Jenkins

I pace nervously back and forth across the room. It’s been over four hours since they locked me in here, and I haven’t seen any of Zeldric’s men since—much less him. Who would’ve thought… I couldn’t be kidnapped by just any criminal gang, no. I had to end up with the most violent one.

The Z Clan has been operating in the city for years, and the only thing known about them is that they leave a trail of blood and death wherever they go.

Well, now I know something more.

Where they live, the names of several of their key members—who, from what I’ve gathered, seem to be the most important ones—and the most interesting part: I know what Zeldric looks like. And I have to admit, I never would’ve imagined him like that.

When I think of the leader of a criminal organization, what comes to mind is a middle-aged man with a prominent belly, wearing a flat-brimmed hat to hide his receding hairline. Never, not even in my most twisted dreams, did I imagine that Zeldric would be this attractive.

I don’t know if it’s his black hair matching his dark eyes or the tattoos peeking from under his shirt up to the side of his neck. They also cover his forearms. Or maybe it’s the short beard. It gives him a rugged, reckless look, along with the hoop earring in his left ear and the thick chain around his neck. I’m not sure if it’s any one thing in particular or the entire package, but what I do know is that with that face and that body, he could turn even the most devout woman into a sinner.

I sit on the edge of the bed and yawn. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, I can see that dawn isn’t far off—I feel exhausted.

At least I managed to wash my hands in the en-suite bathroom, and I also got rid of my blood-soaked shirt. Now I’m only wearing a tank top and my pants. I let my hair down and massage my scalp to relieve some tension.

I have to find a way out of here before that criminal changes his mind and decides to put a bullet in my head.

The door to the room opens, and just as I was thinking about him, the man himself steps inside. He’s still wearing the same clothes and carrying a folder in his hands. He stops in the center of the bedroom, right over the thick, light-colored wool rug, and fixes his gaze on me. He tilts his head slightly, and the smirk that curls his lips is one that invites all kinds of sinful thoughts.

"Mía Jenkins," he murmurs after opening the folder.

I stand up, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly.

I suppose he took so long to come because he was gathering information about me.

I could’ve given him a fake name when he asked. Anyone else would have.

In situations like this, our greatest weakness is always our loved ones. People tend to obey orders out of fear of putting their families in danger.

Well, I am alone, so there’s nothing he can use to blackmail me.

"All this time, and that’s all you’ve managed to find out? I’m disappointed," I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

I don’t miss the way Zeldric’s gaze drops straight to my cleavage.

It lasts only a few seconds before he looks back at my face.

"I know a few other things," he continues walking until there’s barely a meter of space between us, then stops to keep reading. "Sergeant Mía Jenkins, thirty-two years old. Served as a combat medic in the Army. Deployed twice to Afghanistan. In total, six years and three days on the front lines. You left a couple of years ago, right after the President himself awarded you the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of seven of your comrades."

He looks at me again, smirking.

"You single-handedly took down over twenty armed enemies and got your unit members to safety."

"Only the ones who were still alive," I add, just to irritate him, lifting my chin in defiance.

Zeldric narrows his eyes at me.

"Are you thinking about ways to kill me, Mía?" he asks, dragging out my name.

I drop my arms and shrug.

"Jenkins," I correct him.

He ignores me and takes another step forward.

My instincts tell me to move back, but I decide to stay put and face him.

If he’s going to kill me, he’ll do it anyway.

"I think we can save the part about your father, the general, for another time, don’t you?" He closes the folder and tucks it under his arm.

For the first time, I notice his left wrist. He wears some kind of rosary as a bracelet.

Immediately, I lift my gaze and catch him smirking again.

"What’s going to happen to me?" I ask.

"I’ve been asking myself that same question for the past few hours, Mía."

I grit my teeth, but this time, I don’t correct him. He’ll keep calling me whatever the hell he wants.

Zeldric is one of those men—men who don’t accept a "no" for an answer.

"I gave you my word, so I can’t kill you. But letting you go isn’t an option either. Tell me, what do you think I should do with you?"

"I don’t know, but if I were you, I’d make a decision soon. I’m running out of patience being locked up in here."

He flashes another smile, and I don’t even flinch when he takes another step toward me.

His nose is so close to mine that with the slightest movement, they could touch.

Zeldric tilts his head and fixes his gaze on my lips before inhaling deeply through his nose.

"You smell delicious, Mía. Too delicious for your own good."

I force myself to swallow without breaking my composure.

I don’t know what it is about this man that makes me nervous, but I cannot let it show—that would be my downfall.

"And that’s after not showering since yesterday," I mutter, clicking my tongue in mock disdain.

Zeldric chuckles quietly and steps back a couple of paces, his gaze never leaving me.

"My men are pissed about that little stunt you pulled in the game room with the gun. So I suggest you don’t leave this room for now. Gambo and Oscar will be the only ones allowed access. One of them will bring you food and clean clothes soon."

He tugs at the collar of his white shirt.

"You can shower and get some rest for a few hours. By mid-morning, they’ll come to get you so you can check on my brother and the other injured men."

"So I am a prisoner?" I hiss through clenched teeth.

Zeldric glances around the bedroom and shrugs.

"I’ve seen worse cells than this, but if that’s how you want to see it, I won’t argue," he says before turning to leave.

"Sweet dreams, Mía," he murmurs before stepping out of the room.

I take a deep breath at the sound of the lock turning from the other side.

Sitting back down on the edge of the bed, I close my eyes and run my hands over my face.

I’m so fucked.

I don’t expect anyone to find me here.

The ambulance has a GPS system, but I’m not naive enough to think they haven’t already gotten rid of it.

If I want to get out of here alive, I’ll probably have to break my promise.

"You won’t kill again," the words echo in my head.

I try, I really do.

But that infuriatingly attractive crime lord isn’t making it easy.

Zeldric

I glance at the computer screen while taking small puffs from my cigar, pretending to listen to what Lagos says. The image of Jenkins coming out of the bathroom with only a towel covering her body completely captures my attention. She hasn’t left her room in two days except to check on the injured, but I haven’t lost sight of her for a second—like the fucking obsessive stalker that I am. Our bedrooms are the only places in the house without cameras; the rest is monitored down to the last detail, and luckily, she hasn’t noticed yet. I’m sure she would have smashed them to pieces if she had.

I pause with the cigar halfway to my mouth when I see on the screen how she loosens her grip on the towel covering her breasts. Damn, I want to storm into that room and take her right now. This is driving me insane.

"Zeldric!" I shake my head and force myself to look at my second-in-command. Lagos isn't the only one in the office with me. Gambo and Oscar stand beside him, and Luna, as always, has made herself comfortable on the couch. "Did you hear anything I just said?"

I clear my throat and nod before turning off the screen and taking another drag from my cigar.

"The merchandise we stole from Urriaga is safe and ready for distribution. I don't think there's anything more important than that, am I wrong?"

"They’re furious," he says, pushing his glasses up his nose with his index finger. "Alex has been trying to hunt down some of our men. We also have the police on our backs. The deaths of those officers aren’t helping us stay under the radar."

My gaze shifts to Gambo and Oscar. They’re responsible for that mess.

"It was them or us, Zeldric," Oscar justifies himself. "They weren’t going to let us take Beni and the medic without a fight."

Gambo nods to confirm his partner’s words and takes a step forward. If Oscar had acted alone, I’d find it hard to believe he didn’t kill those officers in one of his fits or just for the thrill of it.

"Speaking of the medic… Jenkins?" I nod. I don’t want them calling her by her first name. Mine. How fitting. I laugh internally and continue listening to Gambo. "What are we going to do with her once Beni recovers? I know you gave your word that we wouldn’t kill her, but if you permit us to have some fun with her for a while…" The way he smirks and moves his hips obscenely immediately tells me what he means. "That woman is a feast. Are you going to share her with the rest of us?"

I rise to my feet slowly, outwardly calm, though I’m boiling with rage inside. If Gambo—or anyone in this room—thinks they can lay a hand on her, they’ll have to deal with me first. Lagos steps forward, sensing my shift in mood, and starts to say something, but I silence him with a gesture.

"Are you suggesting we make some kind of list or queue to rape her?" I asked, locking eyes with him.

"Rape is a strong word, brother. We just give her something to calm her down and then…"

"Gambo, you should shut the fuck up," Oscar hisses, elbowing his friend in the stomach.

I round the desk under everyone's watchful eyes and walk toward Gambo.

"This is going to be fun," Luna sings from the couch.

I stop in front of him and grab his neck, forcing his head toward me.

"We are not animals," I growl into his face. "If you feel the need to abuse a woman, you can do it—but outside my house. And don’t bother coming back."

I shove him away, and his attitude changes instantly.

"Zeldric, brother, I didn’t mean—"

"Get the fuck out of my sight," I order, turning away so I don’t have to look at him anymore.

"Zeldric…"

"We’re leaving," Oscar says, dragging him out of the office before the door closes behind them.

For a few seconds, no one speaks. I return to my seat and try to calm myself. I don’t approve of rape or the abuse of women. If I did, I’d become everything I despise. We’re supposed to be different from Urriaga’s men. I have no problem trafficking drugs, weapons, and even people—smuggling illegal immigrants across the Mexican border is just part of the business. But human trafficking… No, that’s not for me. And if any of my men are willing to cross that line, they don’t belong here.

"He doesn’t understand," Lagos says, sitting across from me. "Zeldric, look at me." I reluctantly meet his gaze. "He hasn’t been through what we have. That’s why he talks like that."

"That’s no excuse," I scoff, turning the screen back on. Jenkins is already dressed. She’s lying on her back on the bed. She looks bored.

"But regarding Jenkins, we all have the same question. Beni is much better, and the other three have almost fully recovered. What’s going to happen to her? We can’t keep her locked in that room forever."

I rub my chin and roll my neck to loosen it.

"She’ll have dinner with us tonight."

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me. I want her in the dining room. Let’s see how she behaves."

"You’re joking, right?" Luna jumps up and approaches us, frowning. "What is it with you and that woman, Zeldric? Are you trying to turn her into one of us, or are you just trying to impress her so you can get into her pants?"

I sigh, and—conveniently—Lagos decides to leave the office, leaving us alone. Luna isn’t taking it well that I haven’t wanted to sleep with her since Jenkins arrived. I could blame her unstable mind, but in reality, this is just Luna being Luna. My mind is too occupied with my new toy to pay attention to an old one.

"Is there any reason why I should explain myself to you regarding my decisions? Because if there is, I’d love to hear it."

"Oh, come on, Zeldric! Yeah, the girl is hot, but—" I raise a hand to silence her.

"It’s none of your business. Worry about doing your job properly, and let me handle the rest, okay?"

"Now you’re insulting me," she hisses, crossing her arms. "When have I ever messed up?"

"Are you absolutely sure all footage of the ambulance arriving at the property has been erased? The police could trace it back to us."

"Every single recording. Anything else?"

"Yes, I want you to stay alert in case we need to intercept another shipment from Urriaga."

"You’re planning to keep stealing his merchandise? He won’t be happy."

I shrug and smirk. That’s exactly what I want. I want them to come after me and make mistakes. That’s the only way I’ll get close enough to Leonardo Urriaga to put a bullet in his forehead. Then, I’ll take his men—at least those who choose to follow me—and use his infrastructure to expand the business.

Jenkins

I'm covering Beni’s wound with a clean gauze when I hear gunshots again, pausing for a second before continuing.

"Relax, they’re just practicing."

"I am," I say, beginning to wrap the bandage around his abdomen.

For the past two days, I haven’t stopped hearing gunfire, and I’ve deduced that there’s a nearby area where they practice shooting. I just hope their targets aren’t living beings. The shots don’t bother me. I’ve lived with that sound my whole life—it’s like music to my ears. It’s comforting.

"So, can I get up now? I feel much better."

I help him lie back down and administer the antibiotic and painkillers before disposing of my latex gloves.

"You got shot just two days ago, kid. Take it easy for at least another week."

"Can you stop calling me 'kid' or 'boy'? I’m not a child."

I suppress a smile at the way his lips purse in frustration. He pouts like a little kid but tries to act like a fearless man. Very typical of young guys, especially in environments like this.

A memory flashes in my mind of an even younger boy pointing a gun at me, and I shake my head, forcing myself to focus on the present and leave the past behind.

"Alright, Beni, but you still can’t move from this bed for now."

I start gathering the used medical supplies while he watches me in silence.

Suddenly, he clears his throat, and I arch a brow in his direction.

"I never thanked you for saving me."

"Your brother already took care of that," I mutter sarcastically.

"Zeldric? I hope he’s treating you well. He’s not as bad as he seems. He just tries to take care of his own."

"Right, sure. He’s just someone egotistical and arrogant enough to force 'his own' to tattoo a Z on their bodies." I gesture toward his bare chest and roll my eyes. I also noticed Oscar has one on the inside of his wrist, though much smaller, and Gambo has one on his neck.

"You think he forces us to get it?" He smiles and shakes his head. "It’s our choice. A symbol of respect and loyalty to our leader. It has nothing to do with egocentrism, Jenkins."

I shrug. Honestly, I couldn’t care less. The only thing I care about is getting out of this damn place before I lose my mind.

I’ve found a potential escape route. From my room, I can access the balcony I saw from outside the night they brought me here. Yesterday, I stepped out and realized that if I push myself hard enough, I might land on the floor below—right where the pool is. There’s also a very real chance I’ll miscalculate and end up with my brains splattered all over the concrete, or worse, land wrong and have the pool’s glass edge slice me in half. I suppose it’s a risk I’ll have to take because once I make it down there, it’s just a couple of meters to the ground.

I say goodbye to Beni, and just as I’m about to step out of the bedroom, the door opens, revealing a man I don’t recognize.

I frown at his appearance. Blond hair, short beard, thick-framed glasses, a beige polo buttoned all the way up, and khaki chinos. He looks like an elementary school teacher. The only thing that gives him away as one of Zeldric’s men is the ink covering his arms down to his wrists.

"I was asked to come get you," he informs me with a timid smile. He nods toward Beni in greeting before turning his attention back to me. "How’s he recovering?"

"Good. The wound isn’t infected and is healing properly. In a week, he’ll be able to start resuming normal activities, though he should avoid excessive exertion."

"That’s great."

He walks with me into the hallway, closing the door behind him, then extends his arm toward me.

"We haven’t been introduced. I’m Lagos."

"What kind of names…?" I mutter under my breath, rolling my eyes.

Noticing that I’m not going to shake his hand, he lowers it with a shrug.

"Most of them are nicknames or last names. My name is Arturo Lagos, but everyone calls me Lagos. Gambo is Felipe Gamboa, and Oscar… well, he’s just Oscar."

"And Zeldric?" I ask with a sly smile.

Lagos studies me for a few seconds before shaking his head.

"If you want to know anything about our boss, you’ll have to ask him yourself. Take advantage of tonight’s dinner for that. You’re invited to share the table with us."

I frown and shake my head.

"I think I’ll pass. I’d rather stay in my cell."

"It’s not a suggestion, Jenkins. Zeldric wants you to join us. I’ve arranged for clothes to be left in your room. You need to be ready in an hour."

"And if I refuse?"

He sighs, removes his glasses, cleans them, and puts them back on.

I notice his eyes—they’re a striking shade of blue. Is there not a single ugly, bald, or overweight man in this organization? I wonder if they recruit them from modeling agencies.

"I’ll give you some advice you didn’t ask for—don’t push Zeldric to the limit of his patience. He tends to lose his temper easily, and you don’t want to be the target of his frustration when that happens."

"Thanks, but I think I can handle myself. What’s he going to do, kill me? Trust me, plenty have tried before, and it didn’t end well for them."

He watches me silently for a moment before sighing.

"Come on, I’ll walk you to your room."

Zeldric

I can't stop glancing at her from the corner of my eye. She looks stunning in the dress I ordered for her. It's black, with thin straps and a slit that runs from the floor up past the middle of her thigh. The brief glimpse I caught of her leg before she sat down left me with an ache in my groin that I still haven't shaken off.

The atmosphere during dinner is tense. The usual jokes and insults among my men are nowhere to be found. Everyone remains cautious, eating in silence. They feel uncomfortable with Jenkins' presence.

This dining room, in my private wing of the house, is only accessible to my most trusted men—the ones I consider family: Lagos, Oscar, Gambo, Luna, and, of course, Beni, who is still recovering from the gunshot wound.

The only woman in the group is the most animated. Luna keeps touching my arm and whispering in my ear. I know she’s trying to stake her claim in front of Jenkins, but her plan doesn’t seem to be working, as my new obsession barely lifts her head from her plate.

She has an appetite—that’s a good sign. But she remains completely apathetic, like a robot. She eats, takes a couple of sips of water now and then, and continues eating. I wonder if she’s always like this, or if, like the others, she also feels uncomfortable with the situation.

She straightens her back and fixes her gaze on a spot on the wall directly in front of her.

"May I leave?" she asks.

I focus my attention on her face. No emotion, nothing.

"Don’t you want dessert?"

Her honey-colored eyes lock onto mine, and she presses her lips together.

"I'm fine," she hisses.

I hold her gaze. She’s challenging me, daring me, and God knows I never back down from a challenge. She will be mine—she has to be.

"Alright. As you—" Before I can even finish the sentence, she’s already up and walking down the hallway toward the rooms.

Gambo makes a move to get up and follow her to keep an eye on her, but I stop him. We're on the third floor. There’s no way she’s getting out of here without being seen.

Maybe it's not a bad idea to give her a little trust and see what happens.