Massive Attack (A Guy Niava Thriller Book 1) Dana Arama (ebooks children's books free TXT) 📖

him to get to you, Raphael.” Zorro moved towards him while rubbing her now free wrists, and smiled. “As far as I’m concerned you can shoot him now. The man is of no importance to me anymore…Oh, how I’ve missed you.”

Laura Ashton,

Approximately five kilometers from the El Desconocido estate, November 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Guy and Zorro quickly organized themselves. As he tied up the two protesting Mexicans, Guy glanced over at me and said quietly and casually, almost to himself, “If there is a trap waiting for us, then these two will be the only ones who can bring you to whoever is needed.” I thought I saw a flash of a smile at the corner of his mouth before he added, “If we don’t return from there, I trust you to find Jonathan and they,” he gestured to them with his head, “are your only lead as of now.”

I nodded my assent, and as if to calm him I added that I would try to get information out of them in the meantime, though we both knew it was not possible. I didn’t cut a threatening enough figure to wring any kind of intel from them on my own. In my hands, our hostages were no other than an entrance ticket. My gaze wandered back to the preparations before me. Zorro had taken another cartridge with her and both her and Guy examined their own equipment, and then one another’s. I gazed at them surreptitiously for a brief moment and felt a pang of jealousy. They were so in sync with one another, like a well-oiled machine. Professionals, beautiful and determined. They were about to make their way into the forest, towards the nearby farm, and from there would find a way to penetrate the El Desconocido estate. When they arrive there, they would have to break into the house, avoid the guards spread about the place, reach El Desconocido’s office, and convince him to cooperate.

Soon I was alone, a weapon in my hand, watching the two Mexicans that Guy had left tied up. I was left with the certainty that this was the time to stop talking and start acting. I felt the way I used to in college, before a final exam. Not just because my blood refused to acclimate to the altitude and the thin air, but because, in a way, the decisions I will make over the next few hours will be a test, which results could profoundly affect the fate of more than just one person.

As soon as Zorro and Guy had left his sight, Joaquin opened his mouth to speak. “You look like a lady of your word.” He ignored my attempt to answer him and said, “You promised to let me go, señorita.”

“Yes. I know. It is not possible right now, I’m sorry.”

“Necesito una fix,” mumbled Manuel, and started moving nervously on the floor of the car.

I kicked him, without rancor, and told him that I expected him to behave nicely until I could set him free. He relaxed a bit and Joaquin tried once again to persuade me. “I am a man of the law, señorita. I can assist you in your effort to fight El Desconocido and his men.”

“I am sure that if it were safe to use your services, they would have done so.” I tried to assuage his insistence.

I looked out of the car. Guy and Zorro were still visible, walking in the distance.

“It is not too late. I can call and have many cops come here,” Joaquin said.

“That’s not a bad idea at all,” I answered, “Because after all… who knows this place better than you?”

Joaquin exclaimed, “Exactly! You are right.”

Manuel panicked, “No, no, no! Don’t allow him. He will bring all the Jalisco and they will butcher us.” He groaned again. “I need a fix,” he mumbled, over and over. His body writhed in pain. I felt sorry for him. I wondered if Gail was like this, so addicted it usurped every other thought.

I looked away from Manuel and stared at the back window. Guy’s words still echoed in my ears and despite the fact that I knew he was right; I also knew that only one thing could spur me on. Guy had Jonathan, but I had Gail. I owed Gail a lifetime. I didn’t have a choice. As soon as Zorro and Guy had disappeared into the distance, I took the splint off my ankle and gently moved my foot. I hadn’t broken it. There was no doubt about that. The ache had subsided hours ago, without the help of the painkillers, which I had hid under my tongue until I could spit them out without being noticed.

I took the gun I was holding and shoved it in the back of my pants, then faced Joaquin and smiled. In a relaxed movement, I took his hat off his head and put it on mine. “May I?” He smiled back and said, “How can I refuse a beautiful lady like you?”

I smiled shyly at him and said, “Thank you for the compliment. How sure are you that El Desconocido is there?”

“He’s there!” Manuel’s eyes narrowed, as if he smelled danger nearby.

“And if he’s not there, where else could he be?”

“This is his last hiding place. He’s there, I promise you! He moved there just under a month ago and the place looks like a fortress, so if you want to see your friends alive again, release me and let me call the police.”

Manuel just nodded his head, his eyes glazed over. I ignored him.

“Are there girls there?” I asked. If his answer was negative, then Jonathan and maybe also the others had a chance.

He smiled with relief. “There are… a lot.” And then, laughing loudly, he added, “The guys like them and las chicas like the drugs. And there are lots and lots of drugs.”

I howled inwardly and a voice inside of me screamed, ‘Mom I will save her, I will force her to