Her breath hitched. “What?”
His grin stretched wider, cruel and gleaming. “See, I know all about your brother…and your sister…and your boyfriend. Their little team hides out in the Louisiana bayou. Dane used to be part of that little team back when they were in the military. Dane was her brother. Just like McGuire is yours. Surprise!”
Her mind reeled. Pieces clicked into place—Dane, Tessa… Cross working with Tessa… He hadn’t been helping her because of some rekindled flame. He was helping Tessa. Helping Dane.
Helping family.
Rodríguez stepped back and looked her over. “I know all about them. Dane, Cross, Stone, McGuire, Patch. All good soldiers. Loyal. Too bad loyalty gets people killed. You had better hope Tessa is loyal too because your life depends on it.” His gaze dropped to her body. “Speaking of which…”
Rodriguez's fingertips dug into her bicep hard. “I’ve been patient. I let them bring you in alive. But now? If Tessa doesn’t show up and tell me where my drugs are,” he leaned in, voice sliding like oil across her skin, “then you and I are going to have a little fun before I kill you.”
Drew yanked her arm back. “Go to hell,” She allowed her anger to show, burying the spontaneous fear his touch inspired.
He slapped her.
It wasn’t hard, not really. But it stung, and it made her blood boil.
He chuckled and turned—only then noticing Charlie trying to shrink back behind her.
“Well, well,” Rodríguez drawled. “The traitor in the flesh.”
Charlie stiffened. “I did what you asked.”
“For a price,” Rodríguez snapped. “But you failed to deliver the real prize. Tell me why I shouldn’t put a bullet between your eyes?”
“Because I got her,” Charlie said quickly. “And if she’s leverage—then I’m the reason you’ve got any of it.”
Rodríguez raised the gun again, expression bored.
Drew leaned forward, teeth bared. “Do it. Kill him. Just make sure I’m watching.”
Rodríguez paused, his smile sharpening.
“Oh, I like you angry,” he said. Then he lowered the gun, his eyes still on Charlie. “You live. For now. Just to piss her off.”
He laughed to himself and motioned to one of the new men. “Get them both on the plane. I’m done breathing this swamp-air excuse for a city.”
The armed guards moved in. They sliced the zip ties on Drew’s ankles and then pushed her forward. Drew walked under her own power, head held high, rage pulsing with every step. Whoever the fuck this Tessa was, she better know what the hell she’s doing because there was no way in hell Drew was going down because of some dirty cop, even if she was part of the family.
CHAPTER 16
Cross was proppedup on the gurney, one arm hooked into a saline IV, the other hand holding a cold compress to his temple. His leg felt like it was being held over a fire, but that pain was lessening, thanks to the antivenom they’d injected through the IV drip. The antiseptic-saturated air of the small clinic burned his nostrils more than the swamp ever had, and his whole body ached like it had been trampled by a herd of gators. Probably because it nearly had been.
Stone leaned against the wall, his shoulder wrapped tightly in gauze, looking way too relaxed for a man who’d been shot less than twenty-four hours ago. Frankie stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him, keeping a close eye on him, no doubt.
McGuire stood by the door, arms folded, jaw locked.
“Where is Riven?” Cross asked. It had just occurred to him that she hadn’t been around. She is good at keeping McGuire from getting too intense, and with his sister missing, Cross was sure McGuire could use Riven’s low-key energy.
“She had an appointment,” McGuire said. “Wedding stuff. I made her go. There’s nothing she can do here. She deserves some fun. She’ll be by later.”
“How’s all that stuff going?” Frankie asked.
“Fine.” Judging by his harsh tone, McGuire wasn’t in the mood to chat about his upcoming nuptials, and Cross didn’t blame him. With Drew missing, everything else was secondary.
Tessa was still sitting, perched on the edge of the plastic chair like a coiled spring.
No one said anything for a long beat.
