“Mitzy Magic.” Liam kisses my cheek as he settles in. The car rocks as Wolfe gets in the driver’s side and Brady settles himself in the passenger seat.
“Did you tell her?” I look at Liam, knowing he must have reported in along the way. When he did that, I don’t know, but he must have.
“No silly.” Mitzy grins. “I’ve got eyes everywhere.”
“Okay.” I don’t believe her, but I’m willing to suspend disbelief, if only because I’m too tired to ferret out how she really knows.
“Everyone settled?” Wolfe looks through the rearview mirror, reminding me to strap in. It takes a moment, but I get the buckle fastened. Wolfe puts the car in gear and slowly turns out onto the nearly deserted street.
Outside, Stefan stares at us while Gerald lifts his phone to his ear. I do not want to be on the receiving end of whatever hellfire my mother rains down on those poor men. I kind of feel guilty, but they’re the ones who signed up to work for Marco Rossi. If they have issues with the terms of their employment, they can bring it up with him.
In the meantime, I’m way off script. Instead of waltzing into the Belvedere, ignoring my mother, and heading upstairs to crash, I find myself going for a ride in the back of a stretch SUV.
Like a limo on steroids, the back of the stretch SUV holds two bench seats facing each other. The bold and rich scent of leather floods my senses and screams far too much wealth.
“Is something wrong?” I hold Liam’s hand and look to Forest.
His astute gaze cuts to me and slides down to my hand holding Liam’s.
“Looks like it was a successful evening.” His deep rumbly voice fills the back of the SUV. “The ring looks good on you, Maria.”
I hold up my hand and spin the ring around my finger. “It’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
I don’t say Thank you for the ring, because it’s a loaner, and I don’t ask the most pressing question on my mind. It feels as if I’m in a need-to-know situation, and I may not need to know about Sybil. Nevertheless, I rub my palm on my skirt and hold my question.
Forest leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “We rescued your friend. Sybil is unharmed.”
“She is?” My heart goes off like a jackhammer.
All night, I’ve tried not to think about Sybil, what she endured, or the horrible fate she would meet if the Guardians failed.
Liam told me the Guardians never fail, but I don’t believe the way he does.
“Liam said I can’t talk to her …” I’m hoping Forest’s presence, and the fact he made a personal trip to give me the good news, means I can call my bestie.
“Unfortunately, that’s correct. Her rescue makes your position more tenuous than before.”
“How?”
Forest glances at Liam, a question implied in his expression. Liam looks at me, then returns a sharp nod.
If I knew what the question was, I might be able to interpret that exchange.
“Maria can handle it.” Liam squeezes my hand, reassuring me. Only I don’t know why I need reassurance. My place in all of this is rather straightforward. I’m the Guardian’s access to my uncle.
“Mitz … the floor is yours.”
31
MARIA
“Gotcha, boss.” Mitzy flicks on the tablet she holds in her lap. “While the two of you were out having fun, I’ve been hard at work.”
Mitzy doesn’t look like a computer geek. Her bubbly personality doesn’t make me think smart. I would’ve dismissed her abilities if I met her under any other circumstance. What she’s capable of remains a mystery to me, for the most part, but I’ve glimpsed enough to know I’ve barely scratched the surface.
“First off, I want to reiterate what Forest said. Sybil was rescued, she’s not injured—except for some bruising—but she’s far from safe. We have her under a protective detail until we finish this.”
“And by this?” I look to Forest.
“By this, we intend to break apart the Rossi empire.”
“Why don’t you grab my uncle and be done with it?” I squirm in my seat. Look at me telling the Guardians what to do. “I mean, I assume you’re not against some vigorous questioning.”
“Vigorous questioning?” Wolfe laughs under his breath. “Your woman is funny, Liam. Vigorous questioning indeed.”
Beside me, Liam rolls his eyes.
“I didn’t want to assume you’d resort to torture.” I shrug. “I left it open ended.”
“We question those who need it, but taking your uncle in for vigorous questioning will not accomplish our goals.”
“It would end the trafficking of women and children. Get rid of him and—”
“Someone else will simply fill the void.” Forest’s low growl gets my attention. “We will deal with your uncle in time. Our goal is more than simply dismantling his operation. We need to know where his clients come from. How his services are advertised, and much more. Take him and we lose all the rest of it.”
“What else is there?”
“We want to rescue those who’ve been taken.” Liam grips my hand, giving it a squeeze.
His words make me feel like an ass. It never occurred to me to think about past victims. The Guardian vision is impressive.
“Correct.” Mitzy jumps in. “We need access to client files, anything and everything associated with that part of his business.”
“I take it you confirmed my uncle is, in fact, running this operation?” I remember what Forest said last night about jumping to conclusions and to assume nothing.
It seems like that conversation occurred months ago, but I sat in that library listening to Forest’s story just last night.
“We confirmed that much.” Forest’s low voice rumbles inside the vehicle. “What we don’t have are the buyers, and we’re interested in one buyer in particular.”
I remember him mentioning that. Something about what he said last night tickles a memory.
“What was the name of the girl? The one you rescued from the snuff film?”
“Zoe Lancaster.” Liam answers instead of Forest. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest, but that name sounds familiar to me. Not Zoe, but her last name.”
“Interesting.” Forest leans back, looking as tired as I feel. He and Liam have another one of those nonverbal exchanges. “Looks like the two of you figured things out.”
My brows pinch together, confused by what Forest says. I nearly ask him what we were supposed to figure out. Since I already feel overwhelmed by the combined brain power between Forest and Mitzy, I lean back and smile like I know exactly what’s going on.
I don’t.
Forest, Mitzy, and Liam carry on a rapid-fire conversation about tech and gear I have no context with to follow. After a few minutes, I give up trying to keep up with them and sit back and enjoy the ride. As far as comfort goes, I’ve definitely seen worse. While Mitzy explains the functions of yet another technical gadget, I let my mind wander.
I’m happy Sybil is safe, but I’d feel better if we could talk. I want to know what happened to her and how I can help her work through whatever it is she needs to work through.