Elijah shook his head. “No. When my uncle was killed, it was assumed I had him killed to take over the entire operation for myself. I’ve been slowly selling off everything I can that was tainted. I did get out of the drug and gun business. We were never into human trafficking. There are rumors, but I’m considered ruthless.”

“Then rather than change your name and pass you off as security, let’s use your reputation. You’ll have to be there as a friend of Santos,” Rio said. “That will only make her more inclined to think Santos is a big fish.”

“That leaves three of us for security detail,” Conner said. “Will a man like Santos have more?”

“As a rule he has a four- man team and two dogs,” Felipe said. “I didn’t want to put any of his regular team in danger. We wouldn’t be able to let them in on what was going on.”

“And your uncle has agreed to this?” Conner asked. “Does he have any idea who he’s dealing with?”

Felipe nodded. “He knows. And he knows she’s a threat to our people.”

“So who exactly is our client, Rio?” Conner asked. “You say Adan Carpio initiated contact. His tribe wouldn’t know of us. My father wouldn’t ask for our help. So who knew about us and how? I’d like to have all the cards on the table before we go any further.”

Chapter 2

2

THERE was a long silence. The men exchanged long glances. Tension stretched taut in the room. Conner broke the hush first. “You don’t know who hired us? You didn’t check them out before bringing us together in unfamiliar territory? At least unfamiliar to all of you.”

Rio sighed. “Adan Carpio has given his word that he stands behind the client, Conner. You said his word was gold.”

“Wait a minute, Rio,” Elijah said. “You didn’t investigate our client at all? You took this mission on faith?”

Rio shrugged and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Carpio contacted me, bringing me half the payment for the rescue along with the things from Conner’s father and specific instructions. I checked out every detail and everything he told me was legitimate, so I went ahead and I contacted the team members.”

“Tell me we weren’t asked for specifically,” Conner said.

“Only the two of us, Conner. They used an old code to find us, but still they knew it.” Rio spun around, leaning one hip against the makeshift counter, and regarded Conner over the steaming cup. “Carpio said the client knew you and knew you did this kind of work.”

The men looked at one another. Conner shook his head. “That’s impossible. No one knows who we are. They asked for me by name?”