“Welcome to DEA Denver, Mr. Black,” Katherine Longo says, standing and nodding. “Looks like you’ve had an eventful visit since you arrived.”
My spine tingles, because at first I’m sure she’s referring to the filthy sex I had with her daughter just this morning, but she doesn’t look pissed. In fact, she looks impressed as she sits again, tilting her head toward the chair beside her.
“Glad to be of service.” I nod back at the senator, then redirect my attention to the red-haired woman standing behind the desk. “Mason Black,” I say, reaching out to shake her hand.
“Meg Dawson. Glad to have you on the team, Mr. Black. I’m only peripherally involved, but the senator’s an old friend. She told me how invaluable you’ve been at gathering intel against our target. I’m hoping there’s more I can do to help.” Her businesslike expression softens incrementally, the lines at the corners of her eyes fading. “Whatever influence I have I will leverage in your favor. Getting your daughter out of Mexico is as much a priority as securing the data Zavala has to offer.”
“I appreciate it,” I say, struggling to keep my voice even. “I don’t suppose you’ll give me a shot at interrogating the two men we brought in, will you? There are a few things I need cleared up.”
Her bland smile is only meant to appease me, because she shakes her head. “We have someone who’s been briefed on the case taking point here in Denver, at least until Agent Booth is back in action. But if you have any insight you’d like to share, I’m sure it would help.”
“Just that you need to ask them who they answer to directly. If it’s Amador’s lieutenant, I want to know. He and I have history.”
Senator Longo turns and gives me a pointed look as Dawson leans back in her seat, eyes narrowing. “Gustavo Delgado, who we suspect has been a double agent, working for Arturo Flores but answering to Amador for at least a decade. Do you suspect he has aspirations to take over?”
“I just don’t trust the motherfucker. He’s always had his own agenda, which at the moment includes wanting me dead. I’d like to be clear on where that buck stops. Did the order come from Amador or not? If this operation succeeds—when it succeeds, if Gustavo’s still standing, I need to know if my life is fucking over.”
She tilts her head, studying me. “But if Delgado’s loyalties were split before, we may be able to turn him. Use him against Amador.”
“Delgado’s a ruthless son of a bitch. He wants power and money. Self-preservation is a strong second, but he’s no pussy. He’s like a wild animal—he’ll only run if fighting’s more likely to get him killed. I’m pretty sure that’s why he ran back to Amador a few years back. Flores would’ve killed him for risking his daughter’s life.”
I lean forward in my chair, looking at both women in turn. “He may be playing multiple sides, but I know the asshole. Whatever he’s doing, it’s aimed at leaving himself an out that secures as big a piece of the pie as possible. He might sell out Amador, but that would burn too many bridges he needs intact to take over, if that’s his plan. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty—to kill whoever’s in his way to get what he wants. He’s less likely to take the easy way out and turn.”
Dawson nods and picks up her phone. She gives a handful of terse commands to guide the interrogation about to happen, then hangs up again. “We’ll find out what these men know. They’re locals, so it may not be much, but that’s all very valuable intel you just gave me. You really know Delgado, don’t you?”
My neck prickles and I turn to meet the senator’s intense stare, a little put off by how much she resembles Callie.
“Yeah,” I say, returning my gaze to Dawson. “He put my older brother in the hospital when we were in high school. He gets off on doing his boss’ dirty work. Always has. But lately I’m wondering if the lengths he goes to aren’t geared toward his own ends.”
“Why do you think he’s changed?” It’s Longo who asks this time, so I look at her again.
“Because Amador doesn’t know me from Adam. His conflict is with Flores. And while I don’t personally know how he works, I know what Flores has told me. He’s a single-minded bastard, and I’ve got to be far down his list of people to kill, if I’m even on it at all. I was responsible for one bad gun deal. So why the fuck am I still a target after that?”
She finishes for me. “Delgado’s pride was hurt when the deal failed and he’s taking it out on you.”
“He did take it out on me. The fucker caught and tortured me. I almost died. Of course, it gave Flores a good opening to suck me into this, but I gladly took the opportunity to turn things around for myself. Especially if it gives me a chance to get that fucker back. But now that he knows I’m alive after all, he’s trying to finish the job. It isn’t about preserving my own life anymore. I need him off my goddamn back once and for all before I bring my daughter home.”
I get a strange, giddy rush actually saying the word in mixed company for the first time, and both women give me understanding looks. Longo’s expression darkens, though.
“Is there any chance you can help us place Delgado’s whereabouts six years ago? There are pieces to an older, related case we’re trying to put together that will help ensure he’s taken down with Amador when the time comes.”
I shake my head. “Sorry, I was overseas. I had zero contact with him for about ten years straight. But I’m pretty sure Zavala’s intel shows all the
