A big reason Jorge had needed to go to the hospital, so he could have medicine intravenously. “Keep trying.”

  “Of course. But what if I fail? What if his fever goes up again? Taking him to a doctor may give away our location.” Valeria dissolved into tears again.

  Laila couldn’t leave her sister to handle this alone. “Where are you?”

  “Lafayette, Louisiana. In an apartment.”

  How many hundreds of miles away was that? Why had EM Security taken Valeria so far from her? “Hang on. I will be there as quickly as I can.”

  She could help nurse Jorge and support her weary sister. Hopefully that would keep her nephew out of the hospital.

  “Trees is bringing you here? Oh, thank goodness.”

  “He has not said when. If he is not going straight there, I will find you on my own.”

  “You cannot leave him!” Valeria screeched. “He is your bodyguard. He is keeping you safe from Emilo’s men.”

  “While keeping me captive. How does that make him different?”

  “Has he touched you against your will?”

  “No, but if you’ll recall, nothing happened when I first arrived at the compound. I was a naively trusting child then. I know better now.”

  “But I hired EM Security to—”

  “I know why you hired them. And I realize you have faith in them. But I do not share your confidence.”

  “They rescued us both.”

  “Men who commit violence—whatever their reason—are still thugs. I neither want nor trust one to make my decisions, especially when he feels justified in doing it against my will.”

  “Is that really how you feel?” Valeria sounded shocked.

  Laila didn’t understand how her sister could see things so differently. “You are paying them money, and what have they done? Kept us apart while dictating when, how, and where we can go—over my objections, and despite the fact they have failed at keeping our location hidden more than once.”

  “But—”

  “You never asked me how I thought we should handle the situation. There are ways other than trusting an organization with an obvious problem keeping secrets. If you want to continue trusting them, I cannot stop you. But I plan to stay safe in the way that best suits me.”

  Valeria sighed. “Stop being so stubborn. I am worried about Jorge, and now you are making me worry about you, too.”

  “No. Focus on our little man. I will be there as soon as possible, and I will be fine.” Now that they had left Victor behind in Florida, and he had no device he could use to trace her, everything should be all right.

  After a little more chatter, she ended the call and set the phone aside.

  Time to make a plan.

  “Laila?” Trees called, the steps from his big feet loud as he made his way toward her. “Everything all right?”

  It would be soon. “Valeria needs me. I must reach her no later than tomorrow. You will take me, yes?”

  “Not until I know it’s safe, no.”

  “But Jorge is sick and—”

  “In what way?”

  “It seems he has an ear infection and—”

  “His mother can take care of him.”

  “Valeria needs help and rest, and she is too distraught—”

  “Laila, keeping you safe is my priority. Kane is with her twenty-four seven. He’ll give your sister whatever help she needs.”

  “What does he know about children?”

  Trees shrugged. “I don’t know. But he’s smart and capable. He’ll figure it out. And you’ll stay with me, safe and sound.”

  “So you have decided that I should abandon my sister when she and my nephew need me most?”

  Trees scowled. “Don’t twist my words, Laila. You need to let your sister handle her son—with Kane’s help. If Jorge needs a doctor, he’ll get the kid one. But there’s nothing you can do, except put yourself at risk. I won’t let that happen on my watch.”

  Laila stared up at Trees. The resolution on his face told her he wasn’t playing around. As far as he was concerned, she wasn’t going anywhere.

  Too bad for him she had other ideas. Now she just had to figure out how to make them a reality.

  Chapter Five

  Five hours later, Trees pretended to read a news article on his phone while he watched Laila. Admittedly, that was his newest addiction. Everything about her was feminine yet fiery, both passionate and reserved. He was desperate to peel back her layers and understand her. Why? He’d never felt the impulse to do that with any other woman.

  Not that it mattered. He terrified her. If he was drowning, she wouldn’t throw him a lifeline—especially after their earlier argument. She was pissed he wouldn’t abandon his marching orders to take her to Valeria. Maybe she’d understand…someday. But he wasn’t counting on it.

  Not for the first time, Laila stifled a yawn as she flipped through a fashion magazine he’d picked up for her after she’d eyed it in the big-box store. To his shock, she set it aside and stood, stretching her graceful arms above her head and arching her back. It was impossible not to see that she had great tits. He was a fucking heel for noticing, but why lie to himself and pretend he hadn’t?

  “I am tired,” she announced. “I will go to bed.”

  He didn’t have to coerce or even prompt her? That was a first. Usually, she fought sleep, even leaving lights on, he suspected because she feared being vulnerable in the dark. So why was she now volunteering? Was she finally starting to trust him?

  “Go ahead. I’ll be along soon.” Once exhaustion had claimed her, he’d slink into bed and catch a few hours of sleep.

  She shook her head. “I-I feel safer with you beside me.”

  Since when? “Let me check in with the office and make sure we’re secure.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll only be a handful of steps and a few moments away. That will give you some privacy to get ready.” He picked up his SIG and shoved it in his holster, covering the bulge with a baggy shirt. “You’ll be fine, Laila. I promise.”

  And I’ll see if you’re up to something.

  He slipped on his shoes and headed outside. The January air was crisp, the wind cool and humid. But he couldn’t complain. Tonight was probably a good twenty degrees warmer than his hometown in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Sometimes, he missed the hell out of the fog clinging to the mountains and the leaves changing spectacular colors to usher in fall. Not that this part of Alabama wasn’t pretty with its moss-covered trees, white churches, and Southern charm. But it wasn’t the same.

  Vaguely, he wondered what the rest of his family was doing. Last he’d heard, his father’s age and declining health had forced him to retire from coal mining. His oldest sister had taken a bunch of student loans and gone to college. She’d planned to move back home to teach but instead married a rich boy from Charleston and never looked back. His youngest had gotten pregnant in high school, failed to graduate, and stayed home to perpetuate the poverty that had marked his childhood. His brothers had apparently scattered to the wind.

  It had been a few years since he’d talked to any of them. He’d walked away from that cramped, pale green clapboard house with its single bathroom, peeling paint, and a slew of memories, sure that leaving would lighten their load. Zy had become his brother after basic. Together they’d survived hostiles, war on foreign soil, and utter hell. He hadn’t given his actual siblings much thought—until tonight. The way Laila gave and took strength from hers made him wonder if he’d given his family one less mouth to feed when he’d left nearly eighteen years ago…or abandoned them when they’d needed him most.

  The vague sense of shame clung when his phone buzzed in his pocket and he answered. “What’s up, Zy?”

  “Long fucking day. How about you?” His buddy sounded tired.

  “Not too bad.” A total lie, but he didn’t want to add to Zy’s problems now. “But a few long fucking nights.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m driving this recreational tank from campground to campground, trying to take our sweet time returning to Lafayette.”

  “Yeah. Is the plan not working?”

  “Oh, it is. We haven’t been followed.” At least not since they’d left Orlando. “I’m sure of that.”

  “So what’s wrong?”

  “Everything Laila has to wear is meant for Florida weather and seems two sizes too small. When I look at her, it’s impossible not to see tits and ass and that wide fucking mouth. I stare at it all the time—I can’t seem to stop—and my cock is like a divining rod that points only to her.”

  Maybe that was too honest. Sure, he’d given Zy a change of subject…but he needed to stop obsessing about Laila before he freaked her out, get himself under control, be a fucking professional, and get some damn sleep.

  “You like her.”

  “Fuck yes, I do. She’s…sweet.” Well, the way she cared about her family was. “She’s thoughtful. She’s strong. She’s the kind of woman I want to hold and protect while I’m aching to violate and defile her in every way known to man.” He sighed. “And after one look, she was terrified of me.”

  “Can she hear you?”

  “No. She’s inside.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “What the hell can I do? I’ve got to keep driving her around in this hell on wheels until you tell me Valeria is safe enough in her new location and Laila can move in, no problem.”

  “You can head back to Lafayette,” Zy said.

  Thank God. His close confines—and his fixation—with Laila would finally end. Being with her sister would definitely make her happier, especially while Jorge was under the weather. As soon as he had a couple of hours of shut-eye, they would get on the road. “Where should I drop her?”

  “The last time we talked, Valeria was convinced Laila will be in less danger if they don’t share the same roof. And I can’t really argue. Two women and a baby boy are a lot less common, so they’re a lot more noticeable.”

  “I don’t disagree.” Trees wanted to, but he and Kane had shared a similar assessment in Florida. And the truth was, Emilo’s goons were after Valeria. If the sisters were together, the cartel would be more likely to find them. Then Laila would be dead. She served no purpose for anyone in the organization, except the one Victor and Hector had forced on her. And Trees would be damned before he let her fall into their hands again.

  Unfortunately, despite that truth and logic, Laila would never be happy apart from her family.

  Your job is to protect her, not worry about her happiness, dude. Focus.

  “Good. We just have to find Laila somewhere safe. Somewhere no one can get to her. Somewhere she’ll be comfortable and have protection. Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

  Trees already knew what Zy had in mind. Hell, he’d once suggested it, but… “Don’t say it.”

  “I have to. She’s better off at your place.”

  He closed his eyes, envisioning Laila filling his personal space—and his thoughts—twenty-four seven. “Fuck.”

  “Look, I know it sucks. I know it’s an imposition. But with the bosses consumed with trying to rescue Kimber, I’m the guy in charge, and my resources are limited. You’ve got a really secure place. She’ll be safe there—at least until we can find another situation. And it’s so big you’ll hardly notice her.”

  Impossible. All he had to do to be aware of Laila was breathe. Even with the RV’s wall separating them, he could practically feel her so close…yet so far. The urge to reassure her nearly compelled him into making promises about her safety he couldn’t guarantee. The impulse was stupid. She would never take comfort from him, anyway. “Zy…”

  “Who else can keep Laila safe? There’s no one I trust more.”

  Put like that, there was no one else Trees wanted protecting her. What if another operative fucked up and she got dead?

  “It’s temporary,” Zy promised. “She doesn’t have to move in with you. Just…keep her until the bosses find Kimber and return to the office. Then they can figure out a permanent place for Laila. And hell, maybe that won’t even be in Lafayette, so you’d never have to see her again.”

  Trees hated that idea, and he didn’t examine why too closely. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to see her. I said I didn’t want to live on top of her.”

  “I’m calling bullshit on that,” Zy drawled.

  “Back off. I’m trying to be a gentleman, but there’s no fucking privacy here. Even the shower is so small it’s impossible to jack off.”

  Zy laughed. “So you’re having a…hard time?”

  “Shut the fuck up. Do I need to remind you that you had a goddamn hard time with Tessa before the bosses finally took pity on you?”

  Suddenly, his buddy sobered. “No. Not that it matters right now. She’s barely speaking to me.”

  “What the fuck did you do, not lay her right?”

  “The job called me out last night before I could touch her again. She seemed okay, though. Tired but not mad. This morning, she came into the office looking like she’d been sobbing. But nothing I’ve said persuaded her to open up. She claims she has a migraine…”

  “Those suck.”

  “Yeah,” Zy conceded. “But I don’t believe her.”

  “Why would she lie?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Hallie’s not sick?” Trees asked of Tessa’s baby daughter.

  “Tessa would have said so. Whatever upset her, when I stopped by her place, she refused to let me stay. But my gut tells me she didn’t really want me to go. So nothing makes sense.”

  Trees sighed. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but…is there any chance she’s guilty?”

  “Of what?”

  “C’mon, man. The bosses are convinced that either I’m their mole…or she is.”

  “They’re wrong.”

  “Maybe. But you know I’m clean because you searched my shit.”

  “One room.”

  “Then go fucking search the whole place before I get home. You won’t find anything, and you know it.”

  “Yeah. What’s your point?”

  “You haven’t searched Tessa at all. Hell, you’ve flatly refused to even consider her a suspect.”

  “It just doesn’t make sense. Tessa is no spy. She doesn’t have the abilities or the connections or—”

  “That you know of. But be logical.” Trees went through the entire team, both current and former, then drew the only conclusion he could. “If it’s none of us, that leaves Tessa, buddy.”

  “It can’t be.”

  “Why not?” Trees asked, hoping Zy would stop thinking with his heart. If he didn’t, he was going to get all kinds of hurt.

  “Because this shit started when she was on maternity leave. She wasn’t even around.”

  Valid point. “True, and I’m not saying she is the guilty one. I’m just not sure who else it could be. Let me ask you this: what happens if you don’t figure out who EM’s mole is?”

  “She’s fired.”

  Trees suspected she wouldn’t be the only one on the unemployment line. “Look, when I get back, I’ll sit down and perform a thorough, top-to-bottom scan of all the internal systems. I’ll even come in on a weekend and scan every single person’s computer so I’m not in anyone’s way. But until then, you need to prove you can rule her out completely.”

  “How the fuck am I supposed to do that?”

  Seriously? Zy had run more than one double-cross disinformation mission in the past.

  Trees snorted. “Stop playing games with yourself, man. I know you love her—”

  “I fucking bought her an engagement ring today.”

  Ouch. “Wouldn’t you rather know now if you should give it to her?”

  After a long pause, Zy answered. “When do you think you’ll make it here?”

  “I’m going to head in so I can get out of this rolling torture chamber by tomorrow night.”

  “I’ll see you at your place then. And I’ll try to have some answers.”

  “Before you go, did you talk to your dad yet?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Was he as warm as ever?” Trees drawled.

  If he had stopped speaking to his family to be less of a burden, Zy had cut his from his life out of pure contempt.

  “You know it. We exchanged insults for a few minutes. I’m the hotheaded, rebellious prick who blows up everything—figuratively and literally—wherever I go. I told him that was way better than being a sniveling shit who licked globalist ass for cash.”

  “So the usual?”

  “Pretty much. But I did tell him about Tierra Caliente using Abuzz to coordinate their crimes. He said he’d ‘investigate and take appropriate action.’”

  “Why do I feel like that means he won’t lift a fucking finger to stop it?” Trees cursed.

  “You know my father so well.”

  “He’s not hard to figure out… What else can we do?”

  “I gave all the screenshots to Joaquin when I saw him earlier. Maybe something in them will help pinpoint where the cartel has Kimber stashed.”

  “Good call. Let me know if I can do anything.”

  “There is one more thing…” And Zy sounded reluctant to bring it up.

  “Shoot. You know I’ll do whatever you need.”

  “I…um, had a chat with Valeria when I stopped by earlier to drop off supplies to her at the new safe house.”

  “Is Jorge really sick? Laila is worried.”

  “Tell her not to be. We’ll take care of it. But when I saw Valeria, she also had something else on her mind.”

  That tone told Trees he wasn’t going to like it. “What?”

  “She doesn’t like the way you look at her sister.”

  She’d seen that in the alley? Trees winced. “Damn.”

  “Yep. And she wasn’t shy about expressing her concern.”

  That he would touch her? Violate her? “I would never hurt Laila.”

  Even the thought made him sick.

  “I know that because I know you,” Zy pointed out. “But—”

  “She doesn’t know me.” Trees sighed. “It’s the same problem I have with Laila. She’s really fucking wary.” Except tonight. Which still didn’t make sense to him.