Tijuana Nights (The Nights Series Book 1) (16 page)

After a few moments of bringing up bile, I started to gain control of my stomach again and I pulled myself back into the car. Chase handed me the water bottle, and I drank the rest.

"This is a nightmare," I whispered.

Chase lay a hand on my knee reassuringly. "You’re having an adrenaline crash. Most people get it in a milder form, but then again, most people don't go on an all out rescue mission like we just did."

"That's what you call this?" I choked. "An adrenaline crash?" After I said it, I seemed to recall that often people got emotional and threw up when they had an adrenaline surge, but I couldn't recall where on earth I'd heard that. I wound up the window, and sat back in my seat properly and was quiet for a few moments. "I think I need my bed."

And it wasn’t like I had the luxury of putting it off either.

When I woke, I found myself in bed at River's house, fully clothed. I vaguely remembered getting off the flight back to Tijuana, and getting into the car. However, I didn't remember making it from the car to my bed. I took a wild guess and assumed that River and Chase had transported me.

Curious about the time, I looked at my watch, and was startled to see that it was after two in the afternoon. "Oh god," I muttered. I threw the covers off, and rolled to a stand. At least they had the decency to remove my shoes before putting me under the covers.

I stumbled into the shower, and soaked myself for far too long under the falling water. It felt good to wash away all of the shit from last night. I couldn't believe that we'd been on a whirlwind trip down to Cabo San Lucas, and basically blown up a house to get Gabe out. And I couldn't believe that Carmen was importing women to fill their cup size with heroin. The thought of the whole operation made me sick. Transporting drugs inside somebody’s breasts was sick. The fact that Carmen was the person behind the operation was even worse considering she was a woman. If anything, I would have expected a woman to be against that sort of inhumane act.  It just showed how cold hearted Carmen really was.

When I eventually got out and towelled myself dry, I got my underwear on, and decided to tie a sarong around myself as opposed to getting fully dressed. I had a sneaking feeling that it wouldn't be too long before I was seeking the solace of my bed and clean sheets again. I thanked my lucky stars that I had washed it all yesterday. There was something special about clean sheets. I knew that if I ever won the lottery - I would have them put on my bed every day.

I saw my new gold iPhone sitting on my bedside table, and a grin spread across my face. I picked it up, checked it for any messages. There were a couple from Jax asking if everything was okay with my holiday. I responded saying that everything was fabulous and that we would have a good catch up when I got back, and tucked the phone into my bra strap. I missed Jax and her eccentric French ways, and I longed to tell her all my woes. Part of me wanted to ask what the situation was like back home with Annalise, Jax’s friend and Escort Services boss, but I had left in such a rush, that I also didn’t want to know. But it was best if Jax didn’t worry about me, or else she would be on the first flight out here. I was dying for a cigarette and a cup of coffee, so I left the sanctuary of my room in search of the good stuff.

I wandered into the kitchen, and found Chase leaning against the bench, dressed in shorts, a white shirt, and a very nice pair of glasses. I automatically caught my breath, and I felt my face flare up. Memories of the previous evening assaulted my senses, and I paused to contain myself.

"Afternoon," he said warmly. He turned around, opened a cupboard, and passed me a cup.

I smiled shyly at him, and accepted the cup. "Thanks," I mumbled.

As I turned to the coffee pot, I felt him move beside me. "So… did you sleep well?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Not bad." I wondered what on earth else I should say. "Did you?" I enquired.

He smiled down at me. "It could have been better."

I froze, wondering what the hell he was implying, and if he was referencing anything to me or us in particular. "Always the case. The others up yet?"

"Of course. Those two can survive on hardly any sleep at all. I was more concerned about you though. You feeling okay?"

I thought of those women trapped in Carmen's basement, and felt anger well within me. Without meaning to, I rounded on him. "Not really, actually. Chase... we left those people there to fend for themselves."

He nodded slowly. "I know."

"And what if some of them died because of us? Whether they managed to get out or not. What that bitch is doing to them is completely fucking inhumane. I can't believe that even someone as sadistic as her would have the audacity to cut women open all for the sake of drug trafficking. We should have got them out."

Chase pursed his lips, and gazed at me silently.

I felt myself swallow as I met his eyes. "Sorry."

"You finished yet?"

I shrank back from him, crossed my arms, and stared out the kitchen window.

"Mack. Our mission was to get Gabe out. We don't usually deviate from the mission, or else things can start to go terribly wrong. I know that you're compassionate, and you care. But when we're not all on the same page, people get hurt. What would you do if we managed to save all those people - god knows how - we weren't set up for those logistics - but can you even imagine what it would be like if we lost any one of us in the process?"

I pursed my lips together, forcing the lump in my throat down. This was all too real.

"I'm serious." He exhaled with a sigh. "Do you have any idea what they would do to any one of us if we were captured? They would torture us, find out who we are, and because of the damage we’ve done to their cartel already - they would probably kidnap and murder all of our loved ones in the process. That's how ruthless they are, Mack, and that's probably an understatement."

I couldn't help it. Tears fell from my eyes, and I sniffed. Chase wrapped his big, strong arms around me, and I found myself embracing him back, sniffing and silently crying against his shoulder. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I guess I just didn't understand the reasons behind your decision."

He kissed me lightly on the head and pulled back.

Gabe walked in humming along with his headphones carrying his dirty dishes, his eyes widened as he saw us. Then he saw my red cheeks and puffy eyes, stopped, and pulled his headphones off. "Erm... did I just interrupt a lover's quarrel or something?"

My eyes cut directly to Chase, and he looked back at me in alarm.

"Just kidding!" Gabe laughed "Geez. You people take me far too seriously sometimes."

I suddenly remembered to breathe. Chase patted me on the arm, and I picked up my coffee to take a slurp from it.

"Mack's still a little upset from last night," Chase told Gabe.

Gabe chuckled. "Women, eh?"

Chase rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in the air with feigned frustration. "Women."

"I need a fag," I muttered, carrying my coffee from the kitchen and into the living room. I found my backpack on the table behind the sofa, and fished out my pack of cigarettes, only to find it empty. I walked back to the kitchen needing to ask if we could go and get some more, but I walked right into what looked like to be an argument between Chase and Gabe.

"Errr.... lover's quarrel?" I commented.

Chase gave Gabe a thunderous warning look, and then stalked past me.

Gabe shrugged at me, muttering about how Chase couldn't take a joke. I swallowed, leaving my question for later. If they weren't going to help me get a new pack of cigarettes, I was happy to take a car and help myself.

* * *

I grabbed the keys to the car that Chase had been driving, and hopped behind the wheel. I drove down the driveway, and out onto the road. This was the first time I'd been by myself since all the issues with Carmen had begun. There was an old gas station a few miles down the road that we often drove past, so I headed for that.

I was heady with freedom for finally having some form of control over something, and it felt good.

This was what it would feel like once I got out of here and back to England. I would be able to drive down the road in a car I loved, and hopefully, fingers crossed, have my debt to Luke paid off. I pulled the car into the gas station, and walked inside.

The place was dusty and grimy. I couldn't understand how River managed to keep his house so damn pristine in this climate, as opposed to this run down gas station, with filthy shelving and little stock. A woman stood behind the counter looking bored, reading a magazine.

"Un paquete de Marlboro cigarrillos light, por favor?" I stumbled through my request with my usual crappy Spanish, and handed her some cash, hoping it was enough.

She silently handed me the packet, and watched me as I retreated from the store.

An older Ute pulled in as I reached mine, and the man behind the wheel slowly got out, keeping his eyes fixated on me as I sat down behind the wheel. He stood there watching me as I pulled out, and turned around on the road back towards River's place.

I kept glancing in the rear-vision mirror as I drove down the road, he stood there the whole time watching my car retreat from sight. A shiver ran down me. "Creep," I muttered. I turned on the stereo, and Chase's music started playing.

A few moments later, I noticed that the Ute had sped up behind me. I slowed down, and tried to wave him past, but he was pulling in.

Panic ripped through me. I didn't know this person, and I had heard and witnessed far too much during my stay in Mexico to think he wasn’t after something.

I swallowed, planting my foot on the accelerator, propelling the car forward. My hands felt clammy as they gripped the steering wheel. I kept an eye on the Ute, but before long, he was right up my arse
again.

"It’s okay, Mack, it’s okay." I tried to reassure myself, but I was lying. I reached for my phone and dialled Chase.

"Where are you?" he said immediately.

My eyes were almost a permanent fixture on the Ute behind me, and I was only glancing at the road ahead. "Um, I don't know. I'm on the main road."

"For God’s sake, Mack, what the hell are you doing?"

"Well... errr... right now, I'm being followed." Even I heard the tremor in my voice.

There was a pause. "Are you sure?"

"Pretty darn." I took a lungful of air and forced myself to analyse what was happening. "There is a driver in a Ute right up my ass. I tried to pull over to let him pass, but he just pulled in behind me. Now... let’s just say if I put my brakes on he'll be in my back seat."

"Keep driving. DO NOT come back to the house. You hear me?"

I cringed. "Yes?" I looked back in my rear-vision mirror. The driver was on the phone. "Fuck."

"What?"

"He's on the phone, Chase! Jesus Christ. Where should I go?"

"Just keep driving south. I'll track you and catch up." I hung up the call, and threw the phone on the passenger seat.

I watched as the Ute sped up beside me. The driver was leering at me. I swore, and accelerated more, jumping forward. We sped past River's house, and I had no doubt that Chase probably heard us roar by.

Despite Chase's instruction, I almost felt like ripping on the handbrake, and going in the opposite direction towards Tijuana. At least there I could possibly lose this guy in amongst the streets.

But I didn't.

I kept going.

Every now and then, I would pass people who stopped and stared at the two vehicles speeding down the road. Civilisation was getting more and more remote, and soon it was only farm houses that I was passing. I hoped to God that Chase hurried the fuck up, or else I would be driving down to Cabo San Lucas.

The guy was back on his phone. My heart sank. I guessed that he’d recognised me and was yet another psycho that wanted to take my head off.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in a car chase. A year ago I had been blissfully happy in a relationship with a man I loved, doing a job I loved. Now I didn't really have a job, and a bunch of crazy Mexican’s were out to kill me.

I opened the pack of cigarettes, and lit one. The Ute had dropped back a little. I saw River's big black truck in the distance behind us, and relief flooded me. Help was on the way. "Finally!"