“He should.” Noah shrugged, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. “I think that’s up to the Department of Justice, but I think you have some strings you can pull there,” he said, referencing my dad.
“You’re right.” I tossed the magazine on top of the bed and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Thanks so much for your help. I know Ryker’s paying you, but you didn’t have to do it. You probably have better things to do than play babysitter and accompany me to meetings.”
He leaned back and my hands slid from his body. “I would’ve done it for free.” He brushed his knuckles along my jaw, and my heart tripped in my chest. “You needed help and I wanted to be the one to help you. You didn’t deserve what happened to you.”
Unease trickled down my spine. I laughed nervously and backpedaled a few steps, my eyes trained on the grains of hardwood beneath my bare feet.
“It all worked out. It led me to Ryker so I can’t be mad about that. He makes me happy.”
He took one step closer to me, his golden eyes focused on me with enough heat to unnerve me. The air around us pressed against my chest, suffocating me. “Does he really make you happy or is that just what you want to believe?”
I shook my head slowly from side to side, never taking my eyes off him. “Noah, what’s going on? What are you doing?”
He grabbed my hand. “Why are you with Ryker?”
My throat thickened. “Because I love him,” I choked out.
His lips pursed into a tight line. “Do you really? Or are you just holding onto him because you don’t feel like you have anyone else who cares about you? Or because of the baby?”
Tension curled my muscles into tight balls, and my pulse galloped inside my chest. “I don’t need to explain anything to you.” I yanked my hand away from him.
“You do understand that Ryker and Rever are trying to wrestle control of the Vargas Cartel from Ignacio.”
“Why would they do that? Neither of them wants anything to do with it.”
“They didn’t want anything to do with the cartel when it meant being controlled by Ignacio. If they could call the shots, they might feel differently. That’s what is going on right now, or at least that’s what my sources suspect.”
Stunned, hurt, and angry didn’t begin to express how I felt at that moment. My stomach swirled uncomfortably, and my knees wilted. I stumbled backward and sat on the bed. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”
“I didn’t want to spell it out. I wanted you to read between the lines.”
I pressed my palms into my eyes, willing the tears to disappear. I needed to be strong. I promised Ryker I’d be strong. He promised we’d end up together, and I still wanted a life with him even if it meant I’d be the wife of a notorious drug lord. I nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of my reality.
“Do you realize what you’ll be giving up to be with him?”
My hands dropped from my face. “I think I have an idea?” The words came out as a question.
“You’d be ostracized by your family. You won’t be able to come back to the States. Ryker would keep you tucked away in a glass cage for the rest of your—”
“No, he wouldn’t,” I said, interrupting him.
“He wouldn’t have any choice. If he didn’t, his rivals would use you to get to him.”
Even though I wanted to sink to my knees, I pretended to be unfazed. I stood, ignoring the sinking feeling in my gut. “I trust Ryker. He would never do anything like that.” I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “I need to get dressed. Please leave.”
His heated stare settled on me, and it felt like I was standing in front of the pearly gates on judgment day. My gaze dipped to my feet, and I studied the circular grains on the hardwood floor. I had to look away. Otherwise, I think I would’ve shattered into a million unrecognizable pieces.
“Think about it, Hattie. You’re not meant for that kind of life. You need to find someone who’s willing to choose you over everything.”
Spots dotted my vision and anger gnawed at my heart. I wouldn’t leave him, not even if it meant a lifetime as part of the Vargas Cartel. I wasn’t stupid. I understood what kind of things he’d have to do if he succeeded. He’d kill and torture people, but none of that would stop me from loving him. When I looked at Ryker, I’d always see who he was deep down in his heart.
“Ryker is that person,” I hissed. “Stop this.” I sliced my hand through the air. “Whatever it is. I know what I’m doing. I understand the risks. I don’t expect everything to be perfect, but I do expect you to keep your opinion to yourself unless I ask you for it.”
He raked his hands through his hair. Disapproval etched deep grooves into his forehead. “You’re right. I should keep my opinions to myself. I shouldn’t ask all the questions that come to mind.” He smiled, but he looked pained. “But if you need help getting away or you realize you’re in over your head, I’ll help you. All you have to do is call. You know that, right?”
I nodded, my insides coiling from the sincerity in his eyes. “Thanks, Noah. I appreciate the offer. I really do, but I knew when I chose Ryker that everything wouldn’t be sunshine and rainbows. I’m not going to back out now.” He opened his mouth to respond, and I shook my head. “I don’t want to back out.”
He sighed and walked toward the door. “All right, Hattie. I won’t say anything else. Just know the option is always there whether it’s two months or two years from now.”
My heart constricted at his protective words. “Why do you want to help me?”
He lifted one shoulder, a faint smile on his lips. “You remind me of someone I used to know.”
“Do you want to elaborate?”
“Maybe some other time.”
I nodded. “How long are you sticking around here?”
“Actually, I’m leaving this afternoon. I have a new assignment overseas.”
His gaze lingered on me for a moment and then he closed the door softly. I sat on the edge of the bed and bowed my head. I hoped Ryker made good on his promises because I had successfully alienated everyone who had ever cared about me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ryker
Rever finished tying Emanuel’s legs and arms to the chair and then he rolled his sleeves to his elbows.
“Point the camera over here,” Rever said as he pulled the pillowcase off Emanuel’s head. “And make sure you get his entire body on the screen.”
After we arrived at the compound yesterday, we did a half-assed job at patching up Emanuel’s wounds, and left him shackled to the wall in the same shack where I’d housed Hattie months ago. Today, we needed to do everything possible to get Emanuel to confess on tape. We wouldn’t kill him, though. We’d save that decision for Ignacio.
I angled the tripod to capture Emanuel’s entire body on the video and peeked through the lens. “I think I’ve got it.”
“Good.” Rever twirled his knife through his fingers like a baton. “I think I’ll spare you the explanation of what’s going to happen now,” Rever said as he circled Emanuel’s chair. “We all have intimate knowledge of how these types of interrogations work.”