“Are you sure you want to do this?” Leanna’s father asked. “Your mother will kill me if anything happens to you.”
“I have to. She’s my daughter,” Leanna said.
“What are we getting out of this?” Axe’s father asked him. “Why are you going?”
“This may be the entire meaning of my life,” Axe said. “To love and protect Leanna Rivera. Don’t worry. I don’t intend on giving Joshua Cano the satisfaction of killing me. You two will have our backs, won’t you?”
“Of course, we will.” Axe’s father rose and hugged him, thumping on his back.
Gabriel returned, but instead of pictures and ID cards, he had a gun in his hand. He pointed it at Leanna. “I called Cano. He says to stay put. He’ll send a car to pick you up. Alone. No one else. The rest of you, lie on the floor and let Leanna tie you up.”
“You don’t want to do this,” Leanna said. “I thought you’re Carmelita’s friend.”
“I am,” Gabriel said. “Cano will keep her safe if I obey.”
Leanna darted a puzzled look at Axe and back to her father. “Cano has her?”
“I didn’t say nothing,” Gabriel said, waving the gun at Leanna. “There’s rope in the garage. Tie them up.”
He was only a kid, so Leanna complied. Besides, she wanted to see Carmelita, even if it meant going to Cano’s lair.
She tied everyone as loosely as she could, and let Axe hold his hands in front of his body. She tied their shoelaces together, but there was nothing keeping them from slipping their shoes off.
“Good enough?” Leanna asked. “Now what?”
“I’m going with you,” Gabriel said. “They should be here any minute now.”
Leanna picked up her shoulder bag and the Bible. “Let’s wait outside.”
Gabriel grabbed a bag of food and a fork. He tucked his gun under his armpit and followed Leanna out the front door.
Her heart pounded so hard it was painful. She couldn’t believe she was going to see Carmelita for the first time since giving her away. She couldn’t wait to count her fingers and toes and stroke her chubby cheeks and kiss the sweet-scented baby hair.
Oh, wait. Carmelita might not want her to touch her. She’d better be careful and watch her back.
She knew Joshua better than anyone.
Joshua’s traps were easy to step into and hard to get out of.
