“I don’t like the idea either,” Hunter says to me, “but I’d rather keep Savannah in my line of sight until the copycat is locked up.”
Savannah’s shoulders droop. “I ran from that life once before. I don’t want to do it again.”
I hold her face in my hands, bringing our mouths closer together. “Never again,” I promise her, and move my lips over hers.
CHAPTER 36
SAVANNAH
Hunter, Rory, and Luke agreed to let me come with them, but I had to agree to a few conditions to make them happy. One of which is that they got to load me down with knives.
Like I’d have it any other way.
The second is that I don’t speak to Gabriel directly. Apparently, the guy is vicious. I told them I’d go along with it to keep the peace, but I can’t guarantee I’ll actually be able to hold my tongue.
To hide my knives, I put on an oversized fur coat. The guys all wear their usual suit and warm jackets. They’re all strapped down with guns as well.
Hollis drove us north to a building. He wasn’t okay with waiting in the car, but in the end, he listened to the boss.
We stroll together, my hand on Hunter’s arm like he’s escorting me. Sawdust sticks to the bottom of my heeled boots. “Do you guys always meet clients in construction zones?”
Rory snorts. “No. Why?”
I nod my head and look around, taking in the drywall and piles of lumber. “It’s giving mob vibes.”
We move through another hallway and enter a large, open space. As we enter, Hunter, Rory, and Luke empty their expressions, so I do the same.
Three men wait in the middle. Two of them flank the one in the middle. I’m guessing he’s the one in charge.
Gabriel Castillo.
“Took you long enough, Reed,” the man in the middle says by way of greeting. “You said you have some information for me.”
“Gabriel,” Hunter acknowledges, but his tone is flat, devoid of emotion. “We patched up the glitch in our system.”
Gabriel nods. “And?”
Luke covers one hand with the other in a relaxed posture. “We found out who took down the security for your stash house.”
“Who?” One of the men behind Gabriel speaks up.
“Someone named Javier Ortega in El Salvador,” Luke replies.
Yesterday, before the FBI picked up Shawn, Luke and Rory cloned Shawn’s laptop and wiped all the information about their other client list from the hardware. Then we all did some digging, taking note of all the clients Shawn sold out and who hired him.
Gabriel’s eye twitches. “Good to know.”
“You know him,” I claim, breaking one of the strict rules I was given.
Hunter places his hand over mine and lightly squeezes in warning.
Gabriel’s jaw works back and forth. “Sí.”
“He’s the leader of the whole MS13,” I add.
Hunter squeezes again.
“He’s, as you would call him,El Hefe. The boss,” Gabriel responds.
