In Bed with the Enemy Read Online Free PDF Page A

leaned forward. “Then when Del Brio got killed, John Valente took the reins of the organization.”
    â€œDid Ricky turn it down, or was there a power struggle?” Cole asked, feeling as if he might be on to something. “I know there was bad blood between Del Brio and Mercado.”
    â€œRicky never talked about it. I didn’t ask.” Westin shook his head. “We’ve always had an unspoken understanding about his family’s activities. The less I know about what’s going on with them, the better.”
    â€œThat’s probably the safest way to handle your friendship with Mercado,” Cole agreed. He swallowed the last of his beer. “Speaking of safe, Wainwright said that you haven’t had any more notes on slaughtered cattle for a while.”
    Westin’s expression turned grim at the mention of the trouble he’d had lately. “No, that stopped about three weeks ago.”
    â€œIf it will make you and your wife feel any better, I’m pretty sure the heat got to be too much for Gonzalez and he hightailed it back to Mezcaya.”
    Westin ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair, his eyes burning with pure fury at the mention of Xavier Gonzalez, the young El Jefé terrorist who held Westin responsible for his father’s death. “If the bastard’s smart, he’ll stay there.”
    Cole didn’t blame Westin in the least for the way he felt about the little jungle rat. Gonzalez had cost him several head of prime breeding stock, as well as running Westin’s wife, Celeste, off the road and almost killing her before they were married.
    The whole time he’d been sitting at the table with Phillip Westin, Cole had been surreptitiously glancing out the window to see when Campbell started back toward the clubhouse. Westin wasn’t telling him anything that he hadn’t told him before, and Cole knew the man had said all he intended to say on the subject of Ricky Mercado.
    The moment he spotted her coming toward the clubhouse, Cole rose to his feet and extended hishand. “Thanks for meeting with me, Westin. I appreciate your time.”
    â€œSorry that I couldn’t be more help, Yardley.” Westin shook Cole’s hand and grinned. “But I’ll tell you the same thing the next time you ask. Ricky isn’t involved in any of the Mercados’ dealings. I’d stake my life on it.”
    Cole nodded. “Time will tell.”
    When he reached for the check, Westin was faster. Grabbing the slip of paper, he shook his head and reached for his wallet. “If you stop to pay the tab, you’ll miss her.” He looked out the window at Campbell walking across the lawn toward the patio. “And that’s one lady I don’t think any man would want to miss.”
    â€œYou’re married. Remember?” Cole reminded tersely. Now where the hell had that come from?
    Westin laughed. “Happily married! But I’m not blind.”
    The grin on Westin’s face caused anger to burn in Cole’s gut. And he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why. He had absolutely no interest in Campbell. Zip. Zero. Nada.
    â€œYou’d better hurry, or she’ll be long gone, Yardley.”
    Without another word, Cole turned and hurried to the exit of the Men’s Grill with the sound of Phillip Westin’s hearty laughter ringing in his ears.

Three
    E lise stood on the enormous veranda of the Lone Star’s clubhouse, digging through her shoulder bag for the key to her rental car. Why did the dumb thing always sink to the bottom of her purse? Just as her fingers closed around the key ring wedged beneath her checkbook and the leather case containing her FBI shield, she sensed that someone had come to stand beside her.
    â€œGood afternoon, doll.”
    The skin along the back of her neck immediately felt as if it crawled at the sound of John Valente’s voice. “Good afternoon, Mr.