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Cruz was looking pointedly at his watch when Estilo rose from the plush sofa and said； ''Are you sure it's secure in here？''
Cruz looked up。 〃Secure？ What do you mean by secure？〃
〃I was wondering about the Orolas；〃 Estilo said。 〃Was that man the only assassin they have in Medellin？〃
Cruz snorted derisively。 〃Are you crazy？〃 He pounded has chest like a gorilla； only with a good deal less charm。 〃This is my heart。 My empire extends in all directions from this point。 The Orolas are nothing。 They have always been nothing。 They do not have the cojones to worm their way into this building。〃
Sonia excused herself； and a moment later Tori did the same。 Quickly； she followed Sonia through the apartment。 As Sonia closed the door to one of the bathrooms； Tori stuck her shoe in the doorway； shoved the door open and stepped inside。
''Jesus。'' The place was as big as a football field。 There were two of everything； including six…foot whirlpool spas and live palm trees。 Tori could not tell whether there was more marble or mirror。 She locked the door behind her； watched carefully the play of emotions on Sonia's face。
〃Your days are numbered here；〃 she said to Sonia。 〃Any fortune…teller would tell you that。''
〃In fact； one already has；〃 Sonia said with surprising candor。 〃Her face was white when she told me。〃 Sonia waited a minute； trying and failing to get the measure of Tori。 ''Did Cruz send you？〃 She seemed unafraid； almost defiant。
Tori laughed。 〃Madre de Dios； no。〃
''But you're a friend of his。〃
〃I want something from him。 That's not the same thing。〃
〃Almost；〃 Sonia said。 〃But no； not quite。〃 Her shoulders slumped a little； as if she had been maintaining a pose。 〃You're just another business associate here to cut a deal。〃
〃Maybe；〃 Tori said。 〃But if I do； it won't be with Cruz。〃 She put her back against the door。 〃Whose mistress are you？〃 She said it so abruptly and in such a different tone of voice that Sonia started。 〃Which one of the Orola brothers do you sleep with？〃
〃You must be crazy！''
Tori said； 〃There's someone in here who's crazy； but it isn't me。 I saw you signaling the Orola assassin at the corrida。 What do you think you're doing？ This isn't a game。〃
〃Of course it isn't；〃 Sonia hissed。 Her handsome face was twisted into a mask of hate。 〃The man who Cruz murdered at El Cerrito； Ruben Orola； was my lover。 When his brothers told me what I had to do； I didn't think twice。 Why should I？ What is left of my life？ Nothing。 Nothing but revenge。 I have a purpose now。〃
〃What kind of purpose？〃 Tori took Sonia by the shoulders； faced her toward the mirror。 〃Look at yourself。 You're a walking； talking automaton； nothing more。〃
Sonia licked her lips。 〃I appear just as Cruz wants me to appear。 The man is crazy。〃
〃So are a lot of people。〃
〃You don't understand。 This man is insane。 All the cartel heads are。 There is something in the air here； or maybe it's a by…product of the power they lust after with their very hearts。 Cruz is dangerous…as much to me as he is to you。 When maniacs move； you get out of the way。 Period。''
〃Then you have to find some way to immobilize him。〃
Sonia stared at Tori in the mirror。 〃The moment Cruz is dead； I will put a gun to my head and pull the trigger。〃
Tori spun her around。 〃Is that so？ Is your life worth as little as that punk assassin Cruz killed as casually as a fly？ Then why haven't you killed Cruz yet？ How many opportunities have you had lying beside him while he sleeps？''
〃At night； after we have made love； when I hear his snores； when I see the rhythmic rise and fall of his belly； even then I am afraid to move。 His power paralyzes me； his wealth surrounds me like a prison。〃 She shrugged。 〃But I don't expect you to understand what I am telling you。''
But Tori did understand； better than Sonia could ever imagine。 〃There must be a way for you to break his power。〃
〃You know nothing；〃 Sonia said。 〃Cruz is already dead； he just doesn't know it yet。 But it is the manner of his death that is of importance to Ruben's brothers。〃
〃A public execution；〃 Tori said。 〃Like today。〃
〃Why did you stop it？ You're no friend of Cruz's。〃
〃He has information I must have；〃 Tori said。 〃After I get what I want； the war can resume。 I am not involved。〃
Sonia gave her a cold smile。 〃But you are involved。 It is not a matter of choice。 Wars are enormous things； unwieldy； difficult to stop。 You have gotten in the way。 Now you and your friends are part of it。〃
When Tori said nothing； Sonia continued。 〃Tell me what you want from Cruz； and I will ensure you get it。 But； in return； you and your friends must help me kill him。〃
〃Why should I bother？ This is your vendetta； not mine；〃 Tori said。 〃I can get what I want from Cruz just by turning you in。 Knowing you work for the Orolas will shake him to his core。 He'll be so grateful； he'll give me anything I want。〃
〃Then you don't know Cruz。〃 Sonia took out a Marlboro cigarette but did not light it。 She studied Tori's face much as a fencer will study her adversary before they put on their masks。 〃He takes； but he does not give。 Unless proper payment is presented； you'll get nothing from him。〃 She shrugged； placed the Marlboro on the vanity top； slit it neatly open。 〃Besides； I am not the only plant the Orolas have here。 One of Cruz's lieutenants； Jorge； works for them as well。 The Orolas are freer with their money than Cruz is。 Jorge does not know about me； but I know about him。''
Estilo was right； Tori thought。 There is no loyalty here but to money。 She said； ''Why should I care about you or the Orolas？''
〃You owe me；〃 Sonia said。 〃You destroyed something that was mine： Cruz's death。 Now you are obliged to re…create it。〃
For the first time her face held a measure of doubt； and Tori understood just how important her revenge was to her。 It might destroy her； in the end； but it was the only thing she could call her own。 She had already given up on herself。
Sonia produced a sheet of rolling paper； transferred the tobacco into it。 To it she added what Tori recognized as cocaine base。 She rolled the mixture in the paper； sealed it。 Then she lit up； inhaling the smoke deep into her lungs。 In a moment her brown eyes went opaque； the pupils expanding。
Tori wanted to help her； to reach out and show her that she； Sonia； still existed； independent of Cruz； the Orolas； even the ghost of her lover； Ruben。 But she could see that it was useless。 She had no illusions that Sonia was a good woman trapped in a bad situation。 At the moment Sonia had agreed to the Orolas' plan； she had sold her soul to the devil。 There was no turning back now； and Tori recognized that all she could do for this woman was to make her journey as painless as possible。
Tori wondered to what degree she could trust anyone here。 For trust； one needed people； but there were none here； only soulless husks driven by greed； lust； vengeance。 The sins of the damned。 The cocaine…impregnated smoke filled the room； making her slightly sick to her stomach。 The stink of corruption was everywhere in flower。
〃All right；〃 Tori nodded。 But the tiny hairs at the back of her neck were stirring。 This mission had bee a two…edged sword； as perilous a s