Chapter 19

Jeff sat next to Lynn's bedside and listened avidly to her steady breathing and heartbeat. The knock on her head had put her down for the last six hours. She had a busted nose, gash in her forehead and a badly bruised ribcage and stomach. When he arrived Mija ran up to him rambling about what had happened. The man who harmed Lynn was lucky Mija had killed him when she did. Otherwise, he would've made sure he died a slow and painful death, just for touching her.

"Jeff..."

"I'm here," he softly picked up her hand and kissed her palm. "You scared the hell out of me," he whispered.

She smiled sleepily, "You...I scared the hell out of myself. Where's Mija she okay?"

He nodded against her hand, "She's okay, she's lying down at the moment."

"Did she tell you what happened?" she tried to sit up but hissed in pain and lay back down.

"Yeah, she told me," he said with a hint of regret in his voice.

She caught her breath and finally got comfortable. "For whatever reason DeMarco is after me it's not because I might be able to point out his boys...it's something else," she explained.

"It doesn't matter now...you're safe," he reassured.

"Yes it does matter," she insisted. "Like I told Mija I want to know why I'm being hunted! I want to know who the hell he thinks I know! I want to meet this man face to face!"

"No you..." he stopped in mid-sentence and licked his lips.

She narrowed her eyes and examined him. Whenever he was nervous he would lick his lips and clenched his jaw. Well...he was doing both right then. "What are you not telling me Jeff?" she asked.

"Things that you don't need to know. Things that will only endanger you further," he insisted back.

"I think it's safe to say I'm in over my head right now! What the fuck have you been hiding from me?" she demanded.

He shook his head without saying a word.

She yanked her hand free and tried to get out of the bed but only succeeded in hurting herself.

"Lynn stop it you're just going to hurt yourself even more," he grabbed her wrists halting her exit.

"Let me go! I am not staying in this house another minute unless you tell me what the hell is going on!" she struggled against him but was too weak. "Please Jeff, I don't want to go but I can't stay in the dark," she almost cried, more from pain.

He let go of her wrists and ran his fingers up her arms to frame her face gently. "Shhh...just calm down okay," he coaxed.

She closed her eyes and leaned into his hands. They were so warm and inviting. He was so warm and inviting. "If you tell me the truth...that's all that matters to me, is the truth. I'm not going to hate you for it...lying is the only way I'll hate you," she whispered.

He took a deep breath and let his hands drop to take her hands again. "DeMarco wants you as a pawn...to draw him out..." he started.

"Who?" she was starting to get dizzy from all the riddles.

He took a deep needed breath. It was a name he had not mention to anyone in five years. It was a secret he vowed never to break...until now.

"His name is...El Mariachi..."