He walked over to the door and opened it for her. Sure enough, a good chunk of the Gonzalez family members who made up SBS were there, along with other family members who sometimes assisted in their assorted cases.

  Carolina and Mia sat at the conference room table along with his younger brother Ricky and their Whitaker cousins, Josefina—Sophie to family—and Robert, the computer gurus. There was no mistaking the Gonzalez genes in all of them, from their dark hair and light eyes to the Roman noses and thumb-print dimples in their chins.

  Trey’s father, Ramon, Jr, known as Ramoncito to the family, was at the head of the table. Trey was the third Ramon, hence his nickname.

  Even at 62, Trey’s father was a physically imposing man with broad shoulders and a waist with little hint of flab. His dark hair was beginning to show a faint touch of silver at his temples, giving him a dignified look befitting the head of one of Miami’s more prominent families.

  Trey’s mother Samantha sat kitty-corner to her husband. She had been a stay-at-home mom for Trey and his siblings. Since the kids had grown and fled the nest, Samantha had become a mother hen to those in the agency and often helped in various roles in the office. She was a pretty woman, with long brown hair drawn up in a simple topknot and striking green eyes.

  “Now I have an idea how the Spanish Inquisition might have started,” Trey teased, but anger and concern tangled through his voice.

  “I’m sorry, Trey. Once Tio Ramoncito heard that you needed our help, we couldn’t contain it,” Sophie said.

  “I’ll take the blame, Josefina. Please join us, Trey. Veronica,” his father said and held out a hand in invitation.

  Trey walked over and hugged his mother, Sophie, Carolina and Mia. Shook hands with his father, cousin Rob, and his brother Ricky.

  She hoped that was a sign that no matter how angry or worried he might be about his family’s meddling, things would stay civil. Mia had mentioned more than once that Trey and his father had sometimes not talked for days after fights about Trey and his future with the family business.

  Slightly relieved, she worked her way around the table, greeting everyone, grateful for whatever support they could provide during their investigations.

  When she neared Trey, he offered her a tight smile and gestured to an empty chair at the large conference room table. Once she was seated, he took the spot beside her and said, “I appreciate you all being here. But I would have rather reached out to you individually when and if we needed your assistance.”

  “Honey, you know we only want what’s best for you,” his mother said, her tone placating. Her hand outstretched in pleading.

  With a heavy sigh, Trey nodded. “I know that and again, I appreciate your support, mami. To be honest, things have changed drastically since I first called Sophie and Rob.” He risked a quick glance at Roni, as if seeking her permission, and at her nod, he continued.

  “We think someone tried to run down Roni today, probably because she saw something she shouldn’t have the night that Doug was killed. We need more than just Sophie and Rob’s help. That is, if you’re willing to give it.”

  With a blustery toss of his hands, Ramoncito said, “Mi’jo, of course we’re willing to help in any way we can. I’m just glad your stubbornness didn’t keep you from asking.”

  She was close enough to Trey to feel the eruption of tension in his body with his father’s words. But Trey’s response was precisely calm and slightly chilly. “Gracias, papi. I guess we should get down to business, then.”

  Chapter Five

  Trey followed his mother as she led them to an apartment on the penthouse level above the floor for the main offices for South Beach Security. The apartment was normally used for important visitors or when one of the Gonzalez family members had to stay for an exceptionally late night. It had a private elevator to the main floor next to the private offices for the Gonzalez family members and a large technology center where Sophie and Rob worked. There were two other floors below the main one where assorted SBS employees worked.

  “We thought this might be the best place for you to stay while you’re doing your investigations,” Samantha said and gestured to the luxuriously appointed apartment.

  “This isn’t necessary, mami,” Trey said, both embarrassed and worried. His mother tended to put the mother in smother. Add to that the close proximity to a Roni who was all grown-up and too sexy for her own good...

  “You and Roni will be safe here, honey. The Twins are going to pick up some things for both of you at the store, so no need to worry about getting anything. And if you do need more food, clothing or whatever, we’ll send one of the interns for it,” she said and handed him the key card to the secure apartment.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Gonzalez. And thank everyone else also. This is more than either Trey or I could have expected,” Roni said graciously, although he suspected she was feeling as steamrollered by this as he was.

  “You’re welcome. Like we discussed, Sophie and Rob will be up shortly to work with you. Ricky may pop by as well in case you need to chat,” his mother said and with a quick peck on his cheek and Roni’s, she rushed off to the elevator.

  Once she was gone, Roni looked at him in puzzlement. “Ricky? Psychologist Ricky? Is he going to help us with a profile?”

  Trey shook his head. “Not in his wheelhouse normally. I think they’re all worried that I may not be handling Doug’s death well, but the department set up counseling for me,” he admitted with a quick dip of his head.

  She pinned him with her hazel-eyed gaze. “Are you handling it? While we’re talking about it, how are you handling almost getting killed?”

  Offhandedly he said, “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been shot or almost killed. Marine, remember?”

  She surprised him then, shoving her hand against his chest. Golden fire in her gaze. “Don’t be so glib, Trey. Your family worries about you. They want to see you safe and happy.”

  He snared her hand and with a strong tug that had her off-balance, drew her near. Her softer body melted flawlessly against his, rousing instant desire. “And what about you, Roni? Do you worry? Do you want me to be safe and happy?”

  The ding of the elevator warned that Sophie and Rob had arrived.

  Coughing, he released her, and they jerked apart, but not before Trey whispered, “We’re not done with this.”

  * * *

  WE ARE SO DONE, she wanted to say, but bit it back. There was no way she was going to allow her attraction to him to distract them from everything else they had to focus on.

  Sophie and Rob walked off the elevator, laptops tucked under their arms. They headed straight to a large dining table in the open space area of the penthouse apartment and Roni slung her knapsack over her shoulder and headed there as well.

  As Trey’s cousins powered up their laptops, she pulled out her notes, and Trey sauntered over to join them. Sophie and Rob sat together on one side of the table while Trey sat at the head. She could picture him in a similar position as the leader of SBS one day, the way his family wished.

  She took a spot to his right and laid her notes out across the surface of the table.

  “You mentioned you needed us to get information about some bank accounts,” Sophie said, and at that, Roni passed her the copies IAD had given Trey with the details on the bank deposits.

  “IAD thinks those monies were illegal payments to my partner Doug Adams,” Trey advised and gestured to the papers.

  “And you don’t believe that?” Rob asked, his tones gentle and non-condemning.

  “We don’t,” Roni said. “But there was something wrong with Doug the night he was killed. I saw him with this man,” she added and handed over the police sketch of the suspect.

  “I guess you think that what Trey and his partner discovered that night is related to your investigation into the missing college students?” Sophie asked while she perused the police sketch and then handed it to Rob.

  Trey nodded. “We do. We also think this man tried to run down Roni because she saw him that night. If we can find out who he is, who employs him—”

  “You may find out who’s behind the human trafficking ring and the missing women,” Sophie finished for him.

  “And the attack on Roni,” Trey added and glanced at her. Although he hadn’t said the words, she understood. Finding him might also avoid any additional attempts to kill her, but even though they were sitting in the protective embrace of his family, she didn’t intend to stay in hiding. She intended to do whatever it took to find out who was behind these crimes.

  “Don’t worry about me. We need to focus on finding out who is behind all this,” she said and laid out the pictures of the missing college students. She pointed to each one and said, “These women are what’s important. Them and Doug’s family. We can’t let his wife and children think that he was a criminal.”

  Sophie and Rob nodded in unison, so much alike that she had often thought that they were twins despite their nearly two-year age gap. And despite being the younger sibling, Sophie always struck Roni as the one in charge.

  The two cousins exchanged a look before Sophie said, “We get it. We’ll start with the bank account but understand that we may find that these were real deposits from a criminal enterprise.”

  In a soft but commanding tone, Trey said, “You won’t. I knew Doug. I trusted Doug. He wasn’t dirty.”

  A shared look passed between Sophie and Rob again. “We will do our best to get to the bottom of this.”

  “What about the police sketch? Do you think there’s something you can do with that?” Roni asked, gesturing to the drawing that Rob was perusing.

  “Is this as accurate as you can make it?” he asked and held the sketch up for them to give a last look.

  With a shrug, Roni said, “It is. I’m fairly sure this is the man I saw the night Doug was killed and who was driving the car that tried to hit me earlier today.”

  Rob nodded and laid down the drawing. “We’ll get it scanned and clean it up. After, we can use facial recognition software to try and get a hit.”

  “But you don’t have access to our police databases. Or do you?” Trey said with a surprised lift of a brow.

  Sophie bit her lip and with a strangled laugh said, “We’re ethical hackers remember, Trey. There are so many public photos available on the Internet and social media that we may not need to go any further than that to find your suspect.”

  “You can run your software against all those public social media photos?” Roni asked, surprised by that fact.

  “We can and we will. It’s amazing how people complain about a lack of privacy and yet share so much about themselves online,” Rob said with a rueful shake of his head.

  The elevator dinged, warning them of more visitors. A second later Carolina and Mia emerged, chatting playfully, carrying way too many shopping bags. They strolled to a nearby sofa and dropped the bags on it before joining them at the dining room table.

  “It looks like you cleared out a few stores,” Trey teased as he took note of the pile on the sofa. Several of the bags were from some of Miami’s trendiest designer shops.

  Mia rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to be stuck here for a few days—”

  “We’re not going to be stuck here. We’re going to continue with our investigations no matter where they take us,” Roni said and waited for Trey’s disapproval as Carolina and Mia looked at him, as if waiting for him to deny her statement.

  He threw his hands up in the air and said, “Roni’s right. We won’t take unnecessary chances, but we can’t hole up here if we’re going to find out what’s going on.”

  She released a sigh of relief but tried to soothe her friends’ concerns. “We appreciate all that you’ve done and will do. And we won’t risk ourselves or any of you in the process.”

  “What’s the plan?” Carolina said and folded her arms across her chest and a brightly colored linen blouse, designer if Roni had to guess. Carolina and Mia often received clothing and other items in exchange for mentions on their popular lifestyle blog and social media channels. With a glance at the bags on the sofa, she wondered if that was how they had amassed so many items in so short a time.

  As for the plan, if it was up to Roni, they’d head back out to the club where she’d spotted the suspect with Doug. With a quick look at Trey, who seemed to understand what was unsaid, she said, “We hit the streets like we normally would. We try to find the suspect and Trey’s informant.”

  “How can we help?” Mia said, but Trey shook his head vehemently.

  “You help by staying out of that club right now,” he said, and his tone warned he didn’t want to be challenged.

  Hesitantly, Carolina said, “Agreed. But we will keep an eye out for him.”

  “If you do see him, you will call us immediately and not do anything stupid,” Trey said, pointing a finger between the two women in warning.

  Mia snagged his finger and shook it playfully, obviously to lighten the mood. “We heard and will obey, hermano.”

  Trey, Sophie, and Rob all blew out disbelieving laughs at her comment, causing Carolina and Mia to roll their eyes, almost in unison, confirming their nicknames by appearing so much like twins with their actions.

  “We should go and get to work. The computers downstairs are much more powerful,” Sophie said, as she closed her laptop and stood. Robbie followed suit and after sharing goodbyes, they headed to the elevator for the trip to their tech center on the main floor.

  “If you plan on going out tonight, maybe we should grab a bite?” Mia said and whipped out her cell phone. “I can order up some things from one of the local places?” she asked but didn’t wait for a reply.

  Roni had dined with the Twins often enough over the years for them to know her likes and presumably Trey’s. But then again, a simple order of Cubanos, assorted plantains and shakes wouldn’t be turned down by anyone.

  When she had finished placing the order, Trey shook his head. “You are something, Mia.” His tone was filled with brotherly indulgence.

  “Vamos, Ramoncititico. Carolina and I just want to be helpful,” she said, teasing him with a very diminutive version of his name.

  “You can be helpful by staying out of the way. Both of you,” he said and warned them again with jab of a finger.

  It dragged a laugh from Roni and an irate look from Trey. “I’m serious, Roni.”

  “I know you are, Trey. But Carolina and Mia are grown women you can’t boss around. Even if you are only doing it to protect them,” she chastised and shot a warning look at her two friends.

  “We hear and obey,” Carolina said with a teasing bow and wave of her hands.

  To head off any more issues between the siblings and cousin, Roni shot to her feet and said, “Time to set the table.”

  Carolina and Mia immediately followed her to the kitchen area where the three of them scrounged around to find placemats, plates, glasses and cutlery while Trey rounded up sodas to serve in addition to the shakes that Mia had ordered.

  Barely a few minutes later, Mia’s phone chirped to say she had a text message. After a quick look, she said, “Food is down in the lobby. I’ll go get it.”

  Trey held up a hand. “No need. I’ll take care of it.”

  He rushed to the elevator, leaving the three women alone.

  Caroline and Mia immediately launched a volley of questions at her.

  “Is it really as bad as he says?” Mia asked as she walked to the dining room table with a handful of plates.

  “Do you think you can handle being with him here?” Carolina tossed out, hands full of cutlery and napkins.

  “Yes, and yes. More importantly, you both need to stay away from that club,” she reiterated, worried that they might become targets if the suspect made the connection between them and Trey. Trey had tried hard to hide his identity when he’d gone undercover, but that secrecy might have been compromised due to recent news reports about Doug’s death and Trey’s shooting.

  They each held up a hand as if swearing on a Bible or taking a Girl Scout pledge. “We promise. The last thing we want is to distract you by having you worry about us,” Carolina said.

  “That’s much appreciated,” Roni said as she laid out placemats on the table and the ding of the elevator warned of Trey’s return.

  Mia leaned close and whispered, “Promise me one thing, Roni.”

  “What?” Roni whispered back.

  “Don’t waste this opportunity with Trey.”

  Chapter Six

  What were they thinking? Roni asked herself as she smoothed the skintight red fabric across her waist and hips.

  But given Mia’s last words to her before dinner, she should have expected as much from her best friends.

  Not that she hadn’t worn revealing clothes before while on an assignment—she just hadn’t had Trey working beside her.

  Walking to the door of the bedroom, she cringed when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and noted how her breasts almost spilled out of the top.

  You can do this, she told herself and hurried into the open space area where Trey sat on the sofa, waiting for her. His eyes widened and his gaze grew heated when he saw her, igniting warmth at her center. He schooled his reaction and she spread a hand across her midsection to calm the butterflies in her core at the sight of him. He wore an off-white linen guayabera that stretched across his broad shoulders and tapered inward to his lean waist and hips.

  “Have you heard from Sophie and Rob?” she asked, wanting to keep things professional between them.

  Trey nodded. “They’re still hard at work. They hope to have something for us by tomorrow.”

  “Great. Where do you want to go first?” she asked, worried that since their suspect had gotten a good look at her earlier that day, it would be hard to blend in at the club where she had seen him with Doug.