Page 75 of Her Courage

"I can, and I will." Andrei's tone left no room for argument. "Consider it an investment in removing a threat to our family."

Our family. The words settled over me like a warm blanket despite the circumstances.

"Marshall?" Kaleb asked. "Would that work?"

"If we coordinate with the DA and FBI—yes. They can trace the money, freeze it once Patrice attempts the withdrawal. She'll be caught red-handed." I could hear the satisfaction in Marshall's voice. "I'll make the calls. How fast can you get the money ready?"

"One hour," Andrei said, already pulling out his phone again.

"Make it ninety minutes," Marshall countered. "I need time to get the authorities on board. This has to be airtight."

"Done." Andrei ended the call, his attention immediately shifting to Kaleb. "You need to call your contacts at Portland PD. Anyone who can expedite this."

Kaleb nodded, rising from the couch with renewed purpose. The defeated man from minutes ago had vanished, replaced by the sharp businessman I'd first met.

"What about Keeley?" I asked, the question I'd been afraid to voice. "If Patrice is arrested, what happens to her? Will she be okay?"

Andrei's expression softened—barely, but enough for me to notice. "Mikhail will extract her the moment we have confirmation Patrice is in custody. She won't spend another minute in that house."

Relief flooded through me. "Okay. Okay, we have a plan."

"We have a plan," Kaleb confirmed, reaching for my hand. He pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Thank you, baby girl. For thinking clearly when I couldn't."

"That's what family does," I whispered, echoing his words from earlier. "We think for each other when thinking gets too hard."

His eyes glistened, but he blinked it away. "I love you. So fucking much."

"Language, Daddy K," I teased weakly.

That earned me a ghost of a smile. "Brat."

The next ninety minutes passed in a blur of phone calls and frantic coordination. Kaleb spoke with contacts at Portland PD. Marshall liaised with the DA's office and FBI. Andrei arranged the money transfer with terrifying efficiency—two million dollars, ready to be wired on command.

I sat with Colby, both of us trying to stay out of the way while remaining available if needed. He held my hand, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my palm.

"They're going to get her back," he murmured. "You know that, right?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

"And when they do, we're all going to be okay."

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so badly.

My phone buzzed. A text from Sierra.

Sierra: Any news? I can't take this waiting.

I glanced at Kaleb, who was still on the phone with someone official-sounding. He caught my eye and nodded.

Me: We have a plan. Andrei's wiring the money with trackers. Police will move in when she tries to access it. Mikhail will get Keeley out.

Sierra: How long?

Me: Soon. I promise, Sierra. Soon.

The three dots appeared, then disappeared. Appeared again.

Sierra: Thank you. For being there for Kaleb. For all of this.