“What do you want me to do?”
“If I can get my hands on the crime scene photos, I’ll send you the pictures. See if any of these faces look familiar to you. And make sure you’ve got Laila locked down.”
“The bosses still want to use her as bait?”
“As of last night, they have no new leads on Kimber, so…yeah. I think that’s still on the table. Sorry. I know how you feel about that.”
Trees’s gut tightened as he padded into the kitchen, started the coffeepot, and growled in Zy’s ear. “What if that was Tessa? What if the bosses wanted to dangle the woman you love as a tempting little morsel in front of a bunch of brutal criminals in a game of winner takes all? You’d be out of your fucking mind.”
“Are you in love with Laila?”
Sighing, Trees glanced back at his bedroom, seeing her wrapped up with her pillow. “I’ve never been in love, but if that’s feeling like your head is upside down, your gut is in knots, and your heart has been through a blender, then there’s a good chance.”
“It’s pretty much like that, buddy. Buckle up.” Zy sounded grim.
“Things no better between you and Tessa?”
“Nope. And I don’t expect them to get better.”
But Zy still couldn’t get over her. Trees feared his buddy was doomed for head-on impact with heartbreak, and there was nothing he could do to stop it except… “You gotta find out if she’s guilty, man.”
“I know. I know.”
“Look, I know you don’t want to, but if you investigate her and you can’t find any evidence, then you can fight like hell for her without a shred of doubt.” But if he uncovered her guilt—like Trees expected—Zy would crash hard. No matter what, his buddy would do the right thing. He always did because he had a core of honor. It was one reason they had adopted each other as brothers.
Zy sighed. “Yeah. I’ve avoided it because I don’t want her to hate me if she finds out…but things can’t get much worse.”
“I’m sorry.” The anguish in Zy’s voice tore at Trees, too. “Really. But I’m here for you no matter what.”
“Thanks. And I’ll send over the pictures as soon as I get the police out of my hair and get the images.”
“I’ll be here.”
“With Laila? That going any better?”
“No.” Last night had been a hell he’d rather forget.
“Fuck.” Zy laughed. “We sound pitiful.”
“I think it’s because we’ve become pitiful.”
“Sadly, I think you’re right. We’ve got to fix that.”
“Amen,” Trees seconded. “Never accept defeat.”
“Ever. Talk to you later, buddy.”
“Later,” Trees said.
Then Zy was gone.
Trees wandered back into his bedroom and watched Laila turn, stretch, then cuddle up to his pillow. His gut kept telling him that the bodies in the EM Security parking lot had something to do with her. He had no fucking idea what, though. How could a woman who was barely five feet tall and had only been a legal adult for a few years be even slightly responsible for this kind of violence? Suddenly, he had a feeling that there were missing pieces to this cartel puzzle EM Security didn’t know…and she might be able to fill in the blanks.
And after last night, wouldn’t she love for him to interrogate her?
He sighed and started slamming back coffee. He had a bad feeling he was in for a fight.
Laila woke to the smell of frying bacon and country music echoing from the kitchen. She stretched, staring at the clock. Ten a.m.?
With a gasp, she bolted upright, then realized she wore nothing except Trees’s enormous shirt.
The night came rushing back. It had taken hours for the ache between her legs to settle so she could finally drift off. But dreams had plagued her after that. Hot ones of her in Trees’s arms, finishing what she had suddenly—and foolishly—stopped last night. Violent ones of her years in Emilo’s compound. Terrible ones of her sister and her nephew in peril.
The last time she’d looked at the clock, it had been nearly four a.m. Exhaustion weighed on her. But she had duties to attend to—dishes to wash and laundry to do. She could not shirk those.
Rising, she tiptoed from Trees’s bedroom and peeked at him in the kitchen, broad and shirtless and muscled, his big, bare feet hanging off the edge of the mat in front of the sink. Wincing, she tried to make her way undetected to her temporary bedroom. She probably looked horrible, and she felt even worse about last night. As soon as she brushed her teeth and changed her clothes, she would be more equipped to face him.
Laila had barely taken two steps before Trees turned. “Morning.”
He didn’t sound angry.
“Good morning,” she said cautiously.
“Breakfast?”
“If you will allow me to do the dishes.”
“Absolutely.”
“Then I will eat.”
“Then come on.” He crooked his finger. “It’s ready.”