Page 55 of Reckless Woman
He’s a formidable opponent.
He won’t go down as easily as my father predicts.
I drop my feet from the desk. There’s no point in staying. My work here is done. The next time I step foot in this office, this will all be mine anyway.
I’m halfway to the door when the phone on his desk starts ringing.
I pause.Could it be the man we’re so eager to find?The missing link to Santiago’s organization—the lone FBI agent who hides himself deeper in the dark than the Shadow Man himself?
I let the call ring out, but it springs into life again. Pretty soon, it’s a constant loop of noise that’s in danger of catching Santiago’s attention.
Could it be confirmation aboutEl Asesino’sbody?
It takes me three steps to cover the distance to the desk.
I’ll pick it up and listen.
I won’t say a word.
I lift the receiver, and then a dead man starts talking to me.
“Jesus, Dante, pick up your damn phone once in a while! I’ve been calling your cell for the last half hour.”
The dead sound restless, angry, and very much alive.
The room starts spinning.This can’t be.We had pictures of him climbing into the jet. We had pictures of him departing.
“Dante?” he repeats impatiently. “Dante, for fuck’s sake. I know you’re pissed with me, but carve another hole in my stomach later. Your family is in danger.”
I tuck that information away as a new plan falls into place.
“Dante—”
“I can hear you, Joseph Grayson.”My voice is clear and untroubled as I pull the rug clean out from under him. “I trust you had an unpleasant flight?”
There’s a pause, followed by a curse. “What the fuck are you doing in his office?”
“Being warmed by the Santiago fires and sharing his bourbon.” I laugh pleasantly.The crueler the lie, the more agonizing the sting.“I believe Eve and Sofía are cooking me a ‘welcome to the family’ dinner tonight. It’sPaella Valenciana. One of my uncle’s favorite.
“Stay away from them!” he roars.
My laughter turns into a taunt. “I knew that cold composure would crack, sooner or later. Every man has his pressure points.”
“And every woman has a price. Who the hell are you working for?”
“I’m working for God. How are you still enjoying life?”
“Divine intervention…enjoy the last few minutes of yours.”
“I plan on enjoying it for a lot longer than that. I warned you in Colombia you’d be left behind in the wilderness, and there you are.”
And here I am.
“Who do you think he’s going to believe, Viviana. You or me? History shouts louder than bullshit.”
“This is a pointless argument,” I say as the wails of a newborn baby filter under the door. “Whatever you think you know about me—”
“I know plenty. Enough to have Santiago rip your spine right out of throat.”