She didn’t like his authoritative demeanor. Walker had worked with her when, with the rest of EM Security’s help, they had escaped Emilo and Mexico. Kane barked orders as if he knew the enemy better than her. Arrogant man.
“Why two vehicles?” Did he intend to separate her from her sister?
“I’ll explain once you’re outside.”
In other words, trust me.
Laila scoffed. “I want to hear now.”
Before she put her life and her nephew’s well-being in the hands of strangers.
“Since we’re blocking the alley, the shelter only gave us five minutes to collect you and get out.”
That was likely true. The narrow lane had been used early this morning for delivery to the restaurant two doors down. A bank on the far end had received a visit from an armored car a few hours back. Besides, she couldn’t continue risking everyone else at the shelter. They had problems of their own. That meant she either had to run away or comply. Since it was dark and cold, and she had no way to care for her nephew, she would follow Kane’s edict—for now.
Was there any possibility he and Trees had planned it that way so they could lure her and her sister to their doom?
Kane sighed impatiently, and Laila’s thoughts raced. She glanced around what had once been a bedroom in this old house. Now bunk beds lined three of the four walls—all full of women unfortunate enough to find themselves at the receiving end of some man’s threat, including a sobbing woman with a bruised face and an infant. Laila’s heart went out to her.
Then she caught sight of the paring knife a volunteer had brought the woman to cut her apple and some cheese. The blade still sat on the little cutting board…and the woman lay on the bed with her baby curled tightly against her.
“I will meet you outside.” Laila hung up without waiting for Kane’s reply, then lifted Jorge before hopping down from her bunk.
The diaper bag dangled from her shoulder, concealing her hand as she casually swiped the knife and tucked it against her side. She passed the same volunteer in the hall, probably on her way to retrieve the cutting board and utensil.
Definitely time to leave.
She wound her way to a sitting room, where a TV played the local news. Laila glanced at the broadcast, not surprised that a woman and her young nephew being attacked by two armed men was deemed too unimportant to mention.
As she reached the back door, another volunteer waited. “Will you be all right? The bed is yours for another night if you need it.”
Valeria—and by extension, these men—knew where she was. The location was no longer safe. Since someone inside EM was leaking secrets, she worried Victor and Hector would soon come for her, guns blazing. She already felt guilty for the hours she’d stayed. “I will be fine. Give my bed to someone in need.”
At the forty-something woman’s understanding smile, Laila drew in a steadying breath and let herself out the door.
The Florida night was cool, with a hint of a breeze that quickly worked its way under her thin tank and chilled her exposed legs. Carefully, she tucked the stolen knife into the pocket of her shorts and avoided the hazy golden light illuminating the door, scanning the alley for her sister.
Instead, she found two men—strangers—each standing in front of a different vehicle, arms crossed, expressions somewhere between watchful and impatient. The one beside the minivan stood a bit over six feet with black hair, an olive complexion, broad shoulders, and a capable mien.
There was no sign of Valeria.
“Laila?” he asked, approaching slowly, hand outstretched. “I’m Kane Preston.”
Walker’s friend. Because Walker trusted him, she shook his hand. “Hello.”
All the while, she side-eyed the other man—a mountain of muscle so tall and broad he made her heart stutter. If this man wanted to pin a woman down and force himself on her, she would have no chance at all of stopping him.
“That’s Trees,” Kane provided.
The big man stepped closer, holding out his hand to her. Instinctively, she retreated, cradling Jorge protectively. But it was a pointless gesture. If he intended to rip her nephew from her arms, she could do nothing.
To her surprise, he froze, then eased away, making no further move to come near her.
“He’s safe. He’s one of us,” Kane assured.
She scowled. The men’s blank expressions said that Walker’s fellow warriors had no idea what she had endured at the hands of the Tierra Caliente cartel. Laila wasn’t sure whether she preferred their ignorance or pity.
“Where is my sister?”
“In the van.” Kane bobbed his head toward the nondescript gray vehicle behind him. “You two shouldn’t be seen together.”
Yes, there were eyes and ears everywhere…but Kane blocked the view of anyone who might spot them from the east side of the alley. Trees more than blocked the line of sight from the west. So why wouldn’t they let Valeria out of the van for a few short moments? Was she even here?
“I insist on talking to her. I will not take another step until I do.”
Kane cast a dark stare to Trees. He was a giant in his mid-thirties with short hair and a close-cropped beard, both in a warm brown. The seeming softness of his full mouth was offset by his massive hands. His intent stare made her shiver.
Trees nodded and pointed to the van. “Two minutes. Inside.”
His deep voice rattled in his larynx with a hint of rasp, as if he hadn’t used it in so long it had become rusty.
He intimidated her—more than any man ever had. Victor and Hector were thoughtless, vile, and cruel—but not physically frightening at a glance. This man could take them both apart simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
What could he do to you?
Laila refused to let them lead her to their van—with no escape routes—like a lamb to slaughter when she had no assurance her sister was inside. For all she knew, they had already ended Valeria and disposed of the body. “Then what?”
Kane cleared his throat, as if he realized she wasn’t simply going to comply. “We’ll get on the road. We think the best strategy is to minimize risk. Your intruders will be looking for two women and a toddler so—”
“We’ll separate you and Valeria,” Trees cut in, still taking her apart with those glittering eyes. “Kane will transport your sister and your nephew directly into hiding. You’ll come with me.”
Alone? Separated from her sister? With a man she could never escape? Away to an undisclosed location? For an undetermined amount of time? To be at his mercy?
Absolutely not.
Laila gripped her nephew tighter, glimpsed a speck of daylight on the west end of the alley, and started running as if her and Jorge’s lives depended on it.
She feared they did.
Trees watched Laila take off with a sigh. Son of a bitch.
Kane muttered similar words. They exchanged a glance. Then the former deputy dashed to the minivan to preempt Valeria’s escape. Trees darted after Laila, whose dark curls whipped wildly behind her. Since her legs were roughly half the length of his, this wouldn’t take long.
As he ate up ground between them, he stared. She might be small, but she was a firecracker. Clearly, she didn’t trust anyone—not that he blamed her. And as much as he hated to admit he’d noticed, her faded denim shorts flashed an enticing amount of juicy, round ass.