No One Heard Her Scream

Besides, trusting someone else would be his first step back to a normal life. He'd been an undercover persona non grata for such a long time, he didn't know if he had it in him. But for Rebecca, he would be willing to try.

Diego only hoped he wasn't pinning a bull's-eye on his own back.

'I need time to think. I'll give you my decision tomorrow.' Diego turned to leave.

Yeah, right. Like you have a choice, she fumed. His posturing left her frustrated. He hadn't admitted to being an undercover fed, but he hadn't denied it either. In Galvan's world, secrets were never in short supply.

But as he grabbed the fire escape rail and swung a leg over the wall to straddle it, Becca's eyes strayed to areas of Diego's body she wouldn't have the nerve to stare at with him watching. She pictured him without a stitch of clothes. And the vivid image brought a rush of blood to her cheeks . . .and elsewhere. In every way, this man would be a handful.

'Don't think too much, Galvan. If I don't hear from you, I'm moving on to my version of a Plan B. And I guarantee, you won't like it.'

She followed him to the edge, crossing her arms, chin raised. Becca had to make him believe she intended to go through with this. But before Diego started down the steps, he fixed his dark eyes on her. This time, he didn't bother to hide his appetite. The lust in his eyes mesmerized her.

'Threats don't work with me. But I've always found a little honey goes a long way.'

He pulled her to his chest, wrapping her in his strong embrace. Diego plunged his tongue into her mouth and teased her with the promise of unrestrained sex. Nothing delicate about this kiss. A moan of pleasure rumbled in his chest and resonated through her body, making her light-headed and weak in the knees. A powerful quiver raced across her skin. But all too suddenly, the kiss was over, leaving her empty and wanting more.

Eyes wide, she couldn't move. Her feet were planted like a damned geranium in a heavy clay pot.

'Until tomorrow, Rebecca.'

His chest heaving, Diego stroked a finger across her cheek with yearning in his eyes and a kindhearted smile on his handsome face.

'And I do understand the importance of family, more than you know,' he whispered.

The gentle tone in his voice and his affectionate touch on her cheek lingered long after he had gone down the fire escape. Becca leaned against the wall and watched him go. In the wake of his heated kiss, Diego's sudden tenderness touched her heart. She wanted to take everything back.

Blackmail was no way to start a relationship.

But speaking aloud would only break the spell. Becca touched her lips, trying to hold on to the fevered sensation of his kiss, the urgency of it. And despite her threats, the man maintained his dignity.

She hadn't deserved his generosity, but she'd take it—especially if it meant justice for Danielle and Isabel.

Across the river, a man stood in the shadows of another rooftop, pulling the binoculars down from his battered face. Following the detective home from the police station to find out where she lived had paid off in spades. Matt Brogan couldn't believe his stroke of good luck.

'Well, I'll be damned.' He grinned. Wicked thoughts of retribution dominated his mind. 'Why the hell are you so fuckin' cozy with a cop you only met this morning, Galvan?'

He couldn't help it. A chuckle rolled through his chest, giving voice to the smirk on his face. The gesture made his bruises ache and his broken nose throb—a merciless reminder of the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Diego Galvan.

But no more.

He would finally have the upper hand with the Mex. Brogan had tried to catch Galvan off the estate by following him, to see where he went after hours. But he'd been caught every time and ridiculed afterward by the slick SOB. He should have thought of this before. All he needed was the right bait. Brogan couldn't wait to see the look on Cavanaugh's face when he reported this. The old man would be pleased. He might even earn points with Rivera, uncovering his boy playing tonsil hockey with a cop from the SAPD.

Matt Brogan would enjoy killing Diego Galvan, a slow, agonizing death—a gift to the boss man and a show of respect to the Rivera clan. All in one package. And with any luck, Cavanaugh would reward him for a job well done by giving him the sexy cop. He grew hard just thinking about it.

'I told you it would only be a matter of time, Mex. Now you're mine.'

CHAPTER7

Cavanaugh Estate

An Hour Later

He had a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. Overnight, the universe must have realigned and his luck turned—and not in a good way. A dark premonition weighed heavy.

After a quick finger comb of his ashen hair, Hunter Cavanaugh pulled at the sash of his black silk robe, as he stood at the top of the grand staircase. Only minutes earlier, a servant had awakened him, rapping on his bedroom door. An urgent matter. Now he looked down into the foyer, awash in pale light. Brogan paced near the entry. The man's heavy footfalls echoed on imported tile, an ominous noise at this hour.

With a hand gliding down the banister, he took a step at a time, his descent cautious. Nothing good ever came in the middle of the night. He made his facial expression a blank slate.

'This had better be important.'

Brogan stopped and turned, his face a mix of dread and a peculiar smugness.

'I followed the detective like you said,' he blurted out.

Before the man continued, Cavanaugh waved a hand to stop him.

'Let's talk in the study. I'm sure privacy is in order.'

Brogan followed him, close on his heels. When Cavanaugh crossed the threshold of the study, he flipped on an overhead light and dimmed it. He turned his head, and ordered, 'Close the door behind you.'

Cavanaugh poured himself a cognac and took a sip before he settled behind his desk. He did not offer any to Brogan, not until he heard what the man had to say. Brogan sat on the edge of a black leather chair, leaning forward to place an elbow on the corner of Cavanaugh's desk. A gesture he found presumptuous and rude.

Without waiting, Brogan continued his report.

'That detective, I followed her like you said. She lives down on the river in a condo. But when I set up my surveillance across from her windows, I found out she had a visitor.'

Brogan raised an eyebrow and nodded, a grin on his face. The man waited without another word. After a long moment, Cavanaugh spoke up.

'Tell me, Mr. Brogan, how long have you and I worked together?' His question threw Brogan.

The man narrowed his eyes and answered. 'Almost ten years, sir.'

'Yes, and in all that time, have you ever known me to play guessing games with you?' Cavanaugh asked.

'No, sir, guess not. I mean, no sir.' Brogan swallowed. His smirk faded for only a second, but it came back with a flourish. 'But you never woulda guessed in a million years. Turns out that sexy cop had a visitor waiting on her rooftop. And he didn't look to be a stranger, no sir.'

'Out with it, man,' Cavanaugh demanded, letting his anger seep to the surface.

'Diego Galvan. Rivera's boy and the hot cop, they got a thing going on.'

His words lingered in the air like exhaust fumes. Cavanaugh had a hard time catching his breath.

'What?' His heart leapt in his chest. Blood rushed to his face.

'Yep, they were goin' at it, hot and heavy. He even shelled out some bucks to buy her flowers. Looks like the Mex has been doin' her for a long time. And I know how you feel about coincidences, sir. I never trusted the bastard.'