“My man. Fancy finding you in my homeland.” Carlos threw out his arm, grasping my hand. His grin was wider than I remembered.

  “Carlos. Thank you for coming on short notice. I seem to have a couple issues I need help with.”

  Laughing, he glanced at Fallon and down to Bella, shaking his head. “I guess you do. It took me a little while to explain to my buddy the chief that you’re not a drug trafficker.”

  “Told you,” Fallon said from where she stood, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “I didn’t paint the damn plane. Carlos Riveras, Fallon Zimmerman. My pilot.”

  His eyes opened wide. “You flew the plane like that? With no engines?”

  “I did.” Her answer was brief. She wasn’t in the mood to trust anyone.

  “Fantastic landing. I was lucky enough to see the video. You must have a military background.”

  “Air Force.”

  He pressed his hand against his chest before taking a step closer, grabbing her fingers and pulling them to his lips.

  Thankfully, she allowed him to make the affectionate gesture even though her lips were pursed. “You are magnificent. I heard you were a little forceful with the air traffic controllers.”

  His compliment seemed to soften her.

  “That’s because they were assholes.”

  Her comment amused him and told me I was wrong; she hadn’t softened.

  “Careful with the lovely pilot. She’s a feisty one. Do you have someone who can fix the plane?” I asked.

  Fallon cocked her head and I had a feeling I was going to hear about my comment later. Not that I would mind. Seeing another side of her was even more enticing. The way she’d handled the massacre had also impressed me.

  Most women would be extremely distraught. Not her. She’d been furious that the assholes had invaded our space.

  Did I believe at some point the events of the last two days and the news would eventually wear her down? You bet. But I’d be around to catch her.

  If we could get out of Cuba.

  Carlos wrinkled his nose. “Already called a couple guys I know. With what you told me, their services won’t come cheap and it’s going to take at least twenty-four hours.”

  “Money is no object. Time could be. Do you have anywhere we can go that might be considered safe and dog friendly?”

  This time his grin was full of mischief. “You got heat on your tail?”

  “Yeah, we do. I assume you have spare weapons if I need them?”

  “You know I do. Come with me. You can stay at my place and I won’t take no for an answer. Plus, if you run into any trouble while you’re here, I know a few guys.”

  I clapped him on the back. “I figured you might. You don’t mind company?”

  “Not at all. Let’s get your things. I assume they took your personal belongings. By the way, you’re lucky they didn’t try and fill their monthly cocaine quota. From what my buddy told me, that lovely woman keeping you company is the only reason. They were afraid of her.”

  My not-so-sweet, highly disobedient pilot smiled in a way that only women could do. “As they should be.”

  Her words caused Carlos to lift his eyebrows, blowing out hot air.

  Meanwhile, I shook my head.

  “Time for a cool, frosty beverage.” Carlos threw open the door.

  As we headed out, all eyes were on us, but Carlos chatted it up with a few of the men, making jokes. It was apparent they hadn’t gotten the message that she spoke fluent Spanish given what they were saying about her.

  The spark in her eyes should have been a dead giveaway. Only once had she almost told them what they could do with their lewd comments.

  Once we’d gathered a couple of bags, including items for Bella, we hopped into his open-air Jeep. The afternoon was beautiful, the sun just low enough in the sky to accentuate the beautiful foliage and colorful buildings.

  Fallon sat in the back with Bella. She’d been quiet since leaving the police station. That didn’t mean she wasn’t paying close attention as Carlos drove through the city.

  “What are you dealing with?” Carlos asked, darting a look into the rearview mirror and keeping his voice low.

  “Don’t worry, Carlos. Fallon is more than just my pilot.”

  His chuckle was heartfelt. “I could tell that the instant I walked in. She knows who you are?”

  “She knows all my dirty little secrets.”

  “I hope not.” We both laughed.

  “Have you heard of the Hoffman Group?” I asked.

  “A group of Europeans who want to lock down every European country. They have the methods and means to control the banking industries, politics, defense, communication systems, and more. Aren’t they worried about retaliation from Moscow?”

  “Yes, they are. They are looking to form an alliance.”

  “Let me guess. With your family.”

  “You got it.” I glanced out the open window, studying the landscaping. Not much had changed since I’d spent a month with Carlos and his crew.

  “But you’re not interested.”

  I took a deep breath. “That remains to be seen.”

  “Are you suggesting they attacked you and sabotaged your plane?”

  “No, the Bruni Crime Syndicate did that. I’m positive of it.”

  He scratched his head. “They’re slimy but are gaining control of the Midwest of your lovely country. They also know better than to go after Bratva. Why now?”

  “Because I’m Giovanni Bruni’s granddaughter.”

  When Fallon piped in from the back, Carlos’ eyebrows immediately shot up as he whistled. “O-kay. Now, I understand.”

  “There’s more,” I offered. “Fallon is Megan’s sister.”

  He slammed on his brakes, barely managing to stop at a traffic light. “No fucking way.”

  “True.”

  “I told you to believe in reincarnation.”

  “That you did, except Fallon is her own person.”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m right here, boys.”

  “Ooohhh. I like this girl. What I do know is that the Brunis’ organization was originally courted by some family in Moscow, so my sources tell me that they are actively attempting to keep the lines of communication open. They have designs on expanding. Some shit happened though. Bruni kept it quiet.”

  “The expansion. Any idea where?” Carlos had always kept up with activities of other cartels and crime syndicates. Doing so had prevented him from facing his maker more than once.

  “That is unsure. West or east.”

  West. That should mean to Los Angeles, but I wouldn’t put it past them to try to make some inroads into Vegas. Other syndicates had tried and failed over the years. It was something to keep in the back of my mind. I rubbed my finger across my bottom lip.

  “They will not like what happens if they decided westward bound is doable.”

  He laughed. “You were always a go-getter. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If the Brunis were the ones who sabotaged the plane, they’ll be looking for reports of a crash or a missing jet. I’ll have my boys pay close attention to the airwaves while your plane is being repaired. We’ll know if they make land.”

  “You’re saying they could possibly follow us here,” Fallon interjected.

  He nodded. “Absolutely. You need to remember that the Cubans and Russians have a long history together, close ties in the Cold War that have withstood time. There’s visa-free travel between the two countries.”

  “Then why did they give me shit?”

  I threw him a look as he grinned. “Because,” Carlos started and made a turn, “the plane is from the United States. You weren’t shot down simply because you threw out Vissarian’s name. However, when they noticed the plane…” He burst into laughter when I rolled my eyes.

  “Fine. I’ll get the damn thing repainted.” I gritted my teeth.

  “I like it. Don’t have it repainted because you look like drug dealers. I can tell this lady enjoys excitement in her life.”

  “Ha!” she chortled.

  “We’re almost to the house. My guess is that you guys are hungry. There is a fabulous little place within walking distance.” As Carlos rattled on about the menu, I was beginning to realize that my father had been keeping something from me. Perhaps from the entire family. While I wondered what and why, there was one sure thing about my dad.

  He never did anything without a solid reason.

  Even if it meant placing the entire family in harm’s way.

  As Carlos pulled in the driveway of a large house, I whistled this time. “You’ve done well for yourself. The last time I was here, you lived in a hovel.”

  “I did not. And that hovel as you call it was your home for almost two months.”

  “One month.”

  “You were drunk half the time. I was counting the days. But you’re right. I’ve done very well. You know how industrious I am.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t tell her that Carlos’ lucrative business was all about running drugs, mostly to South and Central America. I’d kept tabs on the man, which was why I’d called him. He was powerful in Cuba, had a huge army, and owed me a couple of favors. Plus, he had cash should I need it.

  However, I damn well hoped we wouldn’t be staying in Cuba for long. Doing so would keep a target on our heads.

  However, it was good seeing Carlos. He’d been a lifeline when I’d almost lost my shit on the tenth anniversary of Megan’s murder. Somehow, being here with him as I was finally freeing her ghost was cathartic.

  “This is beautiful,” Fallon said. “And I think I need to hear all the gory stories about this man. To use as ammunition in the future.”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” I told her. After climbing out, I gazed into her beautiful face. “I stand corrected. You would.”

  “Lovely lady,” Carlos said. “You’ve got it and trust me, I have some doozies. Maybe I’ll tell her about the time we stole a vehicle.”

  “We did not steal a vehicle.” I shook my head. “Un-fucking-believable.”

  At least Fallon could laugh.

  He huffed and climbed out, grabbing the bags while I helped Fallon get out from the backseat. “Okay, your words were that we borrowed it, but those dudes who almost killed us didn’t seem to take it that way.”

  “Those are exactly the kind of stories I need to hear. Every. Single. One.” She was as insistent as usual.

  “I’m happy to oblige such a beautiful lady. Let’s get you settled. I think you’ll like the house. I have a great view of the ocean.”

  After he followed her inside, I remained on the veranda, studying the area, which was stunning. The pieces had yet to fall together, but they would.

  I pulled out my phone. Now it was time to put Mikhail on notice. I had a bad feeling getting off this damn island without being shot might take a miracle. I also needed to warn him that soon the cat would be let out of the bag in that we’d survived the attack. It was possible Bruni would send some men to Vegas. It would be risky as hell, but given what Giovanni could be facing with the monsters in Russia, he might see it as necessary. Not that I should give a shit except he would stop at nothing to get what he needed to make a down payment or solidify the alliance.

  His granddaughter.

  What continued to bother me was that the Brunis had managed to get on Saba Island and under Ludolf’s nose. Or he’d wanted me to believe the Brunis had attacked us. I couldn’t be certain which.

  Carlos joined me a few minutes later, handing me a cold bottle of beer.

  We stood quietly together. While his house was set back from the road, the area around him was busy.

  “Security tight?” I asked.

  “You know it is.”

  Nodding, I took a pull of the beer. “Good. I feel like I’m stuck in a game of cat and mouse.”

  “I figured as much.”

  I threw him a look. “Ever heard of a brand with a skull tattoo with red eyes and a jeweled dagger going through the eyes?”

  He shrugged. “Sounds like any number of them out there, buddy. Hell, I have a skull with red eyes inked somewhere on my body. I’ll ask around. Is it important?”

  “It could be.”

  “Alright. So, I’m curious. How did you find Fallon?”

  “I didn’t. Karma did.”

  “You like her and don’t try and tell me otherwise. I can tell.”

  Somehow, he had me laughing. “Yeah, I like her. A lot more than I should, given who I am.”

  His snort had me rolling my eyes again. “You and me both, buddy, but if I can keep a girlfriend safe and happy, you can.”

  “You, a girlfriend?”

  “I’ll have you know she’s a model from Milan.”

  “This I need to see.”

  He lifted his beer and we touched bottlenecks. “Time for you to settle down, my friend. Have a bunch of kids. You’ve got the dog.”

  “Very funny. I’ve known her for two days.”

  “That was long enough with Megan.”

  Yeah, he was right. “Let’s just see if we can get through the night without getting ourselves killed.”

  “You have no faith in me. That hurts.”

  “Get used to it,” I teased. “Maybe at some point you can tell me everything you know about the Brunis.”

  “Happy to, but not over dinner. I think the two of you need some down time. Let’s have some fun.”

  “Fun. What the hell is that?”

  “That’s what has been your problem all along. Just stick with me. Who knows. Maybe tonight you’ll get lucky.” His laugh was the one I remembered, the man the only person capable of bringing me out of my second round of depression.

  “She’s in danger, Carlos. She just learned she is the granddaughter of Giovanni Bruni. I think she’s going to have a very difficult time with the news.”

  “Tough shit to just find out. You know how to pick them. That makes her highly valuable. Let me guess. Her father is Marcos Bruni.”

  “You knew. You’ve been keeping things from me.”

  “Do you really think I was going to allow you to go off halfcocked five years ago? Come on now. I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I had. Besides, it’s just shit I hear from clients. Supposedly, Marcos Bruni was killed by a Bruni enemy, but there were rumors that he vanished and started a new life. You can imagine the bounty that might be on his head if found.”

  “Someone did before Megan died.”

  “Ah. I wonder if Megan had any idea she was royalty.”

  There was that fucking word again. I thought about what she’d told me about why she’d come to Vegas to start a new life. She’d been vague, so much so after a while I stopped asking. “I think she knew and in some crazy way was trying to protect her mother and sister.”

  “Well, that’s a damn tragedy. Now, karma has come full circle. There’s some irony in that.”

  “Maybe so, but this time, the ending will go my way.”

  “Like I said before. It’s obvious that you really like Fallon. I’m happy to see it. I’ll make sure you’re protected while here. But don’t get too comfortable. Giovanni is a shithead of a human being. That much I do know.”

  Nodding, I scanned the area surrounding his house again, realizing the shit was just beginning.

  After clapping me on the back a second time, he walked inside, leaving me alone.

  Yet for the first time in so long, I didn’t feel loneliness. Instead, I felt something more exciting.

  The joy of being alive.

  All because of a feisty blonde with an attitude.

  CHAPTER 27

  Fallon

  “You were right, Carlos,” I told the gruff-looking man with a heart of gold. He’d been the consummate host, providing vivid imagery of Santiago de Cuba while Cuban music played in the background. With the ocean rolling softly against the shore only yards away, the setting sun creating an incredible backdrop and the most delicious food I’d been allowed to enjoy in a long time, the moment felt far removed from the horrific danger we’d experienced only hours before.

  And the night before.

  And the afternoon before that.

  Carlos had a wide grin that lit up his entire face as he leaned across the table. “What am I so right about?”

  “Vissarian is a very strange man.”

  He burst into laughter while Vissarian flicked his ‘trying to be commanding’ look over the candlelight. He even swirled his finger around the rim of his glass as he furrowed his brow. “I could say the same about you, dear Fallon, a crazy woman who risked her life to save a dog.”

  “You were right there with me.”

  “But I wasn’t the one shouting at the employees.”

  “No, you would have shot them if they hadn’t helped.” I blew him a kiss, the moment something I would remember. At least we all felt relaxed. Although it hadn’t escaped me that several of Carlos’ men were pretending to be customers, hanging out at the small bar, two at a table looking stiff and formal.

  Even in their rather tropical shirts.

  The outline of their weapons was easy to see. It wasn’t as if they were hiding it from anyone. Not a single other guest seemed disturbed by their ominous presence. Maybe I should just take comfort in that.

  “A match made in heaven,” Carlos piped in.

  “If we were together, I’d likely kill him before a week was out.” I took a sip of wine, eager to hear what Vissarian would have to say.

  “Over what? The fact I chastised you for cursing out men with guns or that you refuse to follow orders?”

  “Ha! The fact you’re a demanding man with no sense of romance.”

  Now Carlos choked on his drink. “Did I tell you the story about the woman he hit on inside a stakeout we were on?”

  “Don’t you dare tell her that story. I will never hear the end of it,” Vissarian said gruffly, although I could tell he was doing his best not to laugh. When he turned toward me, he pressed his hand against his chest as if I’d hurt his feelings.

  Again.

  “And what do you mean I’m not romantic?”

  I batted my eyelashes. “You’re not. You’re all business.”

  “You see,” Carlos continued. “The woman was the wife of a very powerful man in this country and he didn’t take kindly to walking in and finding Vissarian’s hand on his wife’s knee.”