Page 102

“Then you also know we haven’t spoken in twelve years.” Presley shoves me forward, and I sink to my knees. “Take him, or don’t. But I want my money.”

“You’re a traitor,” I growl. “To everything that is decent.”

Presley slams the butt of his gun on the back of my head and pain explodes through my eyes.

“Whoa, don’t knock him out,” Sawyer snarls.

“Money. And I expect partial payment for the girl, too, since I was bringing her to you when your goons crashed into my car.”

“Hmm.” José glares at me, then looks at Presley. “We’ll let Mr. Smith decide. Get up,” he orders me.

I stay where I am.

“Get up,” Presley growls and tries to rip me to my feet.

But there are advantages to being the size that I am. Not many people can move me when I’ve decided to be rooted.

José pulls out his gun and aims it at my forehead.

I look up at him now, my glare full of fury.

“Whether you’re alive or dead really doesn’t matter,” he says. “But if you’re a good boy, maybe we’ll let Miss Swanson watch you die. Or, maybe I’ll let you watch her die. I’m not picky. Get up.”

She’s here.

She’s alive.

Those two truths get me on my feet. Presley grips one of my arms and shoves me forward. “Little close,” he mutters.

“I needed to know.” While I’m not as good at reading people as Cap is, José is an open book. He’s arrogant, loves to flaunt, and is absolutely going to want an audience for whatever he has planned for both Dahlia and me.

Which means, taunting him told me exactly what I needed to know.

And now I just have to find her.

As we walk, I paint a picture for a potential escape. Garrison will blow the cars parked outside, while everyone inside scatters. As soon as that happens, we’ll have maybe a minute to get out and to the back of the property before they realize we’re gone.

The rest of my team, as well as Presley’s guys, are all waiting to engage the moment it’s necessary. Though I sincerely hope it won’t be, since police are on standby the moment we have proof that Dahlia has been kidnapped and held here.

Everything hinges on finding her.

Lord, guide my steps.

José leads us into the foyer of a large house. Then, he guides us up a set of grand stairs toward the right. As he does, guards fall in behind us, boxing Presley and me in on the stairs.

Unease churns in my gut. My brother’s back is to them. What if they decide to fire?

“Keep your head, Tank,” Cap warns. How he knows when he’s clear outside is beyond me, but I learned a long time ago not to question it.

José steps into a room off to the right, then moves to the side as Presley leads me in. Leon Smith looks up from a stack of papers on the desk, his gaze searching my face, then shifting to Presley.

“What is this?”

“You offered me a job, I took it.”

Leon’s expression remains unchanged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Look, I’m not big on having my time wasted,” Presley snarls. “So, how about you pay me what you owe me, and I’ll let you have this guy and keep the woman your goons stole from me.”