Out in the dark parking lot, he dialed Madison. He’d met her because Zy had picked her up in a bar when he’d moved to Lafayette ten months ago, before falling for Tessa. Madison reminded him of a little sister—younger, a bit fragile, and uncertain of her place in the world. He tried to be kind; she didn’t need more men using her. He put off a big brother vibe every chance he got…but sometimes she made that hard.
“Hi, Trees,” she said after the second ring. He wasn’t surprised she was already awake. “You back in town?”
“Yeah. It’s been a long two weeks.”
“It has. You want a home-cooked dinner tonight? I’d be happy to whip up something for you. Just bring the wine.”
And there was the issue. She’d never come right out and said she was interested in him…but he suspected she took his attention for romantic interest. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he’d made friends with her because Zy had done her wrong, and he wanted to make amends. Madison was nice. He liked her company. But he’d bet she had some notion he would be a pliant teddy bear of a boyfriend.
She was very wrong.
“Sorry. I can’t.” He crossed the lot and let himself into his vehicle. “I’ve already got a new assignment. I’m heading out of town this afternoon.”
“That sucks. Any chance you’ll be back this weekend?” she asked hopefully. “My dad got free lane passes at the bowling alley. It’d be fun if you joined us.”
To meet her father? Even if he was home, Trees didn’t think taking her up on the offer was a good idea.
“I don’t know yet, but probably not. Um, I called for a favor.” He hated asking, but time was ticking. Laila and her nephew were loose in the wind, and he needed to find them the minute he reached Florida.
“Sure. What is it?”
“Can I crash on your sofa for a few hours before I have to hit the airport? I pulled an all-nighter at the office, and I need some shut-eye before I fly out.”
“Of course. Come on over. You can sleep in my bed. I’ll read in the living room, and I’ll be quiet as a mouse.”
That sounded too cozy. “No need for that. You stay in bed. Just leave me a blanket on the sofa.”
“O-okay. Sure,” she said as he started the engine and backed out of the lot. “I’ll make breakfast once you wake up.”
A nice offer. Because she was a nice girl…or because she was interested in more than friendship? Trees wasn’t sure, so he answered carefully. “I appreciate it, but don’t trouble yourself. I have to be back in the office by eight.”
“That soon?” She sounded disappointed.
“Unfortunately.” He didn’t want to hurt her. “We’ll catch up as soon as I get back.”
She murmured something that sounded vaguely like assent.
“Thanks, Madison.”
As she hung up, Trees sighed. For her sake, he really hoped she found the right guy someday. But it would make his life easier, too.
After some sleep and a tango with his toothbrush, he returned to the office for a big cup of black coffee. He felt almost human again.
He hadn’t been there ten minutes when all hell broke loose.
The front door crashed open, and Colonel Caleb Edgington, the organization’s previous owner and team commander, charged in looking pale and frantic. A familiar hulking blond brute who looked ready to kill filed in beside him. What the hell was going on? Caleb had retired last year to spend time with his new wife, and Deke Trenton co-owned EM’s sister organization, Oracle Security. He should be at Oracle’s office across town, working his own missions.
“Where are my sons?” the colonel barked at Tessa.
“In the conference room. I can take you back—”
But Caleb was already striding in that direction with ground-eating steps, Deke, his big, bad son-in-law, on his heels.
Frowning, Trees followed, tension fisting his gut as the two men crashed hell-bent into the conference room.
“Colonel, sir?” Zy asked since he’d been holed up with the bosses for reasons Trees could only guess at.
“Dad?” Hunter queried Caleb as the two men paced into the corner room, frantic tension rolling off them.
Trees lingered in the hall, listening as the colonel got right to the point.
“Your sister…” He lost his battle with composure and dragged in a shuddering breath to gather himself.
The anxiety in the room notched up.
“What’s wrong with Kimber?” Logan demanded.
“I received a threat recently. It wasn’t specific, just a lipstick, a photo of the crew who originally smuggled Valeria Montilla from her husband’s compound in Mexico, and a warning to hand her over before they took whoever the tube belonged to. I didn’t know who—” Emotion stopped the colonel’s words again. He paused, seemingly gathering the fortitude to continue.
Trees didn’t blame the man for being distressed. Something bad had obviously happened to his only daughter.
Hunter turned expectantly to Deke.
Kimber’s husband picked up where his father-in-law left off. “She’s gone. She dropped the kids off at daycare, then made a trip to the grocery store…and didn’t come home. A courier delivered this thirty minutes ago.”
Everyone crowded around as he whipped out a picture of Kimber, her auburn hair tangled, her big eyes red rimmed, with a gag over her mouth, her hands tied behind her back, and a gun to her head.
Trees’s heart stopped. Oh, fuck. A man like Caleb had probably made a lot of dangerous enemies over the decades. But falling into the crosshairs of a cartel… It was the worst development.
“We’ll get her back.” Hunter sounded determined—and pissed off. “We’ll do whatever it takes—”
“You’re fucking right we will,” Deke spat. “I want my kitten home. Most of the Oracle team is at our office, strategizing. Any help you can spare…”
“You’ll have it. We need to lock down the rest of the wives and kids.”
“Fast,” the colonel managed to choke out. “Before it’s too late.”
Then, barely holding it together, he ducked out.
The colonel was the most stoic man Trees knew. The worry and guilt that his line of work might cost his daughter her life had to be eating him alive.
Deke didn’t look any less desperate. “Thanks for whatever you can do.”
“Fuck that, she’s our sister. We’ll devote day and night to saving her.”
Kimber’s husband nodded his thanks, then he was gone, too.
After a terrible silence, Hunter dragged in a centering breath, forcing himself to find control. His younger brother, on the other hand, grabbed an empty coffee mug off the table and hurled it at the wall. It shattered on impact.
Joaquin Muñoz, the team’s co-owner and their stepbrother, clutched Logan’s shoulder. “We don’t have time for this.”
“I know. I fucking know,” he shouted. “Goddamn son of a bitch!”
Hunter and Joaquin zipped out of the conference room, dashing past Trees and already strategizing ways to keep the rest of their family safe, he’d bet. Despite his harsh breaths, Logan seemingly dialed down his temper. Trees hurt for them.