K-9 Security, page 6
He didn’t have to finish that thought. It’d already wedged between her ribs. Every second they wasted trying to pin down Sangre por Sangre lowered the chances of them recovering Daniel. This was her fault. She’d been responsible for the information she’d gathered living with her ex for those three months. She should’ve been more careful. She should’ve gone out there sooner.
“I remember one of the addresses I saved in the phone.” It wasn’t much, but it was a start. If they found a connection between the cartel and one location, they might be able to build from there. “Twenty acres of undeveloped property. I remember it because it was one of the addresses I was able to get photos of online. There was nothing out there, from what I could tell, but it seemed odd the cartel would just let it sit.”
“Cartels like Sangre por Sangre own thousands of acres of undeveloped land.” Jocelyn angled her chin over her shoulder, though not enough to get a direct look at Elena. “It makes moving their product—drugs, women and alcohol—easier across the state. Sometimes they’re just used for logistics’ sake.”
It made sense, and of all the operatives Socorro employed, she supposed Jocelyn would be the one whose literal job it was to confirm that theory. But Elena’s gut said something different. That the mortgage statements and environmental surveys she’d found for that specific piece of land represented more than a simple route the cartel used to avoid law enforcement. She didn’t know why, but it felt important. She ran through the address over and over until it’d be impossible to forget.
All too soon, the SUV dipped into the compound’s underground parking garage. Her vision struggled to adjust to the lack of input for a few moments, casting her into a world of darkness. She hadn’t actually been conscious for this part when Cash had brought her here, and a thread of anxiety clawed up her throat.
Bear whined from the back seat, her cold nose grazing along Elena’s neck, as though seeking comfort. Cash reached overhead, and the interior of the SUV lit up. That simple action not only seemed to calm the dog but took a weight off Elena’s chest.
They pulled over in front of a shiny elevator. Jocelyn was the first to exit, before rounding to the back of the vehicle to get Maverick as Elena and Cash hit the asphalt. “I’ll check in with Ivy, let her know what we found. Or didn’t, rather. I’ll keep you up-to-date.”
“Thanks, Joce.” Cash clicked his tongue, and Bear jumped down from the cargo area. It was sweet. Their relationship. Earlier he hadn’t said as much, but she’d guessed Cash and Bear’s handler had been close. It must’ve been hard. Not only to lose that friend but also to realize he’d been responsible for the operation’s failure. To uncover that betrayal.
Jocelyn unlocked a door off to the right of the elevator using her keycard and disappeared inside, leaving Cash and Elena alone in the cavernous garage.
Elena didn’t really know what would happen next. The intel she’d promised Socorro was missing, her brother was still out there, she wasn’t sure if her parents had survived the night and a cartel lieutenant had raided her hometown to find her. Her phone was supposed to fix everything. Now she had nothing. She stared at the replacement. Who’d known about what she’d done? Her ex? One of the men he employed?
“You look like you’re about to drop dead.” Cash pushed the button for the elevator. The doors parted almost immediately, and he stepped inside. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
“Yeah.” She followed him inside. Because she really didn’t have any other choice, did she? She had nothing to go back to. Her ex—and the cartel—had made sure of that. The only thing left to do was find Daniel. The doors slid closed behind her, and she made note of the floor Cash selected. Three.
The phone’s plastic protested from the tightness of her grip, catching Bear’s attention, and she pocketed it into her borrowed jacket. “Is your dog scared of the dark?”
“Weird, right? I always thought dogs had better vision than we did, but there’s something about the dark she doesn’t handle well. I have to keep a night-light on, or she’ll whine all night.” He scratched behind one of Bear’s ears. The dog’s jaw loosened as she closed her eyes. Cash slipped the SUV’s keys in the right pocket of his cargo pants. “I’ve asked the vet we keep in-house for the K-9 unit. She has a theory that Bear might’ve gone temporarily blind from her last concussion. Anytime she can’t see, it freaks her out.”
Elena knew the feeling. The elevator pinged, letting them out on the same floor she recognized from before. Though this time the tall, dark and scary man beside her wasn’t so scary. Cash directed her through the maze of sleek black walls, floors and ceilings until they reached his room. Left. Two rights. Fourth room from the end.
Motioning her inside, Cash stood sentry at the door as she crossed the threshold.
Her movements were subtle and quick. Just as she’d learned living with her ex. She closed the distance between them, nothing more than mere inches keeping her from touching him as she raised her gaze to his. “Thank you, Cash. For everything. If it wasn’t for you, Daniel wouldn’t have a chance. How am I supposed to repay something like that?”
He studied her from head to toe.
“You’ve still got a bit of ash and dirt on you. Bathroom’s there. Fully stocked. Feel free to shower.” His voice was husky, and she couldn’t help but feel it rumble through her. “I’ll have Jocelyn send over another change of clothes while I grab us something to eat other than a couple old Oreos disguising Bear’s allergy medicine.”
The aftertaste made a hard comeback at the reminder, and Elena grabbed her stomach to keep it from revolting all over again. She took a step back to find the nearest garbage can. “A toothbrush would also be good.”
“You got it, Elle.” The hitch at the corner of his mouth that’d twisted her insides earlier exploded into a full-blown smile she hadn’t been prepared for. It stole the air from her chest and left her doubting every thought she’d had during the drive back to Socorro. Cash closed the door behind him.
Elle. No one had called her that before. Her family had always called her Lena. The warmth he’d given off evaporated. Come with me, Lena. Ice infused her veins despite the sun beaming through the windows. Elena pulled the phone from her pocket and flipped the cover open. The screen lit up. Ten percent battery life. She’d already determined the device had never been used before being shoved inside the mission wall. No reason for anyone to be looking for it then, right?
Pulling up the messaging screen, she entered the only phone number she’d bothered memorizing since she’d returned to Alpine Valley. Hesitation cut through her. If someone had been watching her movements on her ex’s orders, reaching out could put her parents in more danger. But not knowing if they were safe was eating at her from the inside. She typed a quick message. Need to meet. You know the place. Tonight.
She sent the message. Cash would be back soon. She had to go now. Elena palmed the SUV’s remote key she’d taken from his cargo pants and lunged for the door. Left at the end of the hall. Another left. Then a right. In less than a minute, she faced off with the elevator and hit the call button. Nervous energy had her scanning the floor for signs of Cash, Bear or any of his team. The elevator pinged, and she slipped inside.
She was in the clear. The fist around her heart released. There was no way the cartel was using twenty acres of land for nothing more than a drug route. The chances of finding Daniel there were slim, but she had to try. Her pulse thudded hard at the base of her throat as she locked on to the reflection in the silver doors. The bruises had darkened since last she’d noticed them. One bleeding up her cheek, the other across her opposite temple, but the swelling had at least gone down. She didn’t look like she’d gotten into a fight with the end of a rifle.
The overhead lights flickered. Her heart rate skyrocketed out of control at the thought of getting stuck in the dark. The LED light above the door framed out a G for garage, and Elena stepped forward in anticipation of getting out of the car as fast as possible.
The doors parted.
The same wall of muscle that’d held her up at the sight of her childhood home burned to the ground blocked her path. Cash. “You know, I’m starting to think you don’t like me.”
* * *
COLOR HAD DRAINED from her face. Like she’d seen a ghost.
Cash only allowed himself a split second of concern before he stretched his hand out. “You’re good, but you’re not that good.”
“You knew.” Elena seemed to pull herself back from whatever terror had taken over. Even faced with an obstacle, she wasn’t going to let herself crack. Admiration kept a tight hold on his consciousness, but sooner or later, the wall she’d built to keep herself under control was going to fall. He just hoped it didn’t get her killed in the process. “Why let me get this far?”
“I wasn’t sure of your motivation. Whether you wanted to run or if there was something you were running toward.” Her body language didn’t come across as nervous. More determined. That challenging gaze flickered behind him, to the fleet of vehicles parked within reach. Elena was gauging her chances of success against him. Wondering if she could outrun him. She couldn’t. But, no. She wasn’t trying to escape her problems. It wasn’t in her genetic makeup. “You’re going to that parcel of land your ex tried to hide from you.”
A shuddering breath told him everything he needed. “I need to know what’s out there. I need to know if that’s where my brother is, and I’m not going to stop. You can lock me in your room or order Bear to guard me, but I won’t stop trying to leave. I’m not going to sit here while you waste time coming up with an entire mission. Daniel doesn’t have days. He needs me now.”
Cash had made his decision the moment she’d stepped free from the elevator. Hell, he’d made it long before. Before her promise of inside intel on Sangre por Sangre fell through. Back when he’d taken down the bastard who’d intended to abduct her last night. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman. Because there was nothing she wouldn’t do for those who needed her help, and that deserved respect. He headed for his SUV. “You navigate. I’ll drive.”
“What?” she asked.
“You got the coordinates, right? You know where we’re going.” He didn’t bother turning around and wrenched the driver’s-side door open. “You think there’s more to that land than logistics. Let’s see what the cartel is hiding.”
Because there was no way in hell he was going to let her take on an entire cartel alone.
Elena didn’t move to the passenger side of the vehicle, her hand still gripped around the SUV’s remote. “What about Bear? I thought you two were inseparable.”
“She’s already in the back.” Cash hauled himself behind the steering wheel and secured himself inside. Waiting. He centered his Rottweiler’s face in the rearview mirror. “Up for another assignment?”
Bear licked the tip of her nose and along one side of her mouth in response. No complaints.
He started the engine with a push of a button as Elena climbed into the passenger seat.
“Shouldn’t we wait for backup or something?” She slid her palms down the length of her thighs. She’d been prepared to fight him and lose. Not partner with him on a potential dead end. “Does your team know you’re doing this?”
“No.” Cash shoved the SUV into Drive and launched them from the underground parking garage. Sun cut through the windshield, making the landscape monochromatic and bright. “Best-case scenario, you’re right. We find the cartel. If we’re spotted and have to engage, I can ping the team for backup. The chopper cuts that down to ten.”
“And the worst case?” The weight of each word told him she already knew the answer. “What then?”
“Worst case, you’re wrong.” He checked the side mirror to focus on something other than the effect her voice had on him. Soothing and compelling. Emotional. Strong. The combination pulled him into a false sense of security and refused to let go. “There’s nothing out there. You get whatever this is out of your system, and we come up with a new plan to find your brother.”
“Do you trust them? The people you work with?” Elena clutched the SUV’s remote tighter, as though it were a lifeline through the violence and deception she’d already survived.
The question was simple enough, but the meaning... That was something else entirely. “You want to know whether or not Socorro will keep their word without you delivering on yours.”
“I’ve been through it a thousand times in my head. No one knew I had that information about my husband’s business dealings. And the fact whoever took it knew where I’d hidden it and replaced it with the same model of phone makes me think you were right. That the cartel has been watching me,” she said. “I wouldn’t blame your boss for believing I’d lied about it to begin with.”
She wasn’t talking about Ivy. She was talking about him. Cash checked the mirrors to ensure they hadn’t been followed. A habit he couldn’t afford to quit in his line of work. “You said husband that time. Not ex.”
She didn’t answer right away, seemingly trying to gauge how much to tell him.
Soldiers who climbed the ranks inside organizations like Sangre por Sangre were few and far between. Most had been brought in from right off the street as youths, most likely victims of their own recruitment tactics. They were encouraged to prove themselves at all costs and trained to compete with one another. For food, sleeping arrangements, the clothes on their backs, assignments. To make it as high as a lieutenant, a recruit would have to survive years of mental, physical and emotional abuse, not to mention learn to deliver it out to his subordinates when called for. Including those closest to him.
“You’re still married.” She’d told him as much, hadn’t she? When she’d initially explained she’d run with nothing but a phone the lieutenant didn’t know about and the clothes on her back. But the idea she was legally bound to another man set him on edge. Even if she was the one who’d wanted out of the relationship.
Though someone had known about what she’d done. The question was how.
“Hard to get a divorce when one party refuses to sign the papers.” Elena directed her attention out the window, hugging herself around the middle as though to keep it together a little bit longer. “Not to mention beats the man who served him the papers to a pulp.”
“Your friend the deputy? ” he asked.
He barely caught her nod as they carved through a dirt road cutting across the county. There was nothing out here but weeds, dirt and death, yet Cash found himself not wanting to be anywhere else right then.
“He’s with the Alpine Valley police department,” she said. “Deputy McCrae. He was the one who got me out. He drove all the way to Albuquerque to help me escape, but he barely survived going back. Spent three weeks in an intensive care unit after surgery to relieve a blood clot in his brain. Came out with a shaved head, a four-inch scar and six broken ribs for his trouble. I would do anything to go back and not ask him to deliver those papers, but at the time, it’d felt like the only thing that would finally put an end to this.”
But the world didn’t work like that. Not with abusers.
“Brock McCrae.” His study of Alpine Valley and their limited resources set the name at the front of his mind. The deputy had only been with the department two years. Good record. No reports of abuse of authority or excessive force as far as Cash could remember. Then again, a little town like that didn’t usually see anything more serious than misdemeanors, and most of them came from bored teenagers planning to get out as soon as they graduated high school.
Elena turned that guarded gaze to him. “How did you know that?”
“It’s my job to know all the players on the board.” Big or small. But it hadn’t been enough to stop the cartel from raiding and slaughtering a small town in search of their intended target. Elena. The sun arced into the western half of the sky, cutting through the windshield and diminishing his view. “What’s so special about this land? Of all the documents you found with all the addresses, why this one?”
She pinched her hands between her knees. “I’m not sure. I just know what my gut is telling me. It was important. When my...husband learned I’d checked the mail that day—it was the one and only time I saw a mortgage statement pertaining to that location—he was angry. Angrier than I’d ever seen him before.”
It was easy enough to fill in the rest of the blanks, and the eighteen-year-old who’d enlisted straight into the Marine Corps after the largest terrorist attack had hit the country went on the defense. “He punished you for it.”
“He locked me in our wine cellar for three days.” Her voice detached slightly. Not in any big way, but in the smallest change in pitch. A memory she was better off believing had happened to someone else. “No food. No water or way to go to the bathroom. There was no electricity. No light. I clawed at that door, begging him to let me out, but he never came.”
Elena brushed her thumb over her middle fingernail, and Cash only then realized it was missing. The base had started growing back some but stood out more than the others. “I can see why Bear might be scared of the dark. I am, too. I have to sleep with a night-light. Ridiculous, right? A grown woman paralyzed by a childish fear like that.”
Cash had held himself in check since the moment she’d woken on that examination table in the doc’s office. But he couldn’t anymore. He reached over the center console and wrapped her hand with the missing fingernail in his. “It’s not ridiculous, Elena, and you sure as hell don’t let anyone tell you it is. They don’t know. Nobody knows what you went through or what you’ve survived, including me. What I do know? You deserve good things in your life, and I’m going to damn sure be one of them as long as we’re partnered together. Whether that means bringing Daniel home or taking down the son of a bitch who hurt you, I will not let you down. Ever. You understand?”
