Imprisoned Match [Ménage.com 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (15 page)

All the men were packing, except for Sam. Anna figured that his weapon was hidden underneath his jacket. The other men obviously didn’t care if theirs were seen. Hell, if Anna wasn’t mistaken, one of the men standing next to Sam had a machine gun dangling by a strap from his shoulder. Like out of a movie, the cartel men were all dressed in black.

“Do you have the money?” Anna asked, coming to a stop in front of them.

Every man in the vicinity had his eyes on her. Anna had made sure her hips swayed more than normal, knowing the black skirt accentuated her figure. She needed to keep their attention on her and not the surrounding area, where she knew Agent Monroe’s men were stationed. The open area was the same place where she’d taken out Sonny Jones a few months back. To the right of them was an open field, but the left was littered with trees amounting to a small forest. Only one road led them in. There were no other escape routes.

“Ms. Cruz, our friend here says you’re trustworthy,” the man without the machine gun said. “As I’m sure you’re aware, we just can’t take that chance. Miguel will need to scan you.”

“Of course,” Anna said, gracefully lifting her arms up.

Miguel stepped forward, a small device in his hands. Anna focused on breathing normally while he moved the device over her body. She never took her gaze off the man who had spoken.

“Anna, why is Mitch Braxton with you?” Sam asked, still looking behind her to where Mitch was stationed by the car. “I thought the Braxton brothers were just a pastime for you.”

“Mitch did ten years in the pen, Sam. You know this,” Anna said, dropping her hands to her sides when Miguel was done making sure she wasn’t wired. As she brought them down, Anna made sure her thumb caught the switch that turned her wire on in order for Agent Monroe to listen in on their conversation. She just hoped it worked. “He has contacts that can benefit me. But he’s not your concern.”

“Sam has a tendency to worry about inconsequential things. Now, back to more important matters. My name—”

“I don’t want to know your name,” Anna said, shaking her head. “My cargo is here, so I’m assuming you have my money.”

“You can call me Comprador, Ms. Cruz,” he said, laughing at her obvious attempt to not have information that might make her a target for law enforcement. If only he knew, Anna thought, knowing she had him where she wanted. Now she just needed to play this right. “I like you.”

“Getting back to business,” Anna said, trying to prompt the conversation to go a little faster. Mitch was too far away to hear what was being said and was probably getting a little anxious. She didn’t want him to do anything foolish.

“Before we make the exchange, I have some things to discuss that Sam has brought to our attention.”

Anna did her best not to tense at those words. Had Sam figured everything out? If so, why would he have brought her here? Unless the cartel wanted to eliminate her themselves to prove a point that whoever crossed them was dealt with swiftly.

“And what things would they be, Comprador?” Anna knew that
Comprador
meant buyer in Spanish. Could he not come up with anything more original than that?

“We’re aware of the previous purchases you made over the last few years. You’ve created quite a name for yourself.”

“And your point is?” Anna knew she was crossing the line of being disrespectful, but she knew that Anna Cruz wouldn’t be standing around here playing these games. Anna Cruz was known to get in and out as quickly as possible.

“Why are you buying them, and why have you chosen to sell to us?”

“No disrespect, Comprador, but why I’m making the purchases isn’t your business. I’m nowhere near your territory and I don’t deal in drugs. You have no need to worry about me,” Anna said, reassuring him with what he obviously wanted to hear. “As for why I’m selling, well, let’s just say that I’ve run into a small financial issue. Sam was nice enough to suggest that you might have a need for what I have. It’s as simple as that.”

“I want more,” Comprador said, his voice deepening. His brown eyes were almost black with evil, and Anna knew this was not a man to be messed with. Too bad for her she didn’t have a choice at the moment, but she needed to tread carefully if she was going to get the information Agent Monroe needed.

“The cargo on that truck is enough to supply a small army with, Comprador,” Anna replied, keeping her voice even. “From the look of things, I’d say your men are already well armed.”

“My organization is growing, Ms. Cruz. I need to make sure my dealers are well protected.”

“See, this is why I avoid trafficking drugs,” Anna said, shaking her head as if she thought he had too much on his plate to worry about. “Too many people with their hand in one pot.”

“That pot is mine and mine alone, Ms. Cruz. In order to ensure that my drug organization runs smoothly, I must provide them with the security they need. You have that means of protection.”

Bingo. Anna had gotten the words Agent Monroe needed, along with Agent Nicholi. Now all she needed was to have the money and guns exchange hands and then they could come in for the arrests.

“Fine,” Anna declared. “I’m sure we can work something out. Sam will be our point of contact. In the meantime—”

“Movement!”

The moment Miguel yelled the word, Comprador’s men lifted their weapons. Sam had taken a step backward, and Anna knew she only had one alternative. She just prayed it didn’t get anyone killed.

“You set me up?” Anna said, staring directly at Sam. “You son of a bitch, I will make sure you burn in hell. Were you the one who called the ATF on Sonny Jones? Is that why I had to go in hiding? Was he getting too close to your business and making too much profit?”

“Sam, what is she talking about?” Comprador asked, raising his gun. Anna breathed a sigh of relief when he pointed it at Fowler. “You know what I do to traitors.”

“I—I swear, Comprador, I didn’t call anyone! It had to be her,” Sam yelled, pointing a finger at her. Anna had been in close calls before and refused to blink an eye at his accusation. She figured she had precious seconds left and needed to make them count.

“Comprador, I don’t care who you choose to believe, but I refuse to just stand here and let them arrest me.” Anna held her hand up and snapped her fingers, giving the agent behind the wheel of the cargo truck the signal to pull away. “Either you shoot me now, or we both try to get out of this mess that Fowler has put us in.”

Anna heard shouting and whipped her head to the side. Agent Monroe was leading the way, with numerous agents following behind. Their weapons were pulled from their cases and pointed in their direction. She turned to face them, taking a quick peek over at Mitch to see him do the same, although his eyes were focused only on her.

“They’re too close for us to make a run for it,” Anna said, raising her hands in surrender. “Fowler, you better hope they put you in solitary confinement. The minute you’re placed into the population of whatever prison they send you to, you’re dead. I’ll put the contract out on your head myself.”

Comprador took her lead and dropped his weapon. Raising his hands as well, Comprador looked directly over at Sam with death written in his dark eyes. Her tone must have convinced him that it was Fowler who’d set them up. Now that their weapons were dropped, Anna could breathe easier.

She turned her head, looking over at Mitch, and gave him a small smile. One victory might have been won tonight, but she was about to pay the price for her decision to seek revenge. Anna soaked Mitch up with her eyes, taking in every detail she could. She was going to miss his touch and the way he would sometimes fumble his words when he tried to talk about something close to his heart. She would yearn for his kiss, not caring that his stubble left her skin raw. She knew she would ache for the way he held her against him at night, as if she were a figment of his imagination. Anna would miss him.

She heard Elliott scream Sam’s name and turned to see her other lover running toward her. There was panic written on his face, and she looked at him quizzically. Why did he look so panicked? They had done what they set out to do.

Elliott gave her the total opposite of what Mitch did, completing a circle between them that she had refused to admit existed. His laughter and teasing offset Mitch’s seriousness. The sparkle in his eyes when he got to explore her body and the way his cute little smirk appeared when she did something silly kept things light and fun, giving her what she’d been missing in her life.

She loved them.

Elliott yelled again, along with that of Agent Monroe. Anna felt the impact of the bullet before she heard the sound. There was nothing to stop her from falling to the ground. It happened so fast, she couldn’t even put her arms out to stop herself from the collision with the dirt. Anna tried to breathe, but suddenly the pain in her back exploded. She had no air in her lungs enabling her to scream out in agony.

She felt hands on her, rolling her over onto her back. Anna looked up to see Elliott talking to her, but she couldn’t hear him over the blood pounding in her ears. He was removing his jacket and rolling it up in a ball. She felt him pick her up and place the material behind her, pressing hard. Everything started to happen as if she were outside of her body. People were rushing past and grabbing the men who were with the cartel. Agent Monroe was directing things from behind Elliott. She saw Sam standing off to the side with a gun in his hand and an evil smile on his face. So it’d been him who had shot her. Anna didn’t blame him. He knew it’d been her who had set them up. Sam Fowler had nothing to lose by killing her, and he knew it.

Anna still felt like she couldn’t breathe, and the edges of her vision were fading into blackness. She had so many things she wanted to say to them, but most importantly those three words. They had given her almost five weeks of the life she craved. Anna couldn’t have asked for more than that. She looked up into Elliott’s face, wanting to erase the fear and worry that had settled over his features. Anna had always known it would end like this, but she hadn’t counted on leaving behind her heart. She knew Mitch was there somewhere and wanted to see him, assure him somehow that he was just as worthy as Elliott. They were men who deserved to be loved. She tried her best to keep her eyes open, waiting to see the other set of molasses eyes, but blackness took over. Elliott faded into the darkness.

Elliott came out of Anna’s room and walked into the waiting room that was situated at the end of the hall. Although all the people sitting in the chairs and leaning against the walls should have surprised him, it didn’t. Their friends and family had rallied around them, knowing the woman they loved had been hurt. This camaraderie and support was what made the town of Triple so special.

“How is she?” Russ Davidson asked. His friend had been closest to the entryway, and when he spoke, everyone turned their heads to await his answer.

“You guys didn’t have to wait around,” Elliott informed them. “We appreciate your support. Anna’s doing fine. She hasn’t woken up yet. She’s in a private room, and Mitch refused to leave her side. I figured you guys would still be here.”

“Honey, we wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Elliott watched as his mother got up from her seat and walked across the cold, sterile floor. Reaching up, she pulled him down for a hug. “I can’t wait to meet the woman who has stolen my boys’ hearts.”

“You’ll love her, Mom.” Elliott returned his mother’s hug.

“Mrs. Wheelock called when she heard what had happened and has set up meals to be delivered to your house once Anna is released,” Willow said. “I told her I would keep her posted.”

“Tell her we appreciate the gesture,” Elliott replied.

“I still can’t believe that Sam—”

“I know, Willow,” Elliott said, cutting her off from any further conversation about Sam Fowler. He was the last person that Elliott wanted to talk about. If the name was never mentioned again, that would be fine by him.

One by one, they all filed out. Brody and Cooper Jackson had come the minute they’d heard what had taken place, along with Cyn. Dakota, Chad, and Elise Collins had joined them in their wait. Russ and Cameron offered to look after the garage, although Cameron joked it might not be standing when they got back. Elliott smiled and laughed but took them up on their offer. He was well aware that Cameron could take apart an engine and put it back together faster than Mitch could, and that was saying a lot. His mom and dads were the last ones to leave, demanding they see Mitch before they leave. That wasn’t going to happen, but Elliott got them to leave by promising to look after his brother.

Exhausted and knowing it had to be at least three or four in the morning, Elliott made his way back to Anna’s private room. Quietly opening the door, Elliott stepped in and noticed that all the lights had been turned off except the fluorescent one above the bed. It was enough light to illuminate Anna’s red hair, which was fanned across the pillow. The strands were separated, and he knew that Mitch had been running his fingers through the silky tresses. Her pale face made her freckles appear darker and her lips weren’t the rosy shade he’d come to love.

Mitch was still in the same position as when Elliott had left the room. He was sitting on the edge of the oversized hospital chair that converted into a bed, grasping Anna’s hand as if she were trying to run away. Walking over, Elliott held out a Styrofoam cup.