Page 110 of Intent to Kill
“He’s all up in my business, sure, but it’s because he doesn’t really know anything. Either way, it’s worth it,” Carlos said.
Dan was hesitant but nodded in agreement. The room filled with a comfortable silence that said more than it meant to. They all agreed. It was worth it. At least it would be if they survived.
Adam turned back to the window, where he could see straight out onto the sand. He couldn’t decide if their situation felt more serious than it was, or if they weren’t taking it seriously enough.
“I have to get these out to the dealers,” Carlos said, scooping up finished bags into his duffle. “Cops are all over us lately.”
Paul joined Carlos in leaving, their idle chatter echoing back from the stairwell.
“The cops are all over our drug movement now that they’ve worked out we’re not Blake Family,” Dan said. He pushed out of his seat and shadowed over Adam.
“Then we need the city officials on our side sooner rather than later. They can call off the cops,” Adam said.
“Are we ready for that?” Mercedes asked. “That’s meant to be the very last item.”
“Less than a month until the election. Now is the time,” Adam said, sitting upright.
Dan’s lip nearly shook, but still he nodded. “Then I’ll get to work.” He barely said goodbye before rushing out of the room and slamming the door behind him. This was why Dan was never assigned stealth, he always made the loudest exit possible.
Mercedes shuffled off the bed. “Are you sure we’re ready for this?”
“No,” Adam said, still staring out onto the beach. “But we have to be.”
Deep in thought, he brushed his finger over his lip. Not hearing her reply, he drew his attention back to the room to find her pacing, gears turning inside her mind.
He stood up and brushed the lint from his clothes. “It’ll be okay,” he said, coming to her side. “Promise.”
She nodded enough times that it was obvious she didn’t really believe him.
* * *
OCTOBER 1986
“Baby, wake up... wake up!” Adam yelled, shaking Mercedes at the shoulders. As soon as her eyes were open, he rushed back to their motel room window. The blinds were drawn, but just outside, in the vicinity of parking spaces that lined the front of the rooms, he could see a crew of Blake men beginning a frantic search.
Mercedes ripped the stained brown sheets from her body and threw her clothes on. Adam pulled his eyes away from her body with difficulty, he needed to concentrate. He drew the blinds closed and signaled her to move quietly. “They’re right outside,” he whispered.
“They found us again?” she said, tucking her hair back behind her ears.
They both jumped when they heard a loud bang.
Adam pried the blinds open with two fingers, creating just enough of a slip to see out if he squinted. Blake’s men were kicking down doors. They’d started at the front of the block, four doors away from theirs.
“We gotta go,” Adam said. “Now!”
Another bang, three doors to go.
They collected their things from various corners of the room. Sheets went flying, clothes with it, as they hurried to gather the last of their supplies. Guns, grenades, various other weapons, all piled into a backpack which Adam shoved on his shoulder.
Another bang, this time screaming, two doors to go.
“Bathroom window,” she said.
Piling in, they locked the door once they’d rushed inside. It was just a flimsy wooden door, but it was all they had to separate themselves from danger, and the more barricades the better.
In an instant, Mercedes was standing on the toilet and rattling the one tiny window to force it open, but the slide was jammed.
Wide-eyed, she looked back to him. Shit, he’d have to shoot it out. He secured a silencer to the tip of his gun. It would smother the noise, but only slightly. Silencers weren’t actually all that silent considering.
