Failed State (A James Winchester Thriller Book 1) (James Winchester Series) James Samuel (best book clubs txt) 📖

“I want it done as soon as possible. But we need to finish our business in Mexico first. Quezada has to die.”

“I told you,” James snapped. “I will not make this country worse than it is.”

“Your contract is to –”

“I know what the bloody contract is.” He vibrated with anger. “But that doesn’t mean I have to make the country worse than it already is. Killing Quezada after what we know will just play into Romero’s hands.”

A long pause settled between them.

Sinclair sighed over the line. “Not if we kill them both quickly. That way, nobody wins.”

“Alright, fine. Quezada believes I’ll honour my word. Romero first.”

“Romero first? Why?”

James smirked. “Because if Blake is working to destroy Santa Maria de Guadalupe by raising Fernando Gomez, that can only mean he’s going to have Quezada killed himself. We were brought in just to soften them up. Blake was brought in to take the glory of the kill. That’s always been his M.O.”

“That… that’s brilliant. Of course, Fernando couldn’t have done this on his own. That’s the real reason Blake was called in. Have you ever considered a career in intelligence?”

He couldn’t hide the wide smile spreading across his face. “Not on your life.”

“Anyway, what about the other issue?”

James turned towards the bedroom door, where he could hear the distinct sound of Jessi playing a game on her phone. “No. She’s still here.”

“We talked about this, James. You said you would do it. It has to be now. We have to go to Florida this week. She can’t go with you. If she goes, I’m out.”

“I know, but it’s not that easy. She doesn’t want to go back to Montoya.”

“I don’t care what she wants. She can’t stay with you. You’ll get her killed. She’ll become a target for everyone you’ve ever upset.”

James nodded at the carpet of gentle lights before him. He knew Jessi couldn’t stay. His lifestyle would never permit a full-time partner. It made him vulnerable, a weak point for his enemies to exploit. In the face of that cold logic, he had no counterargument.

“This isn’t difficult, James. You have no choice. You’ve had your fun with her, now send her back to her brother where she belongs. If he knows you took her home with you, we are going to have two angry cartels after our blood.”

“I know.”

“Fine. I’ll speak to you again when your passport is ready.”

James clicked his touchscreen to end the call. He glanced at the closed bedroom door. He’d known how this relationship would end the moment they left the hacienda and returned to James’ home in Guanajuato. The days they’d spent together had been a blur. He’d forgotten his work. He’d forgotten himself.

Did she know that this relationship had no hope of progressing beyond this short liaison?

His phone vibrated in his hand. He unlocked the screen to find a message from Sinclair. “It’s better to rip off the bandage quickly than drag it out. It’s for the best.”

James locked his phone and slipped it into his pocket. He knew he had to do this, but it didn’t make it any less agonising. Despite his job, he wasn’t a monster, or at least that’s what he liked to believe.

“Jessi.” He knocked on the door. “Are you awake? We need to talk.”

“Yes, cariño.”

James entered the room to find her lying on the bed wearing nothing but a black t-shirt barely reaching the tops of her thighs. At that moment, he wanted her. He wanted her bad, but Sinclair’s message rang clear. This couldn’t go on. A few days was already too long. The longer he took the harder it would be. He had to face the truth.

“Look, Jessi.” James sat on the edge of the bed. “I need to tell you something and I need to be honest about what’s going on. I came to the hacienda to save you from Quezada because I made a promise to your brother to return you to him.”

Jessi put her phone down. The happiness etched across her face ripped away like a child’s drawing caught in the wind. “I already told you I’m not going back to him. I don’t want that kind of life for myself.”

James sighed. “I know, but I’m leaving. I can’t stay. In my line of work, I can’t protect you. You have to go.”

She cradled her hands in front of her as she crossed her legs, her head falling towards them with the weight of it all. James felt rotten for saying the words, but he had to. He got off the bed for fear of becoming too close to her. Feelings didn’t matter in this business.

“I’ll take you back to your brother today,” he said matter-of-factly.

Her eyes stung red with tears. “No, I won’t go. You can’t make me.”

James locked gazes with her. “There’s no other choice.”

“You don’t understand.” Jessi leapt up from the bed. “You don’t understand Mexican families and you don’t understand what it’s like to be the family of a narco. Always being watched. Always being controlled. Never knowing if something’s going to happen to you or someone you love. That’s not how I want to live.”

He threw his hands up. “What did you think was going to come of this?”

“I don’t know,” she cried. “I don’t know. All I know is I won’t go back to him.”

James didn’t say anything. No, he didn’t have a cold enough heart to force her back to Montoya.

“Are you going to take me back?”

He shook his head slowly but deliberately. “No, it’s your choice. You do what you like. But you’re still the sister of a drug lord. You’re still marked for death. Quezada and the rest of