Elias tackling a man into metal shelves.
Mateo firing once.
You ducking behind a crate with your hands over your ears.
Then a voice from across the warehouse called, “I was wondering when you’d come bleeding back, brother.”
Julian Cross stepped into view.
He looked nothing like Mateo and exactly like him.
Same gray eyes.
Different soul.
He wore a camel coat over a dark suit and held a gun loosely at his side, as if murder bored him. Beside him stood a little girl with dark curls and a tear-streaked face.
Elena.
Julian’s hand rested on her shoulder.
Too calmly.
Too possessively.
Mateo stepped into the open.
“Let her go.”
Julian smiled.
“You always did like lost causes.”
You stayed hidden behind the crate, breathing shallowly.
Elias was somewhere to your left.
Two men down.
Maybe more unseen.
Your phone was in your pocket.
Your fingers moved slowly.
911 would not be enough.
Then you remembered the flash drive.
The FBI meeting at noon.
The number Elias had called twice in the car.
You opened Mateo’s emergency contact screen from the recent call list and pressed the last federal number.
Then you left the line open in your pocket.
Julian was still talking.
“You think turning over that ledger makes you clean?” he asked Mateo. “You helped build this family.”
“I know.”
“You collected debts.”
“I know.”
“You buried problems.”
Mateo’s face did not move.
“I know.”
Julian’s smile sharpened.
“Then why pretend now?”
Mateo’s eyes moved to Elena.
“Because she still has time to become someone else.”
For a second, Julian’s smile faltered.
Then he laughed.
“Touching.”
You saw Elena sway slightly.
Your nurse brain noticed before your fear did.
Her lips were pale.
Her knees weak.
She was going to faint.
You stepped out before you could stop yourself.
“Let her sit down,” you said.
Every gun in the room turned toward you.
Mateo’s eyes flashed with fury.
Julian looked delighted.
“Well,” he said. “The nurse.”
You lifted both hands.
“She’s dehydrated. Maybe hypoglycemic. If she drops, she can hit her head.”
Julian tilted his head.
“You care about every bleeding thing, don’t you?”
“I’m annoying like that.”
Mateo looked ready to kill you himself.
Julian laughed.
“Come check her, then.”
“No,” Mateo said.
Julian pressed the gun lightly against Elena’s side.
“Come check her.”
You walked forward.
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