The Perfect Stranger (LOS SANTOS Cartel Story #2) Read online

  Nina was an incredibly beautiful woman, but today there was a deep sadness in her face. One that would be etched there for quite some time until the grief faded with each new day. She started to walk, bypassing the hordes of cabs along the way. There was quite a distance between the station and Nina’s apartment. It was a reckless decision. With the murder of her partner less than twelve hours ago, she was taking no precautions. I followed at a safe distance, and while she was blind to it, I noticed many eyes on her. Eyes belonging to cartel soldiers skulking behind building corners and in the shadows of protruding awnings. When they noticed her, they soon noticed me, and if any fell into step behind her, they just as quickly fell out knowing I was on their tail. I wasn’t going to let them at her, and I would do everything in the world to ensure both Los Santos and Baja kept their distance.

  Her long hair blew in the breeze and her black dress looked far too beautiful to be worn at a funeral. Nina stood among her colleagues, some there out of respect for Garcia, others purely out of obligation. She took turns wiping away the tears and looking for whoever she could feel watching her.

  I stood among the procession of black cars waiting to leave for the wake. It was a hot day. The sun was high in the sky, and people were moving, agitated, shifting weight from foot to foot. A line started with some opting to throw dirt on the coffin before embracing each other in comfort. At that point Nina turned and faced me head on. We stood in a silent stand-off, her pretty face squinting against the sun as she tried to fit me into the equation. She tapped Delacroix on the shoulder perhaps to ask if he knew who I was. That was my cue to leave. She would know soon enough.

  The door slammed closed and she sighed, heavy and resigned. In the kitchen, keys clattered on the counter and soon her silhouette came walking through the bedroom door. With her back to me, she switched on the small nightstand light which cast a soft, warm glow over the room. From the shadows in the corner, I watched while she ejected the magazine from her service gun and stowed the separate pieces in the drawer.

  I shook my head at why she would ever consider that a smart move.

  She was a rookie, still trying to gain her experience. But surely after Garcia, she would feel the need to protect herself in her own environment.

  Reaching for the hem of her dress, she inched it over her ass, revealing the beautiful curves I had admired from behind so many times. Pulling it over her head she tossed it to the side before her movements stilled. She was frozen in place.

  Perhaps she’d heard my sharp inhale.

  Perhaps she could feel my eyes roaming her smooth tanned skin.

  What she wouldn’t know was how I itched to slide my hand into her lace panties and have her fold underneath me.

  And now I waited. Above the silence, her shaky breath could be heard. Her shoulders squared but still she didn’t move.

  “Don’t stop there,” I finally said, my voice huskier than usual, evidence of her effect on me. She quivered, and I gained a sense of perverse satisfaction. Slow and cautious, she turned to face me, eyes narrowed to make out my features in the darkness. I was sitting, my ankle propped on my knee. She absorbed me, torn between that familiar look of lust and now pure terror.

  “How did you get in here?” she trembled.

  She looked so beautiful in this vulnerable state. So fragile, like a porcelain doll, and yet so incredibly enticing. When I took my time responding, fear flashed across her face.

  “Why do you disarm your service gun?”

  “What?” Her voice was a mere breath.

  “You shouldn’t leave yourself unprotected.”

  “My partner was killed with his own Glock.” There was a flicker of sadness, and I wanted to reprimand her for being so callous despite her partner’s murder.

  I moved forward in the chair, my face revealing itself. Nina followed my gaze to the Glock perched on my knee and recognition of her mistake shone from her pretty eyes.

  “You’re too smart to make rookie errors.”

  She swallowed hard, not knowing whether my implied threat should be feared.

  “Why are you here?” she stammered. My finger tapped on the ridge of my gun, her gaze followed.

  Remaining silent, I watched, waiting, deciding whether I should tell her the truth. Debating whether to tell her I was the better of two evils.

  I stood causing Nina to take a nervous step back.

  “Why are you here?” she asked again, this time with false bravado.

  “Let’s just say you have piqued my curiosity, Nina.” Her lips parted slightly at my response, and I wanted badly to taste them.

  “Tell me who you are.”

  In one quick motion, I closed the gap between us, Nina almost losing her balance until her back collided with the wall. My arms encased her, hands either side of her face. A fraction of an inch separated us and I was certain she could feel the heat radiating between our bodies. Her chest moved rapidly, eyes hooded, debating with her inner conscience. I moved the barrel of my Glock under her chin. Panicked, she inhaled sharply, squeezing her eyes closed. Tilting her face so it met mine, I studied her beautiful features and breathed in her berry scent.

  “Open,” I demanded softly. With some hesitation, her eyes fluttered open and met my gaze. “You don’t need to know who I am, just yet.” I ran the Glock down her cheek, the coolness of the metal a contrast to her flushed skin. “You look so beautiful when you’re scared.”

  “Are you going to kill me?”

  “You are of no use to me dead.” I inched closer to her lips. “Are you afraid of me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  That was all I needed to hear. Pinning her to the wall, her tiny body encased by mine, I kissed Nina hard in an eruption of passion and possession. Our tongues met and her body relaxed against mine as I took what I wanted and gave what she needed. I deepened the kiss and she whimpered against my groan.

  “You need to stop,” she mouthed weakly, her conscience wanting to prevail, her body traitorously responding to mine.

  Wrapping my hands around her wrists, I pinned them to the wall above.

  “I won’t stop until I get what I came for,” my deep voice rumbled and in an instant, all resolve abandoned her.

  Her desire was evident, her submission to me, welcomed. She shivered while I drank her in, causing the corners of my mouth to twitch. She was enjoying this as much as I was.

  The roughness of my cheek trailed down her neck, lips sucking, and teeth gently biting her skin. She moaned, her hips meeting mine as she writhed against the sensation.

  Pulling away slightly, I placed my Glock in the drawer with hers. A flicker of relief flashed in her eyes, but she wasn’t out of the woods yet. Spinning Nina around until she faced the wall, I pressed my body against hers allowing only enough space for my hand to slide around her front and into her panties. I cupped her pussy, her breathing lost in anticipation and longing.

  I wanted her to give into me. I also wanted her to put up a fight. I was not her biggest battle, and knowing she caved so easily to me would not bode so well for her when faced with the true Los Santos. My lips grazed her ear. “I told you to be careful who you trust, cariña.”

  She was breathing heavy. “Can I trust you?”

  A loaded question.

  “No.”

  My fingers circled over her clit, and she gasped at the sudden sensation. Every second that passed, she became more vulnerable.

  Nina’s head lolled back against my shoulder, and I twisted her hair in my fist, tilting her face until I could claim her lips. My fingers teased, finding a rhythm before sliding inside her. A cry broke free from her sweet mouth, legs inching apart as she allowed me further in.

  “When you give in…” I murmured mid-kiss, “…and trust someone you shouldn’t…” I sunk my fingers deeper inside and she cried out in pleasure, “…you become vulnerable.”

  And then she gave me one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. Nina clenched around my
fingers, each rapid stroke of her clit encouraging an orgasm that flowed in waves.

  I kissed her hard.

  I watched her cheeks flush as desire reached its peak.

  I smiled as she relinquished all self-control and gave me into me.

  “I want to taste your vulnerability. I want you to crave it.”

  Moving away from the wall, Nina wobbled back into my stronghold. She was no longer resistant, her body lax against mine. I pushed her forward on the bed and climbed over the top, cuffing Nina’s left hand to the bedhead.

  Feeling a moment of panic, she pulled against the restraint, no doubt warring with her emotions. Her intruder now had her shackled. I could do whatever I wanted, and she held no power to stop me. I wanted her to enjoy our moment, but still understand how dangerous it was to throw caution to the wind. Her sharp breathing and fisted hands told me she was aware of the mistake she’d made.

  To put Nina at ease, I massaged down her back, and in an instant the tension faded, welcoming the return of my touch. I pulled at her lace underwear, the tear breaking through the otherwise silent room. Propping Nina slightly on her knees, she spread her legs enough for me to indulge us both. It was time to taste, and I wasn’t going to waste a drop of her pleasure.

  I kissed.

  I licked.

  She relished the sensation of my tongue plunging deep inside. Nina moaned into her pillow and as my tempo increased, rocking back and forth encouraging the rhythm. Pulling away, I unzipped my jeans and placed my throbbing cock at her entry. She gasped, eager to for me to finally claim her. Hooking my hand around Nina’s waist, I brought her clit to life once more before slowly sinking inside. She cried out with a mix of pleasure and pain, her free hand fisting the sheets, knuckles white while she got used to my size.

  Nina, lost in desire and need, spread her legs wider sinking further down into the mattress, allowing me to drive long and deep.

  I fucked her hard, the way we both craved.

  I teased her clit to bring her the pleasure we both wanted.

  Nina’s breathing increased, almost to a pant, a desperate plea not to stop almost incoherent. Just like she had earlier, Nina clenched, this time gripping my cock as she came hard, her orgasm raw and needy.

  Exhausted, she collapsed onto the bed, gloriously sweaty and void of all strength. Kissing a trail down her neck, I continued to ride her, softly, taking my time and enjoying her sweet murmurs. Her eyes closed, teeth biting her lower lip while I moved inside her with slow, short and deep thrusts.

  Pulling out, I flipped Nina onto her back before nestling my face between her legs. The sensation of feeling my rough face against her smooth thighs and throbbing clit had her gripping the pillow once more.

  “Why are you doing this?” she whispered, her voice now husky.

  Ignoring her, my tongue licked and sucked, and to my pleasure, she writhed beneath me. Her mind was tired but her body was begging for more and with each point of contact, her senses came alive to the point where she continued to teeter on the edge of climax.

  Gripping her slender waist, I pulled her hard against my mouth and listened to her rapid breathing. She was tormented, fighting against the sensation. Nina’s legs couldn’t keep still, her back perfectly arching off the mattress as she finally gave in. With a desperate cry, she came against my mouth, her hips moving in a rhythm to my tongue.

  It was beautiful.

  It was natural.

  It was right between us.

  Exhausted, her legs fell loosely to the side, seemingly now void of any muscle strength. Her skin was flushed all over, hair clinging to her damp face.

  Nina was beautifully sated, sleep beckoning her. Pulling away, I stood by the side of the bed, my cock still throbbing for release. But that wasn’t going to happen. Not this time. This moment was all for her. Seeing how much she got off on my touch and from being inside her… it was all I needed. I held her tired and somewhat curious gaze while zipping my jeans. She expected me to finish, and seeing my still hard cock left her a little confused. Leaning over the top, I kissed her deeply, her mouth still demanding. It was a kiss to remind her there was a promise of things to come. We were not done. Not by a long shot.

  Keeping my lips hovering just above hers, I removed the cuffs and gently lowered her heavy arms to her sides.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  The truth was a bitch. “Someone you’ll wish you never met.”

  For the rest of the night, I watched. Nina too tired to move or to even turn the light off, simply rolled on her side and went to sleep, remaining in the same position until morning. I wanted to be there next to her when she woke. I wanted to feel her naked body against mine and indulge in more of what the night offered hours earlier.

  Instead, I had to be content. Content that the seeds had been planted and anything that happened from now would be done with ease.

  The street was beginning to gain its regular flow of traffic when she emerged the next day. Sitting in the ground floor café at the bottom of the hotel across the road, I watched as she hailed a cab. She was dressed casually in jeans and a top, hair tied in a ponytail. She wasn’t going to work.

  Forgetting my half-drunk cup of coffee, I waved at an oncoming taxi, and once inside, ordered him to follow. We weaved in out of traffic until we hit the quieter streets of Hell’s Kitchen.

  “Hang back,” I ordered the driver who asked no questions. I watched as Nina’s cab put on the brake lights down a street that seemed void of people. “Pull over, please.” My driver did as I asked pulling in behind a parked car. We were out of sight enough to not raise suspicion.

  I sat back in my seat and watched. Outside of an apartment building she pressed the intercom until finally the door opened and she disappeared inside. The cab driver fiddled with his radio unable to decide on the music he wanted to listen to. After a full minute of mashed static before he opted to switch it off.

  “How long, sir?” he asked, now bored.

  “When I say.” He was getting paid after all.

  Nina resurfaced twenty minutes later looking stressed and a little rattled. I had no idea who she was seeing or why, but whatever the circumstances it wasn’t good. She looked around, worried as if someone was watching. She wasn’t looking for me. Instead, her eyes scanned the surrounding buildings searching for something that would confirm her gut feelings. I was sharing her unease. She was exposed to the elements, a sitting duck.

  Nina pulled her phone free and held it to her ear, briefly speaking before ending the call. She backed up against the wall of the building, her nervous energy causing her hand to tap the handbag hugged tightly against her chest.

  Less than five minutes passed, and she was entering a cab and driving off in the opposite direction.

  “Follow,” I said, and without hesitation the driver pulled out of the park. We circled the city back to Nina’s apartment where she practically sprinted inside. I needed in her head. I needed to know what was transpiring. From my own apartment, I watched through binoculars as Nina moved through each room with caution. She was no longer in a hurry. Instead, she now seemed frightened and unsure of her surroundings. And then I saw it. Her home had been invaded. A warning spray-painted in red on the wall above her bed.

  Look behind you. The saints are watching.

  In the time we were in Hell’s Kitchen, they had made their move.

  Not the Baja cartel.

  Los Santos.

  She stood, motionless, lost in thought about what this meant for her future. Confused as to how she had landed in the thick of it all and became the number one target.

  This wasn’t her fight.

  Los Santos foot soldiers were closing in. They were making this a game. A game both Nina and I didn’t expect.

  When she indiscriminately tossed clothes and toiletries into a bag, I packed my own before making my way down to street level. She was leaving and I couldn’t be on the back foot. A blue sedan, covered in scuffs and dents sat parked
on my side of the road. All seats were occupied by men with shaved heads and visible tattoos. They all shared a particular interest in Nina’s building, and I had no doubt they were responsible for the break-in, basking in the fear they were causing.

  My phone buzzed with an incoming message.

  Gabriel.

  A man named Jair Ruiz is on the hunt for our target. He’s Baja.

  He seemed to know what was happening in the background and I was certain he knew more than what he was saying in a simple text message. It was time for answers. Dialing his cell, I waited while retreating behind a pillar near the hotel entry.

  “Brother,” Gabriel answered.

  “Who’s this Jair Ruiz?”

  “Do you remember the name Evan Jacobs?”

  I did. He was Garcia’s former partner accused of “too close” associations with Baja.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, your little crush paid him a visit earlier.” I didn’t respond, for a few reasons. Interpreting my silence for listening, he continued, “Jacobs is a very popular man among the FBI, Baja, and Los Saints. Everyone wants a piece of him, and for that very reason we all have eyes and ears on him.”

  “So how does Ruiz fit into this?”

  “Jair Ruiz always had her as a mark. It was a tip-off of his movements that set this entire shit-storm in motion. When she turned up at Jacob’s apartment, he appointed Ruiz as her watcher. She’s leaving town, and because you’ve taken your sweet ass time getting her across the border, your job has become that much harder.”

  “I’m working to my plan, which up and until now, was going smoothly. Order the foot soldiers to stand back.”

  “From all reports they’re getting closer than you are, brother.”

  “You don’t spook a deer before shooting it, do you?” It was a terrible analogy, but it was an obvious one. “Vandalizing your target’s home and spraying a warning on their wall is not the wisest of moves.”

  “I. Need. Her. Here. If Jair fucking Ruiz gets to the bitch before she lands on my doorstep—”