Chapter Twenty-Four
Now that Caleb had Dìleas on board, he needed to see his grandfather. Whatever went down on or near the Navajo Nation would need President Blackwater’s consent.
He stepped back into the cottage, shook off the cold, and called Zach. Briefed him on the plan he and Gia had agreed to—lure Lopez to the reservation under the pretense of a trade.
Gia for Jennie.
In reality, they’d orchestrate a carefully planned trap.
To his surprise, Zach hadn’t pushed back.
We need to get Jennie back. Unharmed.
Anger, determination, and something close to fear had edged his cousin’s voice. Caleb had already sent him the photo of Jennie’s bruised face.
After hanging up, he texted his grandfather.
Espina Negra has Jennie Tsosie. We need to talk.
The reply came quickly.
My office. One hour.
Caleb stiffened at the curt message.
Another text flashed across his screen, this one from Zach.
Grandfather wants to see us in his office. Hope you’re ready.
Zach was waiting outside when Caleb and Gia pulled up to the rust-colored stone building that housed the offices of the president and vice president of the Navajo Nation.
Caleb parked across the street, taking a moment before getting out. The structure blended into the landscape, rising organically in proximity to the sandstone formation that gave Window Rock its name.
Twin flags flanked the entrance—the Stars and Stripes on one side, the Navajo Nation flag on the other, its familiar rainbow arching over the outline of the reservation.
Above the double doors, the Great Seal of the Navajo Nation gleamed against the stone—fifty arrowheads encircling the four sacred mountains, livestock, and corn beneath a rising sun.
Caleb stared at it longer than he meant to. Sovereignty. Protection. Identity.
Symbols he hadn’t grown up claiming—but maybe, finally, was beginning to understand.
Stress lined Zach’s eyes. “Chief Nez has officers combing the rez. He’s also notified the Sheriff’s Offices in Apache and McKinley counties. The medical supply truck driver was a temp. He’s vanished into the wind.”
“We need Grandfather to let us handle this our way.” Caleb tightened his hold on Gia’s hand and followed Zach inside.
The president’s office resembled a stately conference room. Polished mahogany panels reflected the soft sheen of overhead lights. Ben Blackwater sat at a long conference table, his phone pressed to his ear.
He barely glanc ed up before issuing a curt command. “Sit.”
Caleb obeyed before he realized he’d done so.
Zach moved just as fast.
Gia took a more graceful seat beside Caleb.
Ben ended his call with a sharp sigh. “That was Chief Nez. No sign of Jennie. And until we have proof she’s been taken across state lines,” his mouth thinned, “or murdered, the FBI won’t intervene.”
“Gia has information that will help.” Caleb cast a wary glance at his grandfather’s aide and security detail. “But it needs to stay between us for now.”
Ben motioned to the others in the room. “Wait outside.”
Once the door clicked shut, he leaned back, the leather creaking beneath his shifting weight. “Tell me.”
Caleb waited for Gia’s nod before speaking. “Vincente Lopez murdered a DEA agent. Gia witnessed it—that’s why she fled Miami. Now he’s using Jennie as leverage to force her back.”
Gia’s voice wobbled. “I can turn myself in, tell the DEA what I saw. They’ll arrest Vincente.”
Caleb shook his head. “Lopez has high-powered lawyers. They’ll discredit Gia, and the cartel will put a target on her back.
We need to lure him here, and after we get Jennie back, we get him to incriminate himself, so Gia’s not involved.
On video. Once the footage of his confession is public, the Feds will arrest him, and his father’s cartel will likely disown him to avoid the heat. He’ll take the fall alone.”
Plausible enough. What he didn’t say was he expected Lopez to come with armed men, ready to kill.
And that was just fine.
Because he didn’t plan on Lopez or his men leaving the reservation alive.
Ben’s gaze sh ifted toward the closed door, his expression unreadable. When he spoke, it was low, forcing them to lean in.
“We’ve been tracking cartel activity on the reservation. Their reach is long. Their money fills too many pockets.”
His face hardened. “I’d like to trust the Tribal Council and the police, but I can’t guarantee we wouldn’t have a leak. And there are rumors of a second cartel.”
Caleb darted a look at Zach. “Los Coyotes?” A flicker of satisfaction filled him at his grandfather’s nod. “I may have started that rumor to force Lopez into a personal visit.”
His amusement vanished. “Too bad the asshole didn’t take the bait before he grabbed Jennie.”
His grandfather’s disapproving stare had his mouth snapping shut.
“I won’t let the reservation become a war zone,” Ben said sternly. “And I won’t invite more federal oversight.”
“We won’t involve them,” Caleb replied. He wouldn’t leave Gia’s safety, or Jennie’s to strangers. “We don’t know what informants the cartel has in the FBI and DEA. Here, we control the meeting. We limit Lopez’s access.”
“Jennie is one of us.” Zach’s voice was taut with anger. “If we don’t control this fight, Lopez does. And Jennie loses.”
His gaze slid to Gia. “Gia loses, too.”
Ben steepled his fingers, the silver and turquoise jewelry on his wrists and fingers catching the light.
He studied them quietly before finally speaking. “He won’t come alone.”
“That’s why we dictate the terms.” Caleb clung to his patience. “My friends have agreed to help. They’re all former special operations guys. Experienced. We’ll keep their presence low-key and control the operation from start to finish.”
“What makes y ou think he will agree to your terms?”
This time it was Gia who spoke up. “He’ll come because he believes he holds all the power.”
She stretched out her hand in supplication to the man who wielded the authority. “He tried to murder your grandson, and he won’t hesitate to hurt Jennie to force me to return to him. He needs to be stopped.”
Silence blanketed the room.
Ben exhaled slowly. “This stays between us. The more people involved, the greater the chance someone whispers the truth in Lopez’s ear.”
His gaze lasered in on Caleb, then moved to Zach. “If you fail, the responsibility will fall on me.”
Caleb shifted uneasily in his chair. He hadn’t considered the risk to his grandfather’s position, his family’s safety.
“Report back when you have the details in place.” Ben said. “I’m due at the Tribal Council chambers.”
They stood to leave, but Ben stopped Caleb. “Stay a moment, Grandson.”
Caleb stiffened. Now what?
He darted a glance at Zach, who shrugged.
Gia squeezed his arm. “We’ll wait outside.”
Once the door closed behind Zach and Gia, his grandfather spoke. “Don’t let your anger make you reckless.”
“I won’t.” But Caleb wouldn’t deny it fueled him—his mother’s death, the threat to Gia, Jennie’s life hanging in the balance.
Ben gave a sharp nod, as if that settled the matter. Then he hefted a brown cardboard box from behind his desk. “This came today. Addressed to you.”
Caleb took the box and glanced at the sender address.
Camila had forw arded his mother’s belongings. All that was left of her.
“Whatever answers are in there, I hope they bring you peace.” Ben’s voice gentled. “We are your family, whether you recognize us or not.”
Caleb’s throat tightened. He didn’t push back this time.
“We’ll get Jennie back. And keep Gia safe.”
Back at the safe house Zach stood, arms crossed, a glower creasing his forehead. The grim set of his eyes told her he didn’t like the plan they’d made—but he’d agreed to it.
“We’re not letting him touch you,” Caleb said, his voice edged with danger. The tone raised the hairs on the back of her neck.
“But?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
His eyes were bleak. “We need him to think I’m willing to hand you over. You need to be there when this goes down.”
“I know.” She’d always known.
He took her hand, pulled her into his arms. “Trust me.”
She melted into him, letting his strength calm her. “I do.”
“Your phone.” He cupped her cheek, studied her face. “Are you ready?”
Her throat too tight for words, she nodded and handed it over.
Caleb met Zach’s eyes over her head. Whatever passed silently between them seemed to satisfy him.
“Let me do the talking.” He tapped the number Vincente had used to send the photo of Jennie—bruised and terrified—and switched the phone to speaker.
It rang. Once. Twice.
Each chime cinched a steel band tighter around Gia’s ribs.
On the fourth ring, Vincente answered.
“Ah, querida . Ready to return to Miami? I can have my plane there in a matter of hours.”
Her soul shriveled at the smug confidence in his voice.
She pressed closer to Caleb, breathing in sandalwood, anchoring herself to the heat and muscle of his body.
“You want Gia?” Caleb’s voice sliced the air, dripping menace. “Come and get her yourself, asshole. Where the fuck is my cousin?”
Rather than be intimidated, Vincente chuckled. “Senor Varella, I presume? I have no idea what you mean.”
“I’m not in the mood for games. I saw the photo. You want Gia, you bring Jennie Tsosie back to the rez. Alive and unharmed.”
“A trade then? Reasonable. But why should I believe you’d give up Gianna—she’s quite stunning, no?” Vincente’s voice dropped to a quiet snarl. “Have you tasted her sweetness? Sullied what belongs to me?”
Caleb’s gaze locked on hers. His thumb slid down her cheek. “Here’s what you don’t know about the Navajo, Lopez. Jennie is family. We don’t sacrifice family for outsiders. So yeah, I’ll make the trade. No one has to die.”
His voice was flat, cold. But pain dulled the gold in his eyes, and his grip on Gia tightened. “Gia said you wouldn’t hurt her.”
She gave a subtle nod.
He was playing to Vincente’s ego—just like she’d told him. Vincente couldn’t know she’d already told Caleb about the DEA agent’s murder.
“Of course I wouldn’t,” Vincente said, smug. “She’s to be my wife.”