Hidden Prey (Lawmen) (33 page)

The material felt slightly stiff against her fingers as she smoothed down the top layer of the ruffles on her dress. Ruffles. She hoped she didn’t look like a child. She had wanted to wear something more sophisticated for her
Quinceañera
, but she truly had known better when it came to her grandfather.

She paused to look at herself in a hall mirror and pushed her shoulders back so that she stood straight and proud. She was a Jimenez and she would present herself like one. Not only would friends and family be here, but her grandfather had invited business partners, too. It was an excuse for all to enjoy a party at a home designed for parties.

Maria had curled Angelina’s long hair into ringlets before sweeping it up off her neck and pinning it to the top of her head. She allowed ringlets to drop down from the upsweep. It was a very adult style. Like Angelina had promised her grandfather, her makeup was light. But she liked the way the mascara and eyeliner enhanced her eyes and the light lipstick made her look more mature.

She turned away from the mirror and wandered around parts of the house she didn’t normally go to.

Guests would be arriving now, and she needed to stay out of sight until it was time for her to be presented. She decided to go to the wing that her grandfather had designated as off-limits for children. She wasn’t a child any longer, so she felt comfortable and even excited to explore the wing.

The pink dress brushed her ankles as she walked down the hallway. It was dim here, and it had a quiet, unused feel to it. Perhaps there was nothing to explore in this place. Still she strolled along. When she reached the end of the wing, she turned to go back. A door to her right opened and her heart nearly stopped. Even though she was not a child anymore, a part of her was still afraid her grandfather would object.

But she was better off facing whatever consequences she might have to. Besides, it was the day of her party. Surely she would be allowed some leniency.

With her chin raised, she looked at the door that was slowly opening, ready to face whoever might be coming out.

A woman peered out and her eyes widened when she saw Angelina.

Angelina’s heart stuttered. The woman had bruises on her face and arms, and she was covered in what looked like blood. It was on her shirt, her bare belly, her jeans, and even her shoes. Her dark hair even appeared to be matted with blood.

The woman stood frozen in the doorway. Angelina froze too, feeling as if she might not be able to walk if she tried.

“Help me.” The woman’s voice was a rasp. She looked dizzy and like she might pass out.

Angelina found the strength to move and neared the woman, yet kept a few feet between them. “Who are you?”

“My name is Tori.” The woman responded in Spanish. She sounded fluent, yet she had a slight American accent. “I need help.” The woman who called herself Tori sagged as she leaned against the doorframe. “Please.”

“I don’t understand.” Angelina started to say more when she saw a weapon in Tori’s hand. Her heart pounded and she wondered if she should run. “You—you have a gun.”

Tori looked at her hand as if seeing the gun for the first time. “Protection.” She licked her lips as she looked at Angelina. “I need it for protection.”

“From what?” Angelina asked.

“Men who are trying to kill me.” Tori straightened, looking as though she’d just remembered that she should be on guard. “The Jimenez Cartel.”

Angelina’s lips parted and she blinked rapidly. “There’s no cartel here. And certainly not a Jimenez Cartel.”

“Diego Jimenez is the leader of one of the most ruthless cartels in Mexico.” Tori continued speaking as Angelina’s belly bottomed out. “I witnessed Alejandro murder a man and they’ve been trying to kill me ever since.” The woman gave a laugh with no humor. “This time they decided to kidnap me. I don’t know exactly what they plan to do with me.”

Angelina shook her head vehemently. “My grandfather and uncle would never do such things. They are businessmen, not killers.”

Tori looked as though realization had just dawned on her. “You must be Angelina.”

Surprise made Angelina nearly speechless. She managed to say, “How do you know?”

“I overheard Diego and Alejandro talking about your
Quinceañera
tonight.” Tori seemed to be less dazed as she looked up and down the hall. “They kidnapped me from Arizona.”

Angelina just stared at Tori. “You are from the United States?”

“Alejandro and his men brought me here and they beat me.” Tori switched to English and spoke in a perfect American accent. “Do you speak English?”

Angelina nodded but confusion made her head spin. She replied in almost perfect English. “I do not understand why you are here and why you look as you do.”

A thought entered Angelina’s mind. She hadn’t understood what her grandfather was saying when she was outside his study the day she tried on her
Quinceañera
dresses, but his voice had sounded harsh in a way she’d never heard before. It had been as if he was a different person.

“Hide me, please.” Tori spoke in an urgent whisper. “I hear voices coming this way.”

The plea in the woman’s voice was so desperate that Angelina couldn’t help but respond. She pointed to a tree in a massive pot across the hall from the room Tori was in. “You can hide behind there for now. I will think of someplace else and come back.”

Tori slipped through the door and closed it behind her before hurrying across the hall. She slid down the wall behind the potted tree and huddled in the corner.

Angelina couldn’t stop thoughts from whirling through her mind. The woman must be crazy. There was no Jimenez Cartel, unless there was another Jimenez family who ran one. Her grandfather was a legitimate businessman, as was her Uncle Alejandro and her four great-uncles.

Why was the woman here? Why did she look bloody and beaten?

Should she tell her grandfather? Even though she’d heard his voice being rough and cold, that meant nothing. He couldn’t possibly be responsible for whatever had happened to Tori. Could he?

The voices came closer. For one terrible moment, Angelina did not know what to do.

She was a Jimenez. She knew how to act like a lady and remain calm. Maria and her grandfather had drilled it into her since she was a child.

Once again she raised her chin and started in the direction of the voices and recognized they belonged to her uncle and grandfather. She forced a bright smile.

“I sent a man to check on her.” Her uncle’s voice was hard. “He has not returned.”

Her?
Angelina thought.
Are they talking about Tori?

“Check on her.” Her grandfather sounded annoyed. “Nothing is to ruin tonight.”

“Hi, Grandfather, Uncle.” Angelina’s smile didn’t falter as she walked around the curve in the hallway. “Are you ready for my party?”

Both men looked surprised but recovered. “What are you doing in this wing?” Diego frowned. “I have told you many times it is off-limits.”

“You told me children are not allowed in this wing.” Angelina stopped walking and stood in front of the two men. “I am no longer a child.”

Grandfather had a hard look in his eyes that surprised her. He had never looked like that at her. He rested his hand on her upper arm. “Come, my angel.” He gently tugged on her arm and his voice sounded like he was forcing warmth into it. “It is almost time for your party.” He looked at Alejandro. “Join the guests after you have checked up on that matter we discussed.”

Alejandro gave a nod. “Yes, Father.” He turned and headed down the curved hallway.

Her grandfather guided her out of the wing. “Yes, you are a young woman. But I must make it very clear to you that no one is allowed in that wing but a few select employees and myself. Do you understand?”

Angelina lowered her eyes. “Yes, Grandfather.”

He put a finger under her chin. “Smile. I do believe it is time for you to make your entrance and I will present you to our guests.”

Angelina glanced over her shoulder, wondering how she could help the woman hide like she’d promised. She did her best to smile even though her confused thoughts were on the bruised and bloody woman. “I am ready.”

Tori bit down on her fist, trying to keep from making a sound as she huddled behind the planter. She listened to the voices in the hall and heard the girl speaking, but couldn’t make out what she was saying.

Would Angelina tell her grandfather and uncle where Tori was hiding? God, she hoped not.

Alejandro walked to the door of the room Tori had just left. She held her breath, her heart thundering. He closed the door behind him. A few moments later she heard Diego’s and Angelina’s voices fade as they clearly walked away.

Any moment now, Alejandro would come out of that room and come after her. Would he think to look behind the planter?

Should she wait for Angelina who had promised to think of something?

Tori shook her head and put her hand to her temple as a dizzy spell overcame her. No. She couldn’t wait. She needed to find someplace safer.

The door across the hall banged open, and through the tree leaves she saw Alejandro with a cell phone to his ear. “Find the bitch. She must be someplace around here. She couldn’t have gone far and couldn’t have escaped the compound.” A pause. “She killed one of our men.” Another pause. “Send men to the north wing. We will search for her here, first. This must be done discreetly so that guests are not disturbed or aware of any problems.” Alejandro shoved the phone into his pocket.

Tori shrunk into the smallest ball she could, burying her face against her knees.
Please don’t look here, please don’t look here,
rang over and over in her head.

Alejandro’s footsteps clicked against tile as he strode away, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It might be temporary, but she was relieved to see him go just the same.

Her battered body ached as she got to her feet. He was sending men to this wing to search first. If she could leave it, find another place…

“Tori.” Angelina’s voice startled Tori. She hadn’t seen the girl approach. “Come with me, now.”

Tori got to her feet and stepped out from behind the plant, and Angelina motioned for her to follow. The girl looked like a fairy princess in her pink gown and upswept hair with ringlets spilling down the back.

“My grandfather went to attend to something before he presents me.” Angelina looked over her shoulder. “We must hurry.”

Tori didn’t question the girl and followed her down the hall. The girl slipped through a back way, avoiding the main areas.

As she walked, Tori felt for the gun she’d taken from the man she’d killed. Her skin prickled with a cold chill as she realized she must have dropped it while she was huddling behind the planter.
Damn.

“This is the way the servants get around the house.” Angelina held up her skirts, revealing sparkling pink flat shoes and looking like Cinderella as they hurried. “The servants are all busy with the party, so no one should see us.”

Even though she felt weak, Tori managed to follow the girl. She began to lag behind and Angelina motioned to her to move faster. “Almost there.”

“Where are we going?” Tori asked.

“My rooms.” Angelina pushed open a door, peeked around it then motioned for Tori to follow. A few steps later and Angelina opened a door and held it open for Tori to enter.

Tori found herself in a beautiful suite of rooms as Angelina closed the door behind them. The girl gestured to the right. “They won’t think to look for you in my bedroom.”

The door to the bedroom opened.

Angelina gave a squeak of surprise and Tori’s heart thumped as a woman stepped in front of them. The woman wore clothing that a housekeeper might be expected to wear. She must have been in her late fifties.

The woman held her hand to her heart, obviously shocked by their appearance.
“Dios mio!”

“Shhh, Maria.” Angelina held her finger to her lips. “I need you to help me hide Tori. She is in danger.” The girl shook her head. “Grandfather and Uncle Alejandro—she said they have hurt her.” Angelina didn’t look as though she truly believed it, but she was helping Tori nevertheless.

Maria looked over Tori, clearly taking in the condition she was in. “I know what to do.” By the woman’s expression, she wasn’t surprised and she had no problem believing Tori’s story. Maria turned to Angelina. “Get to the party. I will take care of her.”

Angelina flung her arms around Maria. “Thank you.” She hurried to turn and she slipped through the door and closed it behind her.

“If her grandfather finds out we have helped you.” Maria made the sign of the cross. “It will not be good.”

“I’m sorry.” Tori gripped her hands together. “But please help me.”

Maria gave a nod. “This way.” She turned and headed into the room she’d just come from.

Tori followed and Maria shut the door and locked it behind them. She looked Tori up and down again. “Angelina is smaller than you, but you may be able to fit in one of the dresses we have not returned to the dressmaker. The yellow one hasn’t been taken in.”

“A dress?” Tori looked at her with confusion.