Desire & Deception (Entangled Ignite) by Sahara Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

the title when Felipe was around. “You remember what orders are, right, Cruz?” He crowded him, staring down with open contempt.
    “Yes, Boss.” His jowls jiggled with an enthusiastic nod. “You can count on me. I’ve been in law enforcement for over a dozen years. Never had a problem. No, sir.”
    Kris didn’t move. He needed Cruz to understand the consequences of his failure to comply. Getting a reaction wouldn’t take much. He could already feel the tension in the older man. Cruz swallowed hard, taking a step back.
    Kris suppressed a satisfied smile. “What’s the latest on the blonde woman?”
    Cruz cleared his throat. “She’s talking a lot, but not saying shit.”
    He’d expected as much. He remained aloof as he motioned toward the second floor. “Don’t go near Tessa.” His voice was sharp and precise. “I don’t want her riled up when I get back.”
    “I’ll make sure everyone stays downstairs, Boss.”
    Kris rummaged under the sink until he found a plastic bag large enough to hold Tessa’s belongings. The lacy bra taunted him from atop the pile, reminding him she remained upstairs, naked under his shirt.
    “Find anything of interest in the girls’ car?”
    Cruz’s eyebrows shot up. “I-I don’t know. I got here right before you.” He sprinted to the window and searched the yard. Muttering an oath, he skittered around to face Kris. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he licked his dry lips.
    “Cruz.” Kris squared his shoulders. “Tell me Oscar didn’t leave the car on the road.” He did not have time for this crap.
    “Oscar! Idiot!” Cruz checked the back room and the one across from the vault. “Where the hell are you?” He returned, rubbing his chest.
    Kris clamped his jaw. “He mistakes the target and runs the vehicle off an embankment. He gets his ass kicked by a five-foot-nothing girl then has her run head-first into the car. He leaves her knocked out when she might have a concussion then goes after her while she’s tied up.” Kris waved his hand in the air. “Now this.”
    Cruz grabbed a discarded napkin and mopped his brow. He peered out from under the damp piece of paper and slowly shrugged. Damn, if he didn’t look like a dog that had wet the carpet.
    Tension ran along Kris’s back and shoulders. This was the worst possible time for anyone to screw up. Oscar had been an occasional enforcer, not here every day like the others. “How did he end up on this job?”
    “H-he’s been working with us for a while, Boss.”
    “I’m aware of that, but how did he end up here ?”
    “I promoted him.” Cruz rubbed his forehead. “He’s done good ’til now. He’d never screwed up like this before, nothing this bad.”
    “Running them off the road could’ve killed them. We don’t need a dead American leading the authorities back to any of the safe houses.” He tried to pop his neck to relieve some of the strain stiffening his muscles. “He may do well putting a bullet in someone, but this part of the business takes more finesse. The stakes have risen with this one.”
    “Right, Boss. Moving him up was a stupid mistake,” he said, chagrined.
    “Who’s his padrino ?”
    Cruz hesitated for a second. “Felipe.”
    Kris scoffed. “Some damn godfather he turned out to be.” Great! Another show of questionable judgment from Felipe. “He needs to get his ass in here to clean up this goddamn mess. He’s responsible for everything his boy does.”
    “I’ll fix this mess immediately.”
    “Yes.” His voice was lined with steel. “You will.”
    Furious, Kris stalked over to his 4x4. He tossed the bag with Tessa’s things in the back of the double cab. The car might have been towed by now. If the girls’ documents were found, they might be reported to the authorities. That meant problems, big, expensive ones. If he hadn’t been distracted by Tessa, he might’ve gotten the blonde to leave the club with him. Money or drugs worked with that type of woman and he had both