“His brother claimed he knew.” Leanna pointed to Gabriel. “I find it hard to believe he didn’t contact you.”
Especially since Leanna’s phone was last seen in this vicinity.
“He’s hiding from Cano because you got away,” Gabriel finally admitted.
“Are you saying that Cano is here in Mexico?” Axe’s father asked.
The kid shrugged and dug into his enchilada.
“If so, he might have killed Ana and Eduardo,” Leanna said. “I don’t see anything we can do except for me to contact him.”
“No!”
“No way.”
“You can’t put yourself in danger.”
Axe and the two fathers talked over each other.
“I can and I will,” Leanna said. “I’m Carmelita’s mother. I have a right to ask if she’s okay.”
“Cano doesn’t care about you,” Leanna’s father said. “He’s probably on to his next young girl. He just dumped the last one when she turned eighteen.”
“He’s a disgusting pervert,” Axe’s father said. “If I could get him in my sights.”
“I’d break every bone in his body,” Axe growled.
“Okay, okay, I got it,” Leanna said. “This isn’t going to help. Gabriel, do you have any pictures or anything you can give me of Carmelita? I swear, I’m her mother. Unfortunately, I was one of the thirteen to sixteen-year-olds he preyed on.”
“Sure, I’ll go get her ID card,” Gabriel said. “We traded cards after school was out.”
“Does she have social media?” Axe asked. “Is she litaloca on FacePlant?”
Gabriel shook his head. “That was a decoy to get you guys away from her.”
“Cano thinks of everything,” Leanna’s father said. “I think you better come with me. If your brothers crossed Cano, you’re not safe.”
“I’m supposed to keep watch,” Gabriel said. “Cano checks in with me.”
“He does?” Leanna grabbed the kid’s arm. “Then you have to tell him to contact me. I want my daughter.”
“What will you give him?” Leanna’s father said.
Axe’s father grunted. “He’ll want either me or Axe.”
“I’m going with Leanna,” Axe said. He glared at the fathers. “No argument. You two can either back us up or get out of the way.”
“I’m in,” Axe’s father said, giving Leanna’s father a challenging look.
“So am I,” Leanna’s father said with a gruff growl.
“Okay, then, Gabriel, put me in touch with Cano,” Leanna said. “Tell him I have Axe and will trade him for Carmelita.”
“You can’t. I mean, that’s crazy.” The kid blinked and waved his hands. “Cano will want his head on a plate.”
“Too bad I’m too squeamish to get it done,” Leanna said. “I just want to see my daughter. Can you give me her ID card so I’ll know her when I get there?”
“Sure, tell her I miss her,” Gabriel said and ran to his room.
