“You can’t blame yourself. You thought she was safe,” Axe said, rocking her. “I have to find out what my father knew. El Bardo might have been the contact. He might have been using my father to capture Carmelita on the pretense of negotiating with Cano for Soledad, but in reality, he was going to sell her to this collector.”
“They even said I would be sold, that a mother-daughter pair would be even more special.” Leanna pushed away from the sofa and stood.
“Did you get a sense of where the collector lived? Where were they headed?”
“Texas,” Leanna said.
“It’s a big state, but it’s a start.” Axe punched his Uncle Roberto’s phone number. “Any exact location you can think of?”
“I remember them saying that the ports of entry were too full. They were going to sneak us across the river near Reynoso.”
“Prime cartel territory.” Axe waited for his Uncle to answer. “Hey, Zio Roberto, it’s me, Axe. I need to know everything Dad was doing with El Bardo, particularly human trafficking.”
“Listen, kid. You wanted to stay out of the business, so you stay out. I’m not blaming you for your dad’s death, but you didn’t exactly help.”
A raw rage rose in Axe’s gut, and he growled, “Dad was trying to human traffic a young teenager. I want to know who his contact in the states was.”
“Stay out of it, or I can’t guarantee your safety or that of your girlfriend.”
“You’re my uncle,” Axe said. “Blood uncle. Dad loved Soledad, and he would have done anything for her. What if the trafficker returns and grabs her?”
“He won’t.Omertà, or I’ll sew your lips shut after I kill you.”
“Thanks for nothing.” Axe hung up.
“Nothing?” Leanna asked, putting her palm on his chest.
“He won’t help,” Axe said. “But his threats mean I’m on the right path. If only I can figure out where the Tres Amigos were taking you.”
“I’ll call Reuben.” Leanna pushed away to get her phone.
“Good idea,” Axe said. “I need to review everything I did with El Bardo. At one point, he was going to set me up to join a migrant caravan. Talked about me being Pakistani. That guy had so many sticks in the fire.”
“I hate how he was a human trafficker,” Leanna said. “You seemed friendly with him.”
“He could get cars, guns, anything you need.”
“Women, too, I bet.” Leanna huffed. “Well, I’m not going to sit around here and do nothing. After I call Reuben, I’m going to find that collector and kick his ass.”
“That’s my sweetie.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t think I was your anything.”
“I was hoping you’d be my baby mama.” He ducked just in time for the swat he knew was coming. “Hey, do you mind if I move in? For Soledad, obviously. She’s missing Carmelita, and she might have night terrors.”
Leanna’s eyes rolled even farther. “Sure, sugar daddy. I have no fight left in me. Do whatever you want.”
He took her hand. “You’re a fighter. You’ll get through this. Now, go call Reuben, and I’ll go get my stuff. Just don’t leave Soledad alone.”
“I won’t. I’ll ask Nikki or Carol to come sit with her if I have to go somewhere.”
“Don’t go anywhere without me.” He gave her a brother’s handshake. “Promise.”
She leaned in and hugged him tight. “As long as you can stand a loser like me.”
Her defeated tone sank Axe’s heart. What a contrast to her usual buoyancy. Maybe he could get her to smile, despite the doom and gloom. She was definitely not a loser.
“Loser, loser, drug abuser? I don’t think so.” He tapped her nose and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Last I counted, we were dead even, tied to the bed.”
