“Officer Tom Hicks,” Alex told Kyle.
The Pup nodded grimly. “Fucker. We talked to him earlier today, along with Frank and Sylvie.” He looked Alex straight in the eye. “You talked to her or Frank?”
“No,” he answered. “Sylvie’s on duty.” Not technically a lie. He hoped that even now, she and Frank had a lead on Tom, that they’d figured out he was the crooked cop in the system.Fuck, but I can’t tell them. He clenched his jaw.
Kyle shook his head. “Good. Don’t talk to her.”
Alex reared back in shock at Kyle’s tone. Charlie and Shane looked surprised as well.
“From here on out, we don’t trust a single officer. Tom might not have been acting alone.” Kyle held up his hand to ward off Alex’s protest. “Chief, I have a woman to find and a reputation to uphold. You can bitch all you want later.”
Alex bit back his anger and desire to defend Sylvie. It wouldn’t help anyone. Instead, he went cold. “I hear you.”
The Pup turned to Twila, whose cheeks were slicked with tears. “I need you to keep this to yourself as well. Brianna’s life may depend on it.”
“What about her family?” she asked.
“Not a word to them.” Kyle looked at Brock as the team instinctively gathered closer. “You got your head on straight, brother?”
“Yes sir,” Brock answered.
“We can’t trust any cop right now.” His stare shifted to Alex. “Not a single one, hear me?”
“Yes, sir,” Alex answered, feeling his guts twist.
Kyle looked at Twila. “I need you to act like everything’s fine.” He jutted his chin toward Brock. “As far as you know, she’s off celebrating with Badger here, got it?”
The singer nodded silently and wiped her eyes.
“Can you do it?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes.” The smile she put on was fake but convincing. “She’s so excited right now, I barely got to talk to her before Badger whisked her away.”
“Yeah, good.” Kyle squeezed her shoulder. “You’re under our protection. Charlie,” he looked at the bodyguard, “you don’t let Twila out of your sight.”
“Aye, sir,” she answered, then she and Twila went off to lie to Brianna’s family.
Kyle addressed Wolf next. “You with me?”
He nodded once. “To the end of this, brother.”
Kyle looked grateful. “Mack, I need you to take point here until the show’s over.”
“Will do.”
“While Charlie’s with Twila, I’ll make sure Caroline, Arden, and Rachael get back safely to the ranch,” Alex volunteered.
“I’ll come with you,” Shane said.
To make sure I don’t do anything stupid?Alex wondered.
“All right,” Kyle said. “Badger, you were on the phone with Brian’s mom back at the hospital. We got a lead?”
“Yeah, we do.” Badger’s expression had turned deadly. “I think I know exactly where they’re going. If we hurry, we can beat them there.”
* * *
The restof the night was a blur for Alex, making sure that Caroline, Arden, and Rachael got back safely to the ranch after Rachael begged off singing with the last all-star act, saying she was feeling ill.
