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But if Zap thought that he’d give in without a fight, he was wrong.
Sleep didn’t take him. Almanza closed his eyes, only able to envision the SEAL bleeding out. He had to accept that the guy had survived, but that didn’t mean he’d live very much longer. He was on Almanza’s hit list, no matter what his boss directed.
No man survived an assassination. It hadn’t happened before. The way Almanza saw it, the dude had received a temporary stay, that was all. His life was over one way or the other.
When dawn lit the windows, Almanza’s phone vibrated. He hesitated a second before answering.
“I assume you received the news.”
“Si, jefe.” Almanza wasn’t about to apologize. A show of strength was best.
“I don’t tolerate screw-ups,” Zap said. “I want the woman. Am I clear? No more delays. No excuses.”
Almanza couldn’t believe his ears. The boss had given him an order. He was to live a little longer.
“I’ve sent a crew your way. Use the soldiers to execute my orders.” Zap paused. “If the SEAL gets in the way, kill him. And don’t miss this time.”
“Si, jefe.”
Almanza had an opportunity to get in good with the boss again. He wasn’t about to blow it. There wouldn’t be a next time. The boss would see to that.
*****
Lela didn’t mind staying in her apartment with Rip. She just wished the circumstances were different. But she’d made the best of it.
The good part was sharing her bed with him. She could get used to that, yet didn’t know if she’d have that chance. But Rip remained confident that he’d get her through all of this alive.
As much as Lela wanted to believe him, it was difficult to quell her fears. She was hiding out in her own apartment, listening to music on headphones and microwaving meals. Meanwhile, a deadly assassin lurked in the city, waiting for another opportunity.
It didn’t seem like she had the winning hand. But maybe things would change.
On the third morning, Rip heard from Travis. The call lasted a few minutes. It seemed there were details to be relayed, and the next move to be agreed upon. Lela hung on every word, trying to decipher the conversation from Rip’s responses.
When the call ended, Rip smiled. “Good stuff.”
“Tell me, please. The suspense is too much.”
“Ortiz has money stashed overseas, a lot of it. And the information you handed over includes the banks and account numbers.”
“You’re kidding.”
“He’s been at this for a while, probably stealing from campaign funds and scooping from the cartel,” Rip said. “That connection Ortiz has in the organization probably suspects him of ripping them off. The cartel doesn’t gain and retain control by being stupid.”
“Jesus…Ortiz thinks he can hide that much money?” Lela furrowed her brow. “Things are beginning to fall into place.”
“Are you thinking what I am?”
“The cartel is hot on my trail because they suspect I know about the hidden stash. And they want it,” Lela said.
“Travis agrees,” Rip said. “An alternative would be to torture the senator and make him spill it, give the account numbers. But there would be problems with that route.”
“Yeah, like the fact that he’s out on bail.” Lela shook her head. “If the cartel messes with him, it’s like admitting complicity.”
“That’s why it would be a last resort. It’s more direct to get the information from you, take possession of the cash, and let Ortiz face the court.”
Lela cringed. “I only now learned of the accounts. The cartel’s interrogation would have come up dry.”
“There’s no way I’d allow you to fall into their hands,” Rip said.
