Page 76 of Her Courage

My throat tightened.

Me: That's what family does.

"It's ready," Andrei announced, ending his latest call. "The money's in an escrow account. The moment Patrice provides wiring instructions, we transfer. FBI has eyes on the account."

Kaleb's phone rang. Unknown number.

He looked at Andrei, who nodded. Marshall was already on another line, recording.

Kaleb answered, putting it on speaker. "Patrice."

"I see you've decided to be reasonable," she purred. "Smart boy. I knew you'd come around."

"Where's Keeley?" Kaleb demanded, his voice hard.

"Safe. For now. Once I have my money⁠—"

"How do I know she's even alive?" Kaleb interrupted. "Put her on the phone."

A pause. Then muffled sounds—Patrice moving, a door opening.

"Say hi to Uncle Kaleb," Patrice cooed in a sickly sweet voice.

"Uncle Kae-Kae?" Keeley's small voice came through the speaker, and my heart shattered.

"Hey, princess," Kaleb managed, his voice cracking. "You doing okay?"

"Wan' Mama," Keeley whimpered. "Wan' go home."

"Soon, baby. Soon, I promise."

More muffled sounds. Patrice must have taken the phone away.

"Satisfied?" she asked coldly.

"Send the wiring instructions," Kaleb bit out. "You'll have your money within the hour."

"Excellent." I could hear the smile in her voice. "Oh, and Kaleb? Don't even think about trying anything clever. I may be desperate, but I'm not stupid."

The line went dead.

Kaleb stood frozen, his face ashen. "She has her. She actually has her."

"And we're going to get her back," Andrei said firmly. "Marshall?"

"Got it all," Marshall confirmed through Kaleb's other phone, still on the line. "That's a confession. Kidnapping, extortion, threatening a child. The DA's already filing emergency warrants."

Kaleb's phone buzzed. A text with wiring instructions from the unknown number.

Andrei was already typing, initiating the transfer. "Done. Money's moving."

"FBI has it," Marshall confirmed. "They're tracking. The moment she tries to access it⁠—"

"We'll have her," Kaleb finished.

Now came the hardest part.

Waiting.