The Stronghold. Lisa Carter

slammed the door so hard the Jeep rocked. “How do you know where I live, Alex?” Her eyes flickered between him and Manny.

      Alex passed the ball from hand to hand. “I’m FBI, Pia. I got skills.”

      “Don’t call me Pia.” She curled her lip. “And you’ve got nothing but Abuela. She told you, didn’t she?”

      He tried one of his lazy grins on her for old times’ sake.

      She glared at him, hands on her hips. “You can save the charm for the blondes, Torres. Thank God, I’m immune.”

      He cocked his head, his fingers spread wide on the ball between his hands. “Oh, really? ’Cause that’s not how I’m remembering things.”

      “Remember?” Her nostrils flared. “I’ve made it my life’s mission to try not to remember anything concerning you, Alex Torres.”

      Alex tightened his jaw and let the ball roll away.

      “We’re trying to have a game here, Auntie.”

      Her gaze focused on the strip of red cloth wound around Manny’s neck. “You better not have gotten that bandana from those lowlife Conquistadores, Manuel To-Clanny. Are they the reason you’ve been expelled from school?” She shook her head. “Expelled, Manny? You’re too smart to get mixed up with them.”

      The young girl extended the bag to Pilar’s nephew. “Sunday we’re still going rock hunting, right, Manny?”

      He hunched his shoulders. “Are you stupid or something, Reyna? Got no time for baby stuff.”

      The girl flinched.

      Manny made a face. “Why’d you have to go and bring Tagalong, Auntie?”

      Pilar grabbed his arm. “What’s gotten into you, Manny? You never used to be this mean. You’re the stupid one if you think hanging out with those juvenile delinquents makes you a bigger man.”

      Manny wrenched free. “Just leave me alone. You’re not my mother.”

      He snatched the bag from Reyna. She stumbled and would’ve fallen if Alex hadn’t steadied her. The girl quivered, her shoulder bones as fragile as a bird’s beneath Alex’s hand.

      Manny’s gaze flitted between Alex’s hand and Reyna. Something flashed in his eyes before Manny’s face hardened. “And stop following me around, Tagalong. It’s embarrassing.”

      Tears hovered like dewdrops on the edges of the girl’s lashes. “I’m sorry, Manny . . . I didn’t mean . . .”

      Manny scowled. “You don’t mean anything to me, Reyna. Why can’t you get that through your thick skull?”

      Reyna’s face crumpled.

      Alex stepped between the teens. “Manny, that’s enough.”

      Pilar gave him a look.

      Alex wasn’t sure if she was irritated or grateful for his interference.

      Pilar tilted her head. “What were you fighting about?”

      Manny pushed out his lips. “My business. Not yours, Auntie. Get off my case.”

      “What’s with the secrets these days, Manny? If you’d talk to me, let me—”

      “I’m done with you people. I repeat, leave me alone.” Manny whirled and pounded up the steps into the trailer.

      “We’re not done with this discussion, Manuel,” Pilar shouted through the screened door. “And you can consider yourself grounded for the next month.”

      Alex stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. “He’s being bullied at school, Pilar. Manny doesn’t feel like he belongs.”

      Her eyes widened. “Bullied?” Her hand fumbled for the nonexistent Glock at her side. “Who? I’ll—”

      Alex watched with amusement as she switched to Mama Bear mode. Loaded for bear. “You gonna shoot ’em, Pilar?”

      “I might.” She dropped her hand. “And Reyna, I apologize on behalf—” Swiveling, Pilar bit her lip.

      Alex turned to find the drink caddy placed on the ground and the young girl nowhere in sight.

      Pilar sighed. “Poor Reyna. It’s hard to see your idol with feet of clay. She’s walking home by herself. Again.”

      “Reminds me of another young girl I once knew. She tagged along everywhere her brother and I went. Hard to shake as a sandbur. As prickly as a saguaro.”

      “Like I said, Torres, it’s hard to see your idols with feet of clay.” Pilar’s fingers flexed as if she wanted to shoot him. “But I’ve had time to get over it.”

      He caught her gaze. “Well, if so, then once again, you’re ahead of me. ’Cause that’s something I’ve never been able to do.”

      Chapter 5

      5

      Disconcerted, Pilar started for the Jeep.

      Alex moved to intercept her. “Where’re you going?”

      “I’m going to make sure Reyna gets home.” She glanced beyond him to the shadow-draped mountains. “Too many dangers out there for a girl her age. I should know.”

      A fleeting expression too quick for her to decipher crossed Alex’s face. “Let me drive. I’ll update you on the case.”

      “I’ll drive myself. I don’t need—”

      “Please, Pilar.” He reached for her arm, checked himself, and dropped his hand. “That way you’ll get rid of me quicker.” He opened the passenger door of the SUV for her.

      She edged past him. “The quicker the better.”

      A muscle leaped in his jaw. “If that’s what you want.”

      That was what she wanted? Wasn’t it? But the scent of him filled her nostrils as he leaned over to shuffle papers out of her way. Her fingers fumbled with the seat belt. He helped her click the belt in place.

      His cologne sent her pulse into overdrive. Sandalwood and Alex—a combination she’d never been able to banish from her heart. Her mouth went dry.

      She trembled from the effort not to touch his hand. Because what she’d wanted was a life with him. To keep him close. Always.

      He stepped back a pace. “I’m so sorry for everything, Pilar.”

      Everything?

      Proving he’d never wanted her the way she’d wanted him. The skin on her arms underneath her sleeves itched, aching with an insatiable need to release the pain. She bit her lip.

      “If I could change what—”

      “Are we going to check on Reyna or not?” She yanked the car door shut.

      Rounding the hood, he slid into the driver’s seat. “Still collecting strays, Pilar?”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “Like Calico. And me.”

      She curled her lip. “You’ve never been anyone’s stray.”

      “We need to talk about why I—”

      “Doesn’t matter what happened.” She couldn’t bear for him to know how he’d hurt her then or now. “Ancient history. Some things can’t be fixed.”

      She pointed her lips at the keychain dangling in his hand. “Wouldn’t want to keep God’s Gift to Women from a date with the blonde. Or,” she threw him a nasty look. “Are you into both of the blondes these days?”

      He cranked the engine and revved the motor. “Pushing buttons must run in the family, eh, Pia? I could help you with Manny. Offer my take on the folly of getting