Cash snorted. He knew Ralen better than anyone, and vice versa. The two of them had been like brothers for years, even closer than that in some ways.
Ralen was his ride or die.
“You know what’s wrong with me,” Cash said. “She shouldn’t be leaving. She shouldn’t be in that car with him. She should be here with us, where we can keep an eye on her. She needs watching.”
“You have to let this go,” Ralen told him. “She’s about to leave and you have no control over anything that she does once she’s gone. She’s a grown adult. You can’t make the decisions for her.”
He could if she were his. Then he’d be laying down the law, and telling her exactly what was going to happen. That he would be on her 24/7 until he was sure that there was no longer a risk to her.
“You heard the detective and Ink. They both think they’ll all be fine going home. They reckon it’s this husband of Monroe’s who left the message. That he doesn’t like them asking questions about him.”
“Except nobody can find the bastard, and no one’s really sure who he really is since it seems most likely that Vextar isn’t his real name. And we know they’re not going to throw much manpower into this when it’s just been a written threat and nothing physical.” Although Jackson had seemed strangely interested in Vextar.
Ralen nodded. “Yeah. But the likelihood of this guy following the girls back to Las Vegas is pretty slim when he seems to want them out of the city.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s something the cops aren’t telling us? Why did they question Monroe the first time she was in the police station about this Vextar guy? What if they have some idea of who he is, and they’re just not saying anything?”
“Maybe they were just after some more information. Maybe you’re just reading too much into this, and we have to get our mind back on the real game here. Like finding Ortega. How the fuck are we going to find someone who makes an art form out of staying hidden?”
Yeah, that was the other issue. If Ortega didn’t want to be found, then Alejandro’s men weren’t going to find him. Which meant he and Ralen were likely going to have to come up with a plan.
“Maybe we have to ask him for help,” Cash suggested. “Come up with some sort of emergency.”
“Yeah, I like it. The only issue is he’s going to take it out on us when he finds out it’s not true. And I’ve kind of grown attached to my dick. I don’t want it chopped off my body.”
They both grimaced. Ortega had a habit of doing that to rapists.
“He’s not going to do that to us,” Cash reassured him. “He likes us. And you’re kind of related to him.”
“Except I’m not. He’s my cousin’s half brother. We’re not actually related by blood. And what if he’s not just hiding? What if he’s in real fucking trouble here?”
That was an even bigger issue.
If he’d actually disappeared because he was in trouble, then they’re all in fucking trouble, because there were very few people who could best Ortega.
They pulled up into the parking lot of the airport and got out. Butch and the girls were still waiting in the car a few vehicles down, and they moved that way, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
They each opened a passenger door. When he opened her door, Addie gave him a small smile. She looked pale, wan. He wanted to gather her up in his arms and hold her tight, keep her safe, but he knew he couldn’t.
She’d already unbuckled her seatbelt, and he frowned at that. He had no idea why. He was acting ridiculous.
“Is everything all right?” she asked hoarsely. “Is there a problem?”
Yeah, there was a fucking problem. She shouldn’t be leaving. But he didn’t say that. Instead, he just shook his head and stepped back, offering her his hand. She gave him a surprised look.
What had she expected him to do? When she slid her hand into his, he realized she was shaking, and her hand was cold. He squeezed her hand lightly.
“Everything is going to be okay. You’ll be home soon,” he told her as Butch grabbed the suitcases out that someone had packed up for them at their hotel room.
Addie nodded, looking pensive, and he led her around to where her sisters were. Monroe was staring down at her phone but Dotty was watching him. Her gaze dropped down to where he was holding onto Addie’s hand and narrowed.
Cash probably should have let go of her, but he didn’t want to.
“Come on,” Butch said. “Let’s get inside.”
Cash didn’t like following the other man’s commands. However, he didn’t have any reason to argue.
He kept hold of Addie’s hand as they walked through the parking lot toward the main entrance.
