Kara’s lips twitched. Oh yes. Blake was a piece of work all right. It was almost like he was daring Ignacio to shoot him. Oh God. Her stomach knotted with realization. Blake did want Ignacio to try and shoot him. He was taunting Ignacio into turning the gun on him. Blake was risking his own life for her; a man she was sure would kill her if he knew the truth of who she was and what she was after. Could she get any more confused or conflicted over this man than she was now? Because damn it, she knew he was aligned with the cartel and was easily someone who would kill her if he knew her secret, but still, she couldn’t bear the idea of him dying to protect her.

The cold steel of her weapon comforted her only slightly, considering she couldn’t see Ignacio’s face through the drape of his long, dark hair to gauge his reaction. The barely lit corridor of the building they were in front of didn’t help either, nor did the late hour, but she didn’t miss the way his shoulders bunched and his spine stiffened before he added, “My uncle—”

“Won’t care if I kill you,” Blake assured him. “Not if I give him a good reason for doing it. And I’m real damn good at justifying why I kill people. Put the gun away, or I’ll prove just how good. Of course, you won’t be around to be impressed, but I’m sure your replacement will be.”

“Not until you explain how our meeting ended twenty minutes ago and you’re still here.”

“The devil is in the details, man,” Blake replied, “and I intend to know them all. Consider me the devil in your uncle’s pocket. I want to know everything you do and not just what you say you do.”

“Mendez is my uncle,” Ignacio all but growled. “Check up on someone else.”

“He wants me to check up on everyone. You included.”

Ignacio stared at Blake. Blake stared at Ignacio. Tension laced the air, thick like quicksand about to swallow them whole. Kara was pretty sure she could feel herself sinking now. Her fingers flexed on her gun, her body tense and ready for action, all too aware that all Ignacio had to do was move his finger and she was dead. Her only comfort was the knowledge that Ignacio knew Blake could kill him just as easily.

Finally, Ignacio moved, holstering his weapon under his leather coat. “You want to see my operation, you ask.”

“Why would I do that?” Blake challenged, letting his gun drop to his side and reaching for Kara’s hand to pull her to her feet by his side. Protective. Possessive. It was getting harder and harder to remember he was the enemy.

“Because I said,” Ignacio growled.

“You got something to hide?” Blake asked.