Sold To The Boss: A Narcos Romance

Chapter 23

"Oh fuck," Ryan barked out from the front seat as he stared down at his phone, suddenly driving faster. "Fuck, fuck, fuuuuck. How does jefe know everything?"

"Tiene ojos en todas partes, gringo. He has eyes everywhere," Luca snapped, his voice like a child saying, "I told you so."

"What's wrong?" Isabella leaned forward from the back seat, the note of concern in Ryan's voice making her heart race. He'd been the only somewhat stable and reassuring thing about the past two days. If he broke down, Isabella didn't know what she'd do.

"Rafael knows about Martín," Ryan scrubbed a hand down his face, his other hand white knuckling the wheel, "I'm a dead man."

"Want me to drive?" Luca's tone was teasing, "Considering you only have a few hours left on Earth, you may as well relax and enjoy the view–"

"Shut up!" Isabella shoved Luca's shoulder and then eyed Ryan in the rearview mirror, "you killed Martín to protect me. I'm sure Rafael will understand that if–"

"Oh, okay, so let me get this straight," Luca turned back around, his lips tipped up in a snarl, "you, a beautiful piece of ass which Rafael can find any day of the week, are more important to the jefe of a ruling Narcos empire than the number two who's looked out for him since was a boy? Is that really what you think, chica? Because I'm sure Rafael was very sweet to you, and I'm sure you feel for him like every other woman on the planet, but you don't know him at all. He's a violent, ruthless man, and you should have taken whatever Martín wanted to dole out–"

"Enough," Ryan shoved Luca back into the front passenger seat with his forearm, "if you say that she, or any other woman, should take whatever a man wants to do to her, then I'll have you dead on the street just like Martín."

"Jesus, gringo, she's a punta. You've lost your head over some spoiled, half-gringa princess. I'll shut up but I sure as hell won't be dragged into this. I would've never killed Martín."

"Give me your phone," Isabella ignored Luca and tapped Ryan on the shoulder, "Let me talk to him."

"You don't even know him," Luca grumbled.

"Yes, I do."

"Isabella, I'm not sure it's a good idea. Let's get you home and then I'll let Rafael deal with me–"

"I'm not letting you take the fall for this, Ryan. Whatever you think Rafael is going to do to you, he'll have to do it to me too, because I would've killed Martín myself if I had the chance."

"Jesus Cristo, you both have lost your minds," Luca groaned.

"Give me the phone, Ryan," Isabella reached her hand forward, her tone stern. She didn't give a shit what Luca had to say. He may even be right, she'd barely spent any time with Rafael in comparison to the men that had served him for years, but she knew he cared about her. She knew that Rafael would have done the exact same thing to Martín, if not worse, after seeing what he was planning to do to her. Narcos King or not, Rafael was a man who cared for Isabella and she just needed to get through to him to help him understand.

"Fuck, fine. If he spares me my life, I sure as hell will need to get a new job," Ryan handed Isabella his phone as Luca laughed sardonically.

"It will be hard to find a job when you have no hands, no feet, and no dick," Luca spat out the window and Isabella ignored his crass words, "don't think your pretty boy, Rafael, hasn't cut off someone's hands before, chica. I hear he prefers a very dull blade–"

Ryan elbowed Luca in the kidney, effectively shutting him up, as Isabella stared down at the recent text from Rafael to Ryan.

Jefe: Change of plans. I want an update in the next ten minutes, regardless of whether or not you're in the States. Send a photo with a timestamp of Isabella and Martín, now.

Isabella's breath hitched in her throat, just knowing she was about to speak to him again, that her rushed call in an abandoned gas station restroom wouldn't be the last time she heard his voice. She angled the phone in front of her and snapped a photo, her lips just barely titled up in a smile but her eyes wide with sleep deprivation and fear. She made sure the timestamp was included and hit send. She chewed on her fingernail as three text bubbles appeared and disappeared, her heart racing each time.

"What did he say?" Ryan asked.

"He hasn't responded yet."

"That's because he's already sending someone to kill you. Probably to kill all of us."

"Luca, you're not helping."

"Oh, I'm sorry, chica, I didn't know this was–"

"Hold on, he's calling," Isabella cut the men off and stared down at the vibrating phone before hitting the 'answer' button.

"Carina, listen to me very carefully," Rafael's voice was so low Isabella almost wondered if it was real, "only answer yes or no to these questions, don't say anything else." Isabella nodded even though she knew Rafael couldn't see her. She wanted to rush out an explanation but restrained herself at the cold and detached sound of his voice.

"Are you safe?" Isabella wasn't entirely sure, but she felt safe enough with Ryan.

"Yes..."

"Are you still heading to the States?"

"Yes."

"Is Martín dead?" Isabella paused, her eyes going wide. This wasn't how she'd planned on this conversation going. She'd wanted to talk to him, to explain.

"Fuck," Rafael cut in before Isabella could answer, her silence a confirmation. "Who killed him?" Isabella paused, a light sweat breaking out between her breasts.

"You said I could only answer yes or no..."

"Oh, you're being smart with me now, carina?" Rafael's voice sliced through the phone and Isabella sat up straight, fear coursing through her. There was something different about Rafael's tone, like it was sharp and detached instead of soft just for her. She feared that Luca may have been right but she wouldn't admit it out loud. She felt her heart breaking slowly inside her chest as doubt bloomed painfully.

"Shit, we've got company," Ryan swerved hard and Isabella let out a squeal, the phone still by her ear as she slid across the backseat and hit her head against the other window.

"Fuck, el Diablo works hard but Rafael works harder," Luca bit out as he aimed his gun out the back, forcing Isabella to squat low on the floor of the car.

"Isabella, mi carina, talk to me, what the fuck is going on?" Rafael's tone changed from cold and detached to concerned as hell and Isabella gulped for air as gunshots rang out and Ryan swerved off the main road, driving through vast nothingness. Isabella couldn't see a thing.

"I–I–don't know, I think some men are following us," she closed her eyes, wishing she could feel Rafael's warm strong body wrapped around her, "did-did you send them, Rafael?" Her voice broke, her eyes welling with tears as the thought that Luca had been right rang through her body. That Rafael was a cold-blooded killer.

"Fuck no, baby. How many times do I have to tell you–"

"Martín forced himself on me, Rafael!"

"What?"

"Ryan was protecting me, please don't hurt him–" before Isabella could finish her sentence the car swerved back hard, the phone falling from her hand as she felt something warm coat her arm. Her ears were ringing, her vision fuzzy as she looked down and saw red everywhere.