10
As Laila left the bathroom, she found Matt in the hall. He’d been assigned to guard her?
“Did you think someone would take me captive while I was in the bathroom?” She sent him a quelling glance. “There are no windows.”
“We thought you might be plotting something behind our backs. From what I hear, you’re good at that.”
She ignored the flush stealing up her cheeks and brazened her way past him. “I was talking to my sister.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not plotting something.”
Laila didn’t dignify that with a reply, mostly because he wasn’t wrong.
When she made her way back to the breakfast bar, Matt still trailing, she was surprised to see Kimber waiting for her, holding the baby. Her temporary sentry sent her a flinty warning glance, then made his way to the cluster of operatives, now huddled over the dining room table, deep in discussion.
Kimber smiled and cooed down at her baby. “I have something useful for you. Play along.”
She didn’t have to act to stare at the baby like she was adorable. “I am listening.”
“I don’t know how the guys know this—something about online chatter from sources—but Montilla has Trees.”
Laila’s heart leapt into her throat, clogging it until she couldn’t breathe. It was good to know who had Trees…but bad that the powerful drug lord, not the easily manipulated Victor, had taken him. “They are sure?”
“They seem to be.” Kimber brushed a thumb along her baby’s cheek, then hazarded a glance up at Laila. “I know you haven’t always had good experiences with EM Security. My brothers told me your story and some of the hardships you’ve endured. But I swear, they’re the best. And if they’re this sure of something, it’s almost one-hundred-percent true.”
Almost true didn’t make it fact, but Laila had to concede it was possible they had sources she didn’t and knew things she couldn’t. She just had to figure out how best to use the knowledge. “Thank you so much.”
“I owe you a hundred times more. Tell me if there’s anything else I can do.”
Laila’s panic urged her to take this woman up on her offer, but Kimber wasn’t the person most qualified to rescue Trees, and she had a bigger responsibility. “Stay with your children and be safe. I will figure this out. I promised Trees that if he ever needed rescuing, I would not act alone and I would not risk myself.”
The woman’s gaze slid down to her infant daughter, then she nodded. “I think that’s wise. My brothers want Trees back, too. They’re hardheaded, but they will hear logic. I’m sure you can all work together.”
Laila hoped so. “Thank you.”
“When this is all over, I would love to do something to truly thank you for helping to facilitate my rescue.”
“That is not necessary, but I would enjoy more of your company.”
Kimber smiled and squeezed her hand. “Same. Stay safe. I hope you have Trees back soon.”
With that, Deke’s wife returned to her husband’s side. They departed together, Deke letting the others know that Jack Cole would be arriving soon to lend a hand—and his tactical smarts.
Even if he arrived in two minutes, that would be two minutes too late to start plotting a scheme. Somehow, she had to figure out what Montilla wanted—other than Jorge—and give it to him in exchange for Trees.
Wouldn’t the leader of the cartel want the head of the man who had humiliated him by stealing his car? Serving Victor on a platter to Montilla might not be enough to sway him, but she had to try.
She opened her phone and pondered the best way to find Victor without giving away her ploy, her location, or her dilemma when an unfamiliar icon labeled Locate Me jumped out at her. Someone had installed it on her device without her knowledge. How? The only person who had had access to her phone was Trees.
Hope surged.
Despite her suddenly shaking fingers, Laila couldn’t press the icon fast enough. She held her breath as she waited, eyes glued to the screen. A map appeared, slowly piecing together. Lafayette and surrounding areas filled her screen. In the center was a little blue dot, traveling southeast. A red line showed her every location that device had been since last night—starting with Trees’s place.
She gasped. That had to be his phone. Had she actually found him? Her gaze bounced up to the men, mouth agape.
Matt, who was still watching her, was by her side in a handful of steps. “What is it?”
“I know where Trees is.”
Surprise crossed his face, but before he could say anything, Hunter swore soundly across the room. Laila looked up to find him with his phone pressed to his ear.
“Are you fucking serious?” the elder Edgington brother roared.
“What is happening?” She worried it was bad news about Trees.
“He’s talking to Kane. Your sister demanded a meeting. Hunter promised her one once this crisis is over, but she insists on seeing him now, and I’m guessing she didn’t wait for anyone to give her permission before she left her safe house. Then again, she’s paying the bills…”
Valeria was coming here? What the hell was she doing, risking herself and Jorge?