“I think you should reserve judgment until he gets out. If he’s still an asshole, then I’ll ruin him.”
I smiled even though my heart ached with more despair than I thought possible. “I love you, Bran. Thank you for always having my back.”
“Can you say that again sometime in front of Anne? She won’t believe me when I tell her that you said that.”
“Maybe.”
When I arrived back at the hotel, Jose Luis escorted me to my room, checking to make sure no one was lurking, then stood guard outside the door.
I got a bottled water and sat, working to settle my nerves and think straight. Bran was right. Noel was under a lot of duress. Plus, he had to be suffering from brain trauma if the bruises and welts on his face were any indication.
I pressed a hand over my belly. “We’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt.” The more I thought about it, the more I knew he wouldn’t have dismissed the baby. He’d love it just like he loved Mo.
Poor Mo. What was going to happen to him?
Finally feeling more myself, I picked up my phone and called Archer. In ten minutes, he and three other men, including Dane MacLeod were in my room. They were followed by the lawyers and ex-judge I’d seen earlier. Finally, Mr. Sanchez showed up with two other men.
“Dane is an ex-SEAL like me. Our two best men are out, so I called in some extra reinforcements,” Archer explained to me.
“Can you call in the U.S. special forces?” I joked. Well not really. I wanted an army to burn Lupe and Bastion to the ground.
“Not yet. The thing is, he’s technically under arrest. We can’t just barge in.”
“Like he did to help save Lane?” It was a pissy thing to say, but I imagined Noel helped Archer without thinking of the legality of it.
“We don’t want to create an international incident. That will only make things worse for him and Dax.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“First, tell me everything you know. What did Lupe and Bastion say? The police who were at the station, what did they say? Are they honest or with the cartel?”
I relayed what I’d heard Lupe tell Noel about Mo being an orphan and the plan to ruin Noel by having him arrested for child trafficking.
“They beat him up. He said something about her and Bastion liking torture.”
“What about Dax?”
“I think he was in the next cell. I…I didn’t really look. He didn’t say anything.” I felt bad for not paying more attention.
“What do we know about the guards?” Archer asked.
I looked to the judge and lawyers. The judge shrugged. “It’s hard to know. The Cartel has friends in high places. However, I do know the mayor would like to rid the city of the cartel and corrupt law officials. She’s one to enlist for help.”
More questions were asked. Information was shared. Ideas were tossed around.
“Where is Mo?” I asked.
“He’s safe with Lane. I’ve got them in a safe house,” Archer said. He gave me a smile. “I know Noel gave me my life when he saved Lane from Kerby. I’m going to repay him by bringing him back to you.”
I sucked in a breath. “If he wants me.”
“What does that mean?”
I shook the memory away. “Nothing. Just…he told me to leave. Quite forcibly…”
Archer gently took my hand. “Of course, he did. He loves you.”
I shook my head, not understanding. “Why would you say that?”