Señor Sapos
Feeling adrenaline hit her system, Leigh eased the car out of the resort, driving the back roads to the party district of Cancun. Her mind was already at the bar—aiming the gun at DJ Chac. It would be so easy. Guero would see she had been right. After he calmed down, she could have her reunion. She could almost feel her sister’s arms around her. What would her first words be? Leigh had to think of something that wasn’t horribly cheesy. Or maybe she would be overcome with emotion. Maybe she would even cry?
Shit, it’s been forever since that happened, Leigh thought, smiling to herself.
Pulling the car to a halt just outside the club, Leigh glanced at her phone. A message from Sylvie popped onto the screen, accompanied by several photographs.
Pls confirm you are taking care of this
Leigh quickly texted back.
Yes
Opening the attachments, Leigh briefly studied the photographs. The majority of them featured DJ Chac with tweeners and A-list celebrities. She committed his image to memory as she flipped through them. She was almost at the end of the slideshow when a group photo flashed onto the screen.
It was a picture of DJ Chac next to a heavyset man with a prominent widow’s peak. Situated opposite them was a blonde woman. Her tanned legs and arms were crossed, and her face was partially obscured. But Leigh saw enough to feel a glimmer of recognition.
“Holy shit,” she said, her hands shaking.
She forwarded the photograph to Eva, her pulse racing as she typed out a brief message.
Tell me this isn’t her . . .
The heart-shaped face and blonde curls may belong to any number of women—but Leigh was almost certain it was Gia, the woman she had traded for her own freedom.
Her mind spinning, Leigh turned off the car.
“Get your mind right,” she admonished, flipping down the vanity mirror for one last check.
She adjusted her lipstick and fluffed up her hair. Looking at her neckline, she pulled the dress down lower, pushing her assets up. Her nerves now a wreck, she grabbed her purse before exiting the car.
Maybe the woman just looked like Gia, she thought. Pretty blondes are a dime a dozen out here.
Trying to put it out of her mind, Leigh strutted towards the entrance. It was now near one in the morning, but the party at Señor Sapos was going strong. She could feel the beat of the music as she drew closer—smiling at the bouncers from ear to ear.
“Señorita, welcome,” one said, opening the door for Leigh.
“Gracias,” she replied, sauntering inside.
Her smile held firm, but inside, Leigh was panicking.
Was Gia alive?
She couldn’t process what it all meant. From the looks of the photo, it didn’t appear as if she were being held prisoner. It was clear Gia was there as a guest—a companion, perhaps?
Now is not the time to panic, Leigh told herself. You have a job to do.
She scanned the club, searching for the DJ booth. There it was, located high above the crowd—just to the left of the main bar.
Body moving to the beat, Leigh made her way through the mass of people. She couldn’t kill the DJ in the middle of this madness. She would wait until the after-party—that would be her moment.
Her senses adjusting to the thick atmosphere, she carefully maneuvered through the club. The positioning was not ideal. The bar sat against a wall with the box suspended above it. To get out, she would have to cross the main dance floor—packed to capacity with revelers.
Easing into the crowd, she strained to get a closer look at the booth. She could just see the tip of DJ Chac’s head as he spun his records, gyrating with the beat and holding his glass to the ceiling. Cancun was one endless party—and DJ Chac was the master of ceremonies.
She couldn’t see much from her vantage point below. It was time for some reconnaissance. Guero would have done this for her, she thought, the memory like a punch in the gut. Leigh pushed thoughts of her boyfriend out of her mind and headed towards the bar. Wedging herself between two drunken blondes, she pushed them neatly out of the way.
The bartender nodded at her.
“Nice move. What can I get you?” he yelled above the clamor.
“Tequila, straight,” Leigh screamed back, ignoring the scandalized looks from the coeds as she planted her forearms on the bar.
Trying to appear casual, she glanced up at the booth, spying what appeared to be an upper level to the club. The tinted windows were a dead giveaway. This must be where DJ Chac accessed the raised platform. It would be an ideal place for him to retreat after the show.
Leigh had to get in there.
“Is VIP up there?” she asked, as the bartender returned with tequila and a Tecate in tow.
“Management,” he replied, nodding at her. “Beer is on me.”
Leigh smiled at him. She took the shot, throwing her head back dramatically.
Turning, she surveyed the crowd. They were mostly Americans, grinding against one another—drinks in hand. Leigh was like them not long ago. It was odd to be back at a place like this—she had changed so much.
She faced the bar, surprised to see the bartender talking animatedly with a large bouncer. Once he realized she was watching, he quickly ended the conversation. Leigh felt a jolt of panic. No one seemed to be getting out of hand at the bar. Did someone call security?
Moving towards her, the bartender offered up a melting smile.
“Need anything?”
“No, thanks. Hey, what time does the after-party start?”
“Give it a few more hours,” he responded, winking at her.
Leigh nodded, putting the exchange out of her mind. No one expected her tonight—there was no reason to be alarmed. She would just finish this beer and make her way to the second level. Then, when the time was right, she could ease into the booth. The music was so loud, all it took was a well-timed aim, and she would be home with Guero in no time.
Guero.
The thought of him made her stomach twist. She had never defied him—not once. She would make it up to him somehow.
Flipping through her phone, she clicked on several messages from Eva—all sent in rapid fire. Her heart sank when she read them.
OMFG it’s totally her.
“I knew it,” Leigh said, texting Eva back.
Will call in a bit, in da club.
Putting her phone away, she looked up at the bar, feeling dizzy. The room began to tilt. Leigh gripped the bar with both hands, trying to right herself.
What the fuck was happening?
As Leigh tried to steady her balance, she felt someone grip her waist. She whirled around. The bouncer had his arm around her. He gazed at her intently, motioning for her to follow.
No, she thought, squirming under his ironclad grip.
Leigh panicked, pulling away with all her might. Slipping from his grasp, she turned to run. Losing her balance, she fell forward, her head connecting with the edge of the bar. Stunned by the impact, Leigh collapsed to the floor, the club quickly fading from view as she lost consciousness.