Tessa nodded. “He’s more concerned with the mole at this point. Whoever it is has already cost an agent their life before I ever got dropped undercover. It’s imperative to him to find the mole. He will have people on standby to help, but it’s our show.”
“Okay then,” McGuire said, “let’s look at options for locations.”
Savvy reached down and pulled a laptop out of her bag. Cross smiled. She was always prepared. It had saved their asses more than once, and he was grateful to her. But he knew it would tick Drew off to no end. Drew played shit more by ear, and it irked her how Savvy always had to be organized. The two hadn’t really spoken in a while, and he knew the tension between the sisters ate at Drew. He only hoped they would have the opportunity to make up after all this.
“How are you feeling?” Patch asked quietly as the others went over locations on the screen.
Cross shrugged. “Fine. We need to get to Drew.”
“Yeah, we do, but you gotta get your head on straight first. You can’t go in guns blazing. That will put Drew’s life in danger.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Cross growled.
“Knowing it and being able to control it are two different things. I speak from experience.”
Cross sighed. Patch had a point. He’d gone ballistic when Savvy had been in trouble. They’d all seen the toll it had taken on him. Cross understood it a lot more now. It was one thing to worry about Drew getting into trouble when he was away; it had been abstract. But to know she was in trouble now and he couldn’t get to her? Yeah, that was killing him. He wanted to get off the bed and drive all night to get to her; the hell with planning. Just go in and shoot the shit out of wherever she was. Patch was right. He had to lock down his emotions and get his head into the zone. Drew needed him at his best, and that’s what he would be. He would never be able to forgive himself otherwise.
“So we’re agreed?” Tessa asked.
Everyone nodded.
Tessa studied her hands, then heaved a sigh. “Look, I just want to apologize for dragging all of you into this. I never dreamed it would blow up this way. Dane was right, you guys are amazing, like family, only better because I didn’t have to grow up being picked on by you.” She grinned. “Seriously, though, I am sorry, and I appreciate your help more than I can say. I owe all of you, but especially Drew. I will make it up to her.” Tessa glanced at Cross, “I promise.”
Cross just nodded. There was nothing to say. They would go down whatever rabbit hole for Tessa because she was Dane’s sister, and Dane would always be their brother in arms, no matter if he was alive or not.
Tessa picked up the sat phone. “Now we make the call.”
Cross’s gut tightened as she put the call on speaker.
The line rang once. Twice. The line opened, but no one said anything.
“Rodriguez,” Tessa said. “Do you miss me?”
The voice that answered was smooth, oily, and filled with menace. “Well, well. I was starting to think you’d forgotten about our little situation,carina.”
A sneer distorted Tessa’s lips, but she said dryly, “Still overcompensating with that voice, I see.”
He laughed, low and cruel. “You always had a mouth on you. I’ve missed it.”
“Good. You’ll get a chance to hear it again. I’m calling to make a deal.”
There was a pause. Then, “Go on.”
“You’ve got a friend of mine, and I have a little something of yours. What do you say we trade?”
“Did you think it would be easy to move that kind of weight without me knowing,puta? You don’t got no choice but to give it back.”
“It must suck to be wrong so often. I have options, but I’m willing to deal.” She cocked an eyebrow. “You in or you out?”
Rodriguez said something but it was muffled. Tessa frowned. “You want your drugs back, don’t you? Or do you want to explain to your bosses why their shipment disappeared on your watch? I bet they’re getting all hot and bothered about it right about now.”
Another beat of silence.
“I should put a bullet in you just for that,” he snarled.
“Save it for the reunion,” she snapped. “What’s it gonna be?”
More silence.
