Falcon Falls Security Boxed Set: Books 1-3, page 98
“I’m sorry.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think straight. “I needed to take a walk.” He’d thought he’d only been outside the hotel for thirty or so minutes. Had it really been hours since he’d met with Jesse?
“You’re worrying me. Please.” She motioned for him to sit on the bed, but he couldn’t get himself to move, so he leaned against the door and lowered his hand so he could peer into this beautiful woman’s eyes.
She let go of him and tightened the knot of her white silk hotel robe. Her hair was in a messy bun with a few loose strands framing her face. She was . . . perfection.
Miles. Cora has a five-year-old son named Miles.
Closing his eyes, Beckett thought back to the last time he’d seen Cora six years ago. He’d dropped McKenna off at his parents’ ranch after Cora had called and begged him to meet her at her hotel to talk about their daughter.
He knew she must have had an angle, another con in mind, but he’d decided to hear her out for McKenna’s sake. But her pleas for another chance to start over as a family were insincere, and her words were hollow. How could he trust her? Bottom line, he couldn’t.
And why in the hell wouldn’t Ivy have reached out to him, regardless of his threat to arrest her two years ago, if she knew a five-year-old was in danger too?
Cora instructed Ivy to tell you about Miles only upon her death. So, when Cora failed to call on their agreed upon day, Ivy decided her best bet was to head to Mexico and cozy up to club Capone’s owner since Cora told her about Jorge’s desire to buy the place. Since Ivy had never had any dealings with the cartel and hadn’t seen Cora in six years, she figured she’d be safe. Before contacting you, Ivy wanted to go to Chile and confirm Cora and Miles were alive, Jesse had told him when Beckett had raised that point. Because yeah, Ivy was as stubborn as Cora, but he knew Ivy didn’t have a death wish and wouldn’t go into battle alone. But the damn woman could’ve given him some type of heads-up.
Miles is McKenna’s brother.
God, he was going to puke. McKenna had always wanted siblings. Hoped for a brother or sister. And Beckett had never delivered. Not only that, he’d opted to have a vasectomy a few years back.
“Beckett.” Sydney reached for his bicep this time and squeezed. “What’s wrong?” The sound of fear and concern in her voice compelled him to face her.
Beckett’s hand slid from his chest to his abdomen as he tried to make sense of it all.
“Please talk to me,” Sydney pleaded.
“Cora and Jorge aren’t an item,” he managed out in a hoarse voice. “She pulled her seduction con on an easier target. One of his security guys who lives on-site. But we were right, Hector Lopez recognized her when he traveled with Miguel to Chile three weeks ago.” Beckett’s mind replayed the rest of what Jesse had told him at the coffee shop, his eyes falling closed.
“What is it?”
“The cartel’s not only getting the drug formula in exchange for Capone on Friday. The transaction also includes Jorge handing over Cora. Once he learned she was a con artist, Jorge was worried Cora had infiltrated his organization, so he requested time to interrogate her first, which is why, um, he chose this Friday for the . . .” He swallowed. “Deadline.”
Deadline. He thought back to Sydney’s words on the jet the other day. In her line of work, a deadline meant someone would die if they weren’t successful.
“So, she’s still alive. We have time.” Sydney’s optimistic tone had him peeling his eyes open again. He probably looked drugged to her. He knew his eyes had to be red or his pupils dilated.
How could he keep this news from McKenna? A brother.
“Isn’t this good news?”
“The cartel wants to make an example of her once he turns her over, and . . . they want her son too. That’s part of the deal.”
Sydney released him at his words and stepped back. “She has a son?” Her chest lifted and fell with a deep breath. “The five-year-old Elaina said her dad needs to save? Elaina was adamant that she and Emily come here,” Sydney whispered, “because she knew Liam, the world’s best sniper, would follow. She must have been so tied to this vision because he’s McKenna’s brother. Family.”
Beckett slowly nodded.
“He’s five,” she softly said, her eyes glossy with tears. “Is there a chance she was already pregnant when she met Jorge’s bodyguard? Did she make him believe the baby was his when it may have been—”
“I may have been an idiot to go to Cora when she called in the past for help,” Beckett began, realizing Sydney was wondering the same thing Jesse had, “but sleep with her six years ago?” He shook his head, remembering Cora’s bullshit performance that night and the warning he’d delivered afterward for her to stay away from him and his daughter. “Hell no.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“We’re going ahead with the plan,” Carter instructed via speakerphone. Sydney looked over at Beckett sitting on the couch inside Gray and Camila’s suite, where they had gathered along with Mya and Oliver. “The only reason we’ll change course is if Hector Lopez hops on a plane for Chile.”
Beckett looked like he’d been to hell, his elbows on his thighs and his head cradled in his palms, and well, he hadn’t come back yet. A fiery inferno of fear, anger, and doubt was eating him alive. Because his daughter had a brother, and that kid was now in the hands of a dangerous Mexican cartel.
Sydney knew Beckett would do absolutely anything for his daughter, evidenced by the fact that he’d come to Chile to save a woman who’d screwed up his life ten times over. It was only natural he’d risk his life for Miles too.
“Is that clear?” Carter asked in response to everyone’s silence. Per Beckett’s request, Sydney had shared all he’d learned from Jesse, and everyone, including their co-leader Gray, appeared to still be reeling.
“Roger that,” Oliver piped up.
“Maybe Beckett should steer clear of Jorge tonight,” Gray offered his opinion for the first time, grabbing Beckett’s attention. “Jorge is willing to give up Cora and her boy, his bodyguard’s son, in exchange for a club. It’s clear Jorge is either not working with a full deck or just plain evil. Maybe both,” Gray continued.
“I won’t risk losing our chance to attend that party Friday.” Beckett stood, eyes on Gray. “I’ll play nice tonight if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Gray held his hands up in surrender, clearly understanding that Beckett would knock down anyone who stood in his way of rescuing Miles.
“Have we learned anything from Martín about Hector Lopez’s movement in Tulum? Any chance Hector has plans to make a move against Martín prior to Friday?” Oliver asked.
Beckett returned to the couch, and Sydney ignored the urge to join him. Offering comfort wasn’t her forte, and she knew he needed her, but the team was discussing their mission, so this wasn’t the time nor the place.
“Martín believes Hector might attempt to come after his men since the cartel learned they took out their guys who were after you in the jungle on Sunday,” Carter shared. “If that happens, he’ll be ready. Plus, Mya’s Marine friends are there for extra support. I’ll let you know if anything changes. Just focus on the plan tonight.”
“Any luck using an alias to get tickets for his twenties-themed birthday party on Friday?” Camila asked Carter.
“I’m still working on it,” Carter answered, then added, “Beckett, Elaina asked me to remind you—”
“The roses,” Beckett cut him off. “I remember.”
Roses? Sydney stole a look at him. His arms and body were tense as he shouldered the weight of the news, and it was taking all his strength to do it.
Carter went over a few more details, more like orders, then he ended the call.
Gray pocketed his phone and swiped a hand through his hair. “Jesse took a chance by meeting you down in that coffee shop,” he began, “but I guess I understand why he couldn’t relay all of that information to Carter.” He cleared his throat as if about to ask something uneasy, but only said, “Are you, uh, okay?”
There was still some awkward tension between them. But he could see Beckett was in pain.
Beckett peered at Gray, realizing the question had been meant for him. “Would you be?”
“No,” Gray answered without hesitation.
“Miles will be fine.” Camila sat next to Beckett. “Elaina said Liam has to kill someone to save a kid. It’s Miles. He’ll be saved.” She looked around the room, her gaze falling on Sydney last. “If you truly believe in Elaina’s gift, you all need to remember her words right now. Let them put your minds at ease.”
Beckett nodded, letting go of a deep breath.
“We can do this,” Mya said, but Sydney picked up on the slight tremble in her voice.
When Sydney’s gaze met Beckett’s, a memory of something he’d said down in that cenote came to mind. I used to hang out at one specific place regularly, and that’s where I met a singer. Her stomach lurched at the thought. Shit.
Mya was right. They’d pull off their scheme, but they’d need to deviate from the original plan. “Mya, can I talk to you alone for a minute?”
“Um, sure.” Mya stood, a look of confusion on her face about the sudden need for privacy. “In my suite?”
Sydney nodded. “We’ll be back soon,” she said, then hurried from the room before anyone could question her. “Wow, you really did make a sheet wall between your beds, huh?” Sydney asked once they were alone, and Mya plopped down on the bed. “You did that to annoy him, right?”
“What do you think?” Mya’s smirk quickly faded when her eyes met Sydney’s. “What’s up?”
“I can’t sing tonight,” Sydney revealed. “I can’t do that to Beckett.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall behind her, tipping her eyes to the ceiling. “He wasn’t just upset because I’ll be offering myself up as bait to seduce Jorge.” Why hadn’t she remembered sooner? “It’s how I’ll be doing it.” Not that he’d said as much, but after the day he’d had today—learning McKenna had a brother—how could she do that to him?
“What do you mean?” Mya asked. A heartbeat later, her mouth formed an O when she remembered Beckett’s confession in the cenote. “Oh, fuck.”
“Cora studied up on Beckett back in LA before conning him. She knew he loved music and got a job as a singer at the club he frequented. First, she seduced him with her voice before she pulled the damsel-in-distress act.”
“And you don’t want him to have to witness you seduce Jorge in a similar way. Use your voice to draw his attention.” Mya stood from the bed. “I get that, but I’m sure he’ll understand. That was over thirteen years ago when she did that.”
“After what he learned about Cora and her son this morning, those wounds are as fresh as if they’d happened yesterday.” There wasn’t a chance in hell she’d inflict more damage upon that man by having him relive his past watching someone he . . . well, cared about, sing for another man tonight.
Mya nodded. “Not only does McKenna have a brother she never knew about, but her mom didn’t abandon him like she did McKenna,” Mya whispered. “Different circumstances. But I can’t imagine how that news might translate to a thirteen-year-old girl if McKenna were to hear it.”
A possibility Beckett was more than likely grappling with—how to tell McKenna about everything.
“Beckett’s just had so much thrown at him. Regardless, I think it’d be a bad idea for him to see me up there singing for Jorge. He told Gray he’d be okay, but I don’t think we should take the chance. He may snap. He’s . . .” Protective of me. “Besides, you’re the one with the theater skills. High school musicals and whatnot. You should do it.” She pointed to her chin. “See my face. People think I’m a cold-hearted bitch six out of seven days a week because of how I always look. I can’t fake-seduce Jorge. He won’t buy it.”
“First of all, you don’t have resting bitch face.” Sydney opened her mouth to protest, but Mya waved a dismissive hand. “And second, you’ve gone undercover before. I don’t buy you can’t swing anything you put your mind to.” Mya held her palms open this time. “But I do see the way Beckett looks at you. He will probably lose his shit if Jorge so much as sets a hand on your arm, let alone tries anything else.”
“Beckett will go to the ends of the earth for Miles no matter what since he’s McKenna’s brother. But that doesn’t mean he won’t break Jorge’s jaw in a split second, considering all the stress he’s under.” She allowed that horrific scene to unfold in her mind and winced. “So . . . will you do it? Take over for me tonight?”
“One small problem. I don’t know any songs from the nineteen-twenties.”
Sydney lifted her watch and checked the time. It wasn’t noon yet. “You have all day to learn. And those songs don’t have that many lyrics. You can do this.”
She’d beg if she had to. She already cared about Beckett so much, maybe more than she should’ve in such a short period of time, and she’d do anything to safeguard him when or if possible.
Mya turned away from Sydney and peered out the window toward the gorgeous Andes Mountains. “Syd, of course,” she responded, and Sydney circled her to make eye contact. “You’re my best friend. I’ve got your back. You know that.” She reached for Sydney’s hand and squeezed. “Always.”
“I promised not to put you on the front lines for ops, and here I am asking you to risk your neck.”
“I won’t be in danger.” Mya sent her a soulful, expressive look. “Because you’ve got my back too.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“You’re wearing that?” Oliver pointed at Mya, shooting her a disapproving glare as Sydney joined the two of them in the hallway. She’d opted to get ready in Mya’s suite, so they’d kicked Oliver out an hour ago.
“As opposed to wearing nothing?” Mya asked, clearly loving to goad this man.
“You may as well be wearing nothing,” Oliver accused as Sydney closed the door and leaned against it while observing their back-and-forth.
“Those dresses make you both look like exotic backup dancers. Every man in the place will”—Oliver waved a hand in the air—“well, you know.”
“No, I don’t think I do. You should tell us,” Mya said, batting her lashes innocently. When he only scowled, she gently patted his chest twice as though to say there, there, then stepped away.
Oliver had on black slacks and a white button-down shirt. His brown hair was styled and slicked back, and he looked part mafia, part businessman tonight.
Then again, none of us are supposed to look like ourselves. Sydney lowered her focus to the gold metallic knit dress, with its plunging cowl neck. She was tempted to do a little twirl in her gold rhinestone heels, showing off the open back of the bodycon silhouette. But she’d leave the teasing to Mya for tonight. Plus, it was Mya’s job to be the temptress, which was why her matching dress was siren-red.
“I get it, I get it,” Oliver said when Mya spun around like a ballerina with her arms over her head. “You’re—”
“Sexy? Hot? Gorgeous?” Mya smoothed a hand over her glossy mane of dark hair. She and Sydney had gone vintage glam with their hairstyles, sporting tight curls pulled over one shoulder.
Oliver had yet to close his mouth or use it to assemble words and form sentences after Mya had cut him off.
“Cat still got your tongue?” Mya stepped over and playfully jabbed Oliver in the side with her elbow, freeing him from whatever spell he’d fallen under.
“My tongue is just fine,” Oliver said, his voice strained and deeper than normal. “I’m hoping not to have to kill some asshole sooner than necessary. And you two in those dresses are going to attract a lot of attention.”
“As opposed to the garbage bags we normally wear?” Mya poked back. “Damn, who knew rhinestones made us suddenly so attractive.”
“Sure, sure.” Oliver rolled his eyes.
Sydney fished her phone from her matching clutch and checked the time as they headed to Gray and Camila’s room.
“You rehearse all day?” Oliver asked, tossing a look back at Sydney, who trailed behind the two not-so lovebirds.
“Yeah, we did.” Not quite a lie. Sydney had helped Mya learn the lyrics for a handful of songs, and Mya was a natural. Her voice was better than Sydney’s anyway, as were her acting skills. Between Mya’s seductive renditions of songs from Jorge’s favorite era and that bombshell dress, she was sure to garner the man’s attention. As well as every other guy in the place.
Oliver rapped at Gray’s door, and when he opened up, he looked as dapper as Oliver. Black pants and a black button-down shirt. Hair styled as well instead of hidden beneath a backward ball cap as per the norm for him.
Gray stepped into the hall, letting the door shut behind him. “Camila’s getting dressed in the en suite. She should be out shortly.”
Stowing her phone back in her clutch, Sydney wished for the hundredth time it contained a weapon, but at least Camila’s men were on watch in the hotel. The fact she hadn’t clocked their locations meant they were good at their jobs.
“You two look beautiful,” Gray said with a polite nod.
“See, that’s what you were supposed to say. Not that we look like strippers,” Mya chided, nudging Oliver again.
“Do that one more time, and I just might put you over my knee and—” Oliver left the sentence unfinished and clenched his jaw instead.
Sydney bit back a laugh at the thought of Oliver administering a well-deserved spanking to her friend. Although, Mya might benefit from that. Sydney had thoroughly enjoyed Beckett’s firm palm connecting with her ass cheek last night.
“Yeah, good move shutting your mouth and not crossing that line,” Gray warned.
But so many lines had already been crossed since Beckett and Oliver had shown up on Sunday and crashed her and Mya’s vacation. And now here they were on Wednesday night with an impending deadline and a five-year-old to save.
