Covert Operations by Sara Schoen

a few people died and there was an uneasy agreement between the two cartels now that Camden swore to never go on another trade. It seemed as if it had all worked out.
    Too bad nothing was as it seemed in the cartel world.
    The deception would crumble, and they would realize they had been taken advantage of. That was standard living and working for the Cardozas. You had to watch your step and your own back, because you never knew just when the scene would shatter around you. 
    That’s why I needed to find an escape, to forget the horrible truth, and my own actions within the cartel, even just for a little while. Running helped clear my mind so I could refocus on the mission. But as soon as I began my run, my thoughts immediately returned to Danielle. She had no idea what these people were like, and if she recognized me she could blow my cover. I couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t recognize me, no matter what I did to my appearance, and that was out of my control. My facial structure, a strong jaw and lean face, hadn’t changed. I could only change the color of my eyes and hair, fake an accent, and regurgitate information from Marco’s file. If she blurted out my true identity, we would both die, unless she’d managed to wrap Camden around her finger like she typically did with people. Then she’d just have to watch me die.
    There was nothing I could do about it now. Camden had a habit of blindsiding some members when their time came, including the survivors from the raid. Most of them had done nothing wrong, but they were a liability if they stuck around. I sprinted through my typical route, trying not to think about it. The wind seemed to blow away all other thoughts except for when to change my route. I always waited to veer off until I got far enough that the person Miguel had following me would be easier to lose. Since my recruitment to the cartel, he’d had someone tailing me. While with Camden, I was in the clear, but any other time, I was watched closely. I had gotten fairly good at vanishing, though, especially while on a run.
    Having been a spy, and having been in militarized zones, paranoia made me more cautious, but it also kept me alive longer. Life expectancy for either job wasn’t the greatest, so I might as well expand on it as much as I could. Even if it meant looking over my shoulder as I ran through the park. There were a few people out. I had failed to take notice of the time before leaving the loft, but I had a feeling it was just past one since there were normally more people in the park in the morning. It was hotter this time of day, but everyone was busy elsewhere, providing a little more privacy. It also made it easier to keep an eye out for anyone who could be following me.
    However, because there were so few people, it meant I couldn’t get lost in a crowd. Instead, I veered off my running path earlier than usual after taking in just how far back I’d left Miguel’s man. He was about half a mile back, a safe following distance, and not close enough that he would see where I was going. Once out of his sight, thanks to the thick trees and blind corner, I took the fork in the road and sprinted down the path. It would take him a while to realize I hadn’t taken the same path. I guess Miguel would have to order them to follow closer next time.
    As I followed the path, which circled around a lake, I noticed someone else watching me. I had seen the silhouette earlier when I first left the building and chose to ignore it. That mistake could cost me. The figure was hidden behind the trees, and as I got closer it vanished. I didn’t slow down as I passed, but I didn’t see anyone. 
    Where did you go?
    I glanced behind me when I heard someone call for their dog. The dog pulled its ears back and slowly returned to its owner. I looked around to see if I was still being tailed. I didn’t see anyone, but I knew they were out there. I scanned the park, focusing on the wooded areas as I reentered the