[1] Midnight Lips | Ghost

𝐂𝐇. 22

VALENTINA
༻❁༺

     I wasn't scared when El Sin Nombre's men pushed me inside the mansion, a rag sack over my head. At the gate, they had aimed their weapons at me, but–as I already knew–they hadn't shown any sign of wanting to pull the trigger.

I thought they had pushed me inside a small room to wait, but then the ground moved and I realized I was in an elevator instead. Someone stood beside me, I could feel their body heat close in on me. Was it now that they were going to take advantage of me?

The sack was yanked off my head and I had to blink twice to clear my vision.

"Valentina."

Even though he stood with a black ski mask, I could recognize the tenderness in his eyes anywhere. "Alejandro." The pressure lifted off my shoulders as I sighed. Thank God.

As we planned, I was infiltrating to meet El Sin Nombre with the supposed information I had about who Task Force 141 and Shadow Company was, which was exactly what they were looking for. Only I wasn't the only one sneaking in. With the ski mask, Alejandro could be mistaken for one of the cartel's soldiers and could easily keep an eye around. He didn't have any chance to meet Sin Nombre. I did. That's why I was here.

Alejandro brushed my elbow. "As we planned, Valentina. Tell them everything they want to know. If they find out you speak Spanish, you just forgot to mention it."

I nodded my head, determined. "Let the game begin."

The elevator pinged and the doors opened. I was met by a bald man, who had already a disgusting smirk aimed at me. Two guns were pinned to the straps on his shoulders, falling casually on either side of him. This, I knew from the pictures, was Diego. El Sin Nombre's Lieutenant.

"This her?" he asked Alejandro in Spanish.

"Yes, sir."

Diego's smirk widened as his eyes trailed down my body, before settling back on my face. "What's your name, doll face?"

"Valentina." I had to say my name with an American accent, which felt strange on my tongue.

Diego stepped closer, his whiskey breath met my nose and I resisted the urge to push him away. "My men said you may have some information."

"That is correct."

He tsked and stared creepily, as if he wanted to do something more but couldn't give himself that privilege. Instead, he took a few steps back. "Let's go."

"I want to see El Sin Nombre." Again, for the first time after my name, I spoke with an accent.

He blinked at me. "Ah, she wants to see the boss." My stomach turned upside down when his arm snaked around my waist and pulled me flat against his chest. "Listen, muñequita, you're only in a good shape because of what you may know, and it better be good."

My nails had started digging into his shirt when he tugged me off him. His touch on my waist burned me and felt like it was still there, like when you get scratched by something sharp. Disgustingly so.

I met Alejandro's eyes before I trailed behind the LT, who began saying that this was his house. "That means, you don't meet the boss until I say so. You don't speak unless spoken to. And the most important, tell the fucking truth." He turned around to me. "'Cause if you lie, I'll find a better use for that pretty mouth, muñequita."

I gulped.

Shit.
Control yourself.
Ignore the rest.

I followed him down the corridor. "Las Almas is at war. You want to win? Don't disobey." Diego turned right and continued walking toward the end of the hall. "That is how our organization survives, and that is why the boss is here tonight."