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crazy.”
    “Not a chance.”
    In one of the shops, Anna selected a pretty blouse and a figurine for her mother, and a gorgeous handmade glass bowl for her apartment. She arranged to have her bowl shipped and they left the shop, happy in each other’s company.
    In another store, Joaquin found a new shirt and some fine tobacco. Much to her relief, the latter wasn’t for himself, but to be used as gifts for business associates. He purchased some rare liquor to be shipped home as well.
    All in all the morning was a success, and they capped it by having lunch at a local restaurant that served seafood—big surprise. But it was delicious, and she ate way too much and had to decline dessert.
    By midafternoon they were in their rented car and on the way back to the resort. By mutual agreement, they parted and went to their rooms to change into swimsuits. They were to meet at the beach in thirty minutes.
    Anna put on her bikini, singing one of her favorite upbeat songs. She could get very, very used to this feeling. She was happy and looking forward to what this time with Joaquin would bring.
    Not once since this morning, she realized, had she thought of Gray.
    She shoved thoughts of him aside to deal with later. Much later.
    ***
    In his suite, Joaquin changed into a different swimsuit than the one he had on yesterday. These were regular trunks, not quite as flashy. But they looked decent on him, and he thought Anna would like them.
    Once he was ready, he paced the living area, waiting for Henry to return. He hoped he was wrong about the groundskeeper, but he had a feeling he wasn’t. His fears were confirmed when Henry knocked and then let himself in with his key card.
    “Boss,” he said, eyes hard. “I showed the management a picture of that groundskeeper I snapped on my cell phone this morning. He doesn’t work here.”
    “I’m not surprised. Any word on who he might be?”
    “I showed his picture around, asked some of the hotel maids. Nobody remembers seeing him before.”
    “Think they’re telling the truth?”
    “Yeah. After that I did some digging and came up with nobody fitting his description who’s been anywhere near Agent Sloane.”
    “So he doesn’t work for Gray.” That was a kick in the gut.
    “Doesn’t look like it. Which leaves one very good possibility, since a man who looks a hell of a lot like him is employed by Deno Santos.”
    “That asshole? Dammit! Are you sure?”
    “Almost one hundred percent. The guy is an enforcer for Santos, goes by the name Petrov. He’s a mean Russian sonofabitch who’d whack his own grandma for the right amount of cash. He’s a sadist, enjoys doling out torture first, making his victims suffer.”
    Pushing a hand through his hair, Joaquin growled in frustration. “Shit. That asshole Santos has been waiting forever for a good chance to get me, and this Petrov guy hanging around, being so fucking obvious, is him sending me a message—that he can get to me anytime, anywhere.”
    “Watch your back. He and Santos won’t hesitate to make good on the threat when the time is right.”
    “Oh, I will. And if he comes near my family, he’ll learn what it means to fuck with me.”
    Santos, Joaquin’s greatest opponent and threat to going legit, would not be allowed to ruin his hopes and dreams.
    If push came to shove, he’d do what he must. As he always had.

3
    Gray sat slumped in his easy chair, staring at the dust motes dancing in the light streaming through the window.
    He wished he could feel nothing. Be nothing. Just let it all go. The sadness was so profound, all he could do was sit near the window and stare out at his yard and the trees. He could hear and see the birds, cars on the street, children playing, though not one of those things held any meaning or importance.
    He’d lost the only thing that had ever mattered.
    Slowly, he retrieved a sheet of paper, creased and worn though it wasn’t old. He’d handled it so much, it was almost falling apart. As