The Stronghold. Lisa Carter

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СКАЧАТЬ under—oh.” Alex stiffened. “Are the guys at school giving you a hard time because—?”

      “Because my mother was a no-good Anglo junkie who dumped me on Auntie Pilar the first chance she got.” Manny threw Alex the ball. “They say I got to prove I’m a real Apache or I don’t belong.” He twisted the red bandana around his neck.

      Gang colors? Alex’s heart constricted. This would kill Pilar if true. From what Abuela told him, Pilar had poured her life into Byron’s boy.

      “I don’t belong anywhere.” Manny shuffled his feet, unable to look Alex in the eye. “And now my dad . . .” He raised his head at the sound on tires on the gravel.

      Alex angled as a burgundy Jeep with Pilar at the wheel rolled to a shuddering stop. He chucked the basketball to Manny as a white-lipped Pilar jerked the gear into park and shot out of the car.

      “What’re you doing here, Alex?”

      His pulse leaped at the sight of Pilar in the ribbed sandstone Henley. “Figured you’d want to be kept in the loop. Thought I’d stop by and finally meet Byron’s son.”

      A teenage girl climbed out of the passenger side. Her long black hair blowing in the autumn breeze, she clutched a white bag and drink caddy in her arms. “Hey, Manny.”

      Manny rolled his eyes before tossing Alex the ball again.

      Pilar slammed the door so hard the Jeep rocked. “How do you know where I live, Alex?” Her eyes flickered between him and Manny.

      Alex passed the ball from hand to hand. “I’m FBI, Pia. I got skills.”

      “Don’t call me Pia.” She curled her lip. “And you’ve got nothing but Abuela. She told you, didn’t she?”

      He tried one of his lazy grins on her for old times’ sake.

      She glared at him, hands on her hips. “You can save the charm for the blondes, Torres. Thank God, I’m immune.”

      He cocked his head, his fingers spread wide on the ball between his hands. “Oh, really? ’Cause that’s not how I’m remembering things.”

      “Remember?” Her nostrils flared. “I’ve made it my life’s mission to try not to remember anything concerning you, Alex Torres.”

      Alex tightened his jaw and let the ball roll away.

      “We’re trying to have a game here, Auntie.”

      Her gaze focused on the strip of red cloth wound around Manny’s neck. “You better not have gotten that bandana from those lowlife Conquistadores, Manuel To-Clanny. Are they the reason you’ve been expelled from school?” She shook her head. “Expelled, Manny? You’re too smart to get mixed up with them.”

      The young girl extended the bag to Pilar’s nephew. “Sunday we’re still going rock hunting, right, Manny?”

      He hunched his shoulders. “Are you stupid or something, Reyna? Got no time for baby stuff.”

      The girl flinched.

      Manny made a face. “Why’d you have to go and bring Tagalong, Auntie?”

      Pilar grabbed his arm. “What’s gotten into you, Manny? You never used to be this mean. You’re the stupid one if you think hanging out with those juvenile delinquents makes you a bigger man.”

      Manny wrenched free. “Just leave me alone. You’re not my mother.”

      He snatched the bag from Reyna. She stumbled and would’ve fallen if Alex hadn’t steadied her. The girl quivered, her shoulder bones as fragile as a bird’s beneath Alex’s hand.

      Manny’s gaze flitted between Alex’s hand and Reyna. Something flashed in his eyes before Manny’s face hardened. “And stop following me around, Tagalong. It’s embarrassing.”

      Tears hovered like dewdrops on the edges of the girl’s lashes. “I’m sorry, Manny . . . I didn’t mean . . .”

      Manny scowled. “You don’t mean anything to me, Reyna. Why can’t you get that through your thick skull?”

      Reyna’s face crumpled.

      Alex stepped between the teens. “Manny, that’s enough.”

      Pilar gave him a look.

      Alex wasn’t sure if she was irritated or grateful for his interference.

      Pilar tilted her head. “What were you fighting about?”

      Manny pushed out his lips. “My business. Not yours, Auntie. Get off my case.”

      “What’s with the secrets these days, Manny? If you’d talk to me, let me—”

      “I’m done with you people. I repeat, leave me alone.” Manny whirled and pounded up the steps into the trailer.

      “We’re not done with this discussion, Manuel,” Pilar shouted through the screened door. “And you can consider yourself grounded for the next month.”

      Alex stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. “He’s being bullied at school, Pilar. Manny doesn’t feel like he belongs.”

      Her eyes widened. “Bullied?” Her hand fumbled for the nonexistent Glock at her side. “Who? I’ll—”

      Alex watched with amusement as she switched to Mama Bear mode. Loaded for bear. “You gonna shoot ’em, Pilar?”

      “I might.” She dropped her hand. “And Reyna, I apologize on behalf—” Swiveling, Pilar bit her lip.

      Alex turned to find the drink caddy placed on the ground and the young girl nowhere in sight.

      Pilar sighed. “Poor Reyna. It’s hard to see your idol with feet of clay. She’s walking home by herself. Again.”

      “Reminds me of another young girl I once knew. She tagged along everywhere her brother and I went. Hard to shake as a sandbur. As prickly as a saguaro.”

      “Like I said, Torres, it’s hard to see your idols with feet of clay.” Pilar’s fingers flexed as if she wanted to shoot him. “But I’ve had time to get over it.”

      He caught her gaze. “Well, if so, then once again, you’re ahead of me. ’Cause that’s something I’ve never been able to do.”

      Chapter 5

      5

      Disconcerted, Pilar started for the Jeep.

      Alex moved to intercept her. “Where’re you going?”

      “I’m going to make sure Reyna gets home.” She glanced beyond him to the shadow-draped mountains. “Too many dangers out there for a girl her age. I should know.”

      A fleeting expression too quick for her to decipher crossed Alex’s face. “Let me drive. I’ll update you on the case.”

      “I’ll СКАЧАТЬ