Page 58 of Four Cards Exposed

Assuming something happens tonight.

James reached one arm across his body, using it to hold on to his other elbow, deepening the stretch.

“Worried about tonight?”

James started at the sound, looking back to see Miguel Mendoza standing just a couple of feet away from him. He hadn’t even heard the slim man approach.

James shrugged. He wasn’t worried about the fight—getting the shit kicked out of him by Guerrero was the least of his worries tonight—but he wasn’t about to share that with Mendoza.

Mendoza walked up next to him, his rubber soles silent on the deck. His manicured hands grabbed the railing, and he looked out onto the ocean.

“It’s so beautiful out here. So different from home.”

“Different, how?” James asked.

“Everything’s cooler here. Darker.” He shrugged. “You should be worried, you know. Guerrero’s a beast. And he will do anything to prove himself.”

“To you?”

Miguel’s laugh was musical. “Not to me. To my brother.”

“But your brother’s not here,” James said.

Is he? Is Ernesto here?

Miguel shrugged. “You should lose the fight. Moore will understand. He might even be pleased.”

“I’ve never thrown a fight in my life. I’m not about to start tonight.” He paused, rolling his thick shoulders. “But I will try to leave your guy alive. As a sign of respect.”

Miguel’s laugh echoed in the falling dusk.

“I like you, Jay,” he said. “I really like you. I hope Guerrero doesn’t kill you tonight.”

They stood there in companionable silence, neither of them feeling the need to say anything else. Just them and the throbbing of the ship’s engines, until a different noise pierced the night. Another engine—this one smaller, sharper.

“What’s that?” Jay asked. His hands curled against the railing, hard enough for the metal to groan, but his face remained expressionless.

“He’s here,” Miguel said simply.

“Who?”

“Ernesto.”

“Your brother’s here?”

Yes!

“What the fuck are you doing here, Jay?” Moore asked, stumbling towards them. It made James realize just how much the ship was rolling. He hadn’t even noticed until now.

“We were just having a chat,” Miguel said smoothly.

Moore’s eyes drilled into James.

“You shouldn’t be here. Go downstairs and get ready for your fight,” he said.

James turned to do as requested, but not before seeing the smaller boat lined up against their larger boat. And, on the deck, the lone dark-haired man standing there.

I hope you’re seeing this, Lorraine.