get them some privacy. “It was necessary.”

“What’s this about?” Carlos heaved his part onto the pile before wiping his hands on his jeans and placing them on his hips.

“What was your relationship with Lana?”

Carlos didn’t move. Even though the sun had since set, the air was heavy with dry heat, keeping the coolness of the evening at bay. Ale ignored the trail of sweat running down the side of his face, his eyes keen on Carlos for any sudden movements.

Carlos’s lips twitched. “Trujillo wants to know.”

Ale shook his head. “No, just me.”

Carlos laughed harshly. “Right. Like I’m going to say anything about Lana. I know she was Trujillo’s, and that’s
all
I know.” He turned on his heel.

It was time to be direct. “She had a son. Your son.”

Carlos skidded to a halt.

“She left Trujillo, knowing the kid was yours. He may have killed her because of him.”

Carlos’s rigid back crumbled, and the man struggled to stand. Ale remained still, quietly watching Carlos’s response as it tore through him. The man bent, hands on his knees, and released a choked sob. After a few moments, he stood to full height, his back expanding widely as he inhaled before returning to its original form.

Carlos faced Ale, pale streaks on his face distinguishing the path of tears through the sweaty grime. “
¿Mi hijo?
”

“
Sí, su hijo.
”

“How… how do you know?”

Reaching into his back pocket, Ale removed the folded birth certificate. He straightened the page as Carlos came forward, his hand out to receive it. “She must have been sure. You’re listed as the father.”

Carlos’s eyes shifted all around as he read the certificate. “But maybe it’s a mistake.”

Ale anticipated a level of suspicion. Penny hadn’t contacted Carlos, and for five years, she’d raised his son alone. The tears, however, surprised Ale. Perhaps there was more to the relationship between Carlos and Penny than just sex. At least it was for Carlos. “Take a DNA test.”

“Take a DNA test?” Carlos peered at Ale from beneath hooded lashes. Ale remained silent, allowing Carlos to come to the conclusion on his own. “You know where the boy is?”

Ale nodded. Carlos blinked rapidly, and then opened his mouth to speak, but he licked his lips instead.
This is it.
Counting on the emotional impact of the news of having a son, Ale surmised Carlos was ready.

“
¿Dónde? ¿Dónde está mi hijo?
” he nearly shouted.

“Shhh!” Ale grabbed a fist full of shirt and yanked Carlos close. “Trujillo is searching for him, remember? He thinks the kid is his.
Tranqilo.
”

“
Sí, sí, lo siento.
”

Fixing him with an irritated glare, Ale released him and did a quick walk around a few piles of trash, looking for anyone who might have observed their conversation. When he returned, Carlos was noticeably calmer, although breathing quite rapidly.

“Okay, where is he?”

Hands on hips, Ale studied the eager father. Audrey’s life would suddenly become complicated if Carlos put up a fight for custody. No doubt she’d win in court due to Carlos’s absence and illegal activities. The marshals and the DEA planned to arrest Carlos at the raid, but if he asked for immunity from the charges… Would Angel want to know his father? Ale grimaced at the thought. Knowing his father, or not knowing him, caused Ale enough heartache to last a lifetime. He wouldn’t wish that on Angel. The kid deserved better.

But he wouldn’t say that to Carlos. Instead, he’d have to make Carlos believe he had a chance to raise his son. “I’ll take you to him, but you’re going to have to do something for me.”

A look of impatience crossed his features. “What?”

“You have to give me Alba.”

****

How is it I trust him more than I trust myself?

Audrey picked at the food on her plate while Angel made ravenous sounds, cramming a fork full of cheesy potatoes into his tiny mouth. Mel had driven them back to the safe house to wait out the results of the raid on Trujillo’s garage. Not wanting to be left alone, Audrey had asked Mel to stay behind. Mel spent most of her time on the phone in the loft, leaving Audrey to encourage Angel to be as active as possible in order to take her mind off the raid — and the man in charge of it.

The man she was falling in love with.

God, why does he have to be such a good kisser? This can’t possibly go anywhere, can it? You have to help me because I won’t be able to say “no” the next time—

Childish laughter interrupted her thoughts. “Auntie Audrey, you spill!”

Elbow on the table and fork in the air, cheese dripped from the edges of her fork, a cheesy web to a pile of potatoes on her yellow shirt.
Well, at least it’s the same color.
Scooping up the potatoes, she placed them on the edge of her plate, away from the rest of her food. Angel still giggled and her chuckle betrayed her foul mood.

Audrey said a silent prayer of thanks for her nephew’s positivity. He seemed to be adjusting well to having her as his guardian. At night, he’d still enter her room and climb into bed with her. Occasionally, Audrey caught him wiping a tear away before heaving a huge sigh and continuing with whatever game he was playing or book he was reading. She envied his courage, but her heart burned with pride knowing her sister had impressed in him a firm foundation of character and faith. Each night he said his prayers, asking God to say hello to his mother and to keep “the marshal” safe. Soon she’d take him home with her to Virginia to start a new chapter in his life.
Can I be everything he needs?

You don’t deserve it.

Ale had said she didn’t deserve the guilt she heaped on herself for her sister’s bad choices in life.

You didn’t fail her.

Her sister affirmed Ale’s words in her letters to her.
But why can’t I believe them? It’s just this situation. As soon as this operation is over and I get Angel back home, everything will get better.

The clicking of heels on the metal steps from the loft allowed Audrey another outlet to channel her frustrations. Mel returned to the kitchen, her lips tight and eyes heavy with gravity. Upon seeing his partner, Audrey’s thoughts immediately returned to Alejandro Santiago — and his kiss. Audrey groaned, placing a hand to her forehead.

“Something wrong, Audrey?”

Yes!
“Nothing I can’t handle, Mel.”
I think.

Mel plopped into a seat between her and Angel and reached for the spoon in the potato dish. “Mmm, this looks good. I think I’ll have a few bites before I go.”

Audrey dropped her hand from her eyes. “What? You’re leaving?” It’s not as if she and Angel hadn’t been alone at the safe house, but today, after her harrowing escape from Trujillo’s men at the bus station, she wanted a familiar face nearby and preferably one with a gun. She’d even consider giving Mrs. MacGruber a call.

“An agent is on his way to sit out front, like usual. I need to get some rest. I have an early morning tomorrow, coordinating with the DEA. I’ll be leading the beta team during the raid.”

“And who’s leading the alpha team?” As soon as the question was out of her mouth, the answer came to her, along with a wave of heat in her cheeks. “Let me guess, Ale?”

Mel shot her a playful smirk. “You know it. He doesn’t play second string. He’ll be doing takedowns from inside the garage.”

“He’s going to convince this Carlos guy to turn state’s evidence, right?”

Mel chewed her food, a look of hesitancy crossing her features. Perhaps she wasn’t supposed to discuss specific details of the case with her, even when Ale did. Audrey was about to apologize when Mel responded. “That’s the plan. If we can get Carlos on our side, we’ll have him hand us Alba. That way we won’t have to guess when to storm the garage.”