Free Club Alpha by Marata Eros Page A

careful make-up job.
    I don't resist when Tor pulls me into his lap, holding me while I sob.
    He strokes my back, whispering soothing words in my mother tongue.

CHAPTER NINE
    Paco
     
    I sweep Amelia against me. “Do not cry, chica . They will not harm you.”
    Water swarms her large brown eyes. Her mother cleaned and cooked in this house before her. Amelia is only a handful of years younger than I am. We practically grew up together.
    The narco are sloppy.
    The beautiful young woman they plan to coax me away from paradise for—she is unknown to me.
    Amelia, and a handful of other relatives, I hold very dear. A little homework on their part would have revealed that basic fact.
    So why am I traveling to the frozen north to murder someone I've never met?
    Because I will save her, not end her.
    The narco believes I am their puppet. How wrong they are.
    I set Amelia away from me, handing her my silk handkerchief. “Keep it, as a token.”
    Amelia sniffles, clutching the deep-emerald material. “It won't mean anything if they come back and hurt me, Paco.”
    I sigh, resting my forehead against hers. I kiss each cheek, wiping a stray tear away with my thumb. “Go to Lo De Marcos, Nayarit. Take a holiday. I will have Moises watch over the house.”
    She nods quickly, backing away.
    “ Si, okay.” She glances at Tallinn, who grins back at her, a slash of white teeth in his open face.
    Tallinn switches to Spanish.“Got to run, Paco.” His voice sounds apologetic, but his eyes are serious.
    Amelia giggles.
    “What?” Tallinn asks, large hands coming to rest on his hips.
    “You just said you have to use the bathroom with your Spanish, my friend.”
    Tallinn's dark skin turns brick red. “Well damn, I thought I was showing the linguist moves.”
    My lips twitch. “Not quite yet.”
    My attention returns to Amelia. I grasp her hand, pressing forty thousand pesos inside, and close her fist around the colorful currency.
    She gives a small sob, her hand convulsing around mine. “It's too much.”
    I shake my head. “Not nearly enough. Take it. Leave now. I will phone you when it is safe for your return.”
    Amelia looks from me to Tallinn.
    She nods then throws her arms around me.
    “ Cuídate , Paco.”
    “I'll be careful; I promise.”
    She wipes her eyes and swallows.
    I turn away, hating to leave. Yet conversely, I’m thrilled to begin this journey. Is this a maneuver of Club Alpha? If it is such a powerful entity that it can manipulate the highest degree of criminals in all of Mexico, what other means are at their disposal?
    Tallinn and I slip into the limo then make the half-hour trek to the airport, where my private jet is waiting.
    I have never been to Norway. It's always been a distant place of icebergs and a frozen people.
    But one pulse of heat burns bright, warming me.
    If my future is there, I go where it leads. 
     
    *
     
    Norwegian is not one of the four languages I speak. I get by quite well in French and Portuguese, and only a linguist could hear my accent in English. Though I've been told my Spanish warms my English when I am angry or fatigued.
    I will work to appear as American as I am able on this journey. An American will be far less conspicuous than a Mexican.
    Tallinn has determined to be a pain in my ass the entire way, grilling me hard on slang. I have never delighted in engaging the vernaculars of American speech.
    I tap the fingers of my left hand on my thigh. My right clutches the only glass of alcohol I'll allow myself, needing to stay sharp. Flying is a necessary evil.
    “Paco, my man, let's go over it again.”
    I palm my chin, and my face tilts to the side as I bob my head.
    “Don't give me that blank look. You need to stay focused. Committed. Like when I make you lift weights.”
    Ah yes, that. The weight lifting, though effective, is akin to flossing teeth. My mind weeps from the boredom of it. At least while I run, my mind is free to wander. On the mat, I engage all my senses, like a