Chapter 32
“If I tell you then I’m dead,” Desi announced.
“If you don’t, and something happens to Remington Saunders, you’re as good as dead,” Brasco returned.
That was the Goddamn truth. If this bitch didn’t start talking and something happened to my son I would choke the life out of her.
“God, Kiki!” Desi complained and I felt my blood pressure rise.
“That’s another minute wasted, Desi.”
Desi's chin lifted, her eyes steady on the one-way glass, and it looked like she almost looked remorseful.
And for the next ten minutes, we were treated to yet another story.
The more she talked the more agitated the detective became.
The bitch knew more, a lot more about Tug’s operation.
She’d also stolen a flash drive that contained a client list complete with booking records.
For a complete jackass Tug was smart enough to keep a computer completely offline—no internet connection, no network, no cloud, no online backup.
But he was stupid enough to leave the flash drive—his only means of backup—on his desk where Desi could swipe it.
It was her insurance policy.
“The drive’s at the Welshes’. In the basement bathroom. Wrapped up in a washcloth under the sink in the back.”
No sooner were the words out of the bitch’s mouth than I was out the door.
Brooklyn was sitting where I’d left her in the hallway.
Reese stood next to her—no, stood sentry over her.
The difference between the two was startling.
Brooklyn was the picture of fear and heartbreak.
Shoulders slumped, hands clasped, eyes glazed with panic.
Reese was at attention, watchful, guarded, and furious.
Perversely, my friends’ anger was the only thing holding me together. Knowing I had them at my back and they wouldn’t stop until my son was found had kept my mind clear. I needed to think, not only for Remy but for Brooklyn. Wandering around without purpose wouldn’t bring my boy home.
“Did she tell?” Brooklyn shot from her seat.
“Yeah, baby. Let’s go.”
The unshed tears that had been lingering fell but otherwise Brooklyn held her composure.
Reese remained quiet on the way to the SUV, waiting until we all got in with Wilson behind the wheel and Davis riding shotgun before he asked for a SITREP.
Wilson gave a short, succinct account as he drove. Davis made his call, filling in Cole who’d stayed behind at the office.
“Cole will meet us at the Welshes’.”
“I’ll be gone before he’ll make it,” I told Davis.
“Brother—”
“We’re five minutes out. Cole’s thirty. I’m not waiting,” I cut off Reese.
“Rhode—”
“Leave it,” Wilson ordered.
Brooklyn’s hand wrapped around mine and in a moment of weakness my eyes drifted closed. I brought our hands up, twisted them, and pressed my lips to the back of her hand.
Unbearable fear took root.
I pulled my shoulders free and sat back, ass to heels, and unrolled the washcloth.
There it was.
The flash drive.
Before I could stand I was hit with a flashback.
On my knees on the bathroom floor. Remy beside me.
“Do we need this?” he asked, holding up Brooklyn’s screwdriver.
Big, bright smile. Dark brown eyes excited to help fix the sink.
“Rhode?” Reese called, pulling me from my thoughts.
Without further delay, I got to my feet but neither Wilson nor Reese moved.
“Why are we standing here?”
“I need to know where your head’s at.”
My eyes cut to Wilson.
Whatever he read there caused him to hiss then mutter, “Fuck.” He held out his hand for the thumb drive, I dropped it in his open palm, and with his head bowed he left the bathroom.
I followed him up the stairs and found Tallulah and Brooklyn huddled on the couch.
As soon as Brooklyn saw me she was up and rushing across the room.
“Was it there?”
“Yeah, baby. I need you to call Kiki, tell her you have it, and ask her where to pick up Remy. Don’t bother keeping her on the phone. All you want to know is when and where to make the exchange.”
Brooklyn nodded and I pulled her phone out of my back pocket and handed it over. I watched as her hands shook when she unlocked the screen and her torso swayed when she pulled up her recent call list.
“Sugar. Take a breath.” Her eyes lifted and my heart shattered.
“I’m so fucking terrified I can’t stop shaking.”
I reached for the phone but stopped short of taking it. Instead, my hand went to her elbow and I turned her so her back was to my chest. One arm went low, the other went high, and I locked her body against mine.
“I got you, Brooklyn. Make the call.”
“Mrs. Welsh, if you’ll please come with me to the kitchen,” Reese gently asked.
“I will not say a word.”
“Ma’am.”
“I also will not leave my girl when she needs me.”
Brooklyn’s body bucked against mine and I heard her whimper.
I was going to murder Tug Anderson in cold blood and Kiki Welsh would be lucky if I left her breathing.
“Sugar?”
With much steadier hands, Brooklyn made the call.
“Do you have it?” Kiki snapped impatiently.
“I have it. Where are you?”
“Where’d you find Desi?”
Fuck!
Brooklyn’s body went solid and with more disdain than I’d ever heard her use she sneered, “It doesn’t matter where I found her, Kiki, I have the damn thumb drive. Where is my son?”
“Did you look at what’s on it?”
“Of course not,” Brooklyn growled. “I don’t give a shit what’s on it. I want Remington. Where are you?”
“North Crystal Spring. Off the second switchback, there’s a logging road. Follow that to the end.”
Brooklyn was silent a minute then asked, “By the creek?”
“Not that far.”
“Kiki, that’s crazy. There’s no cell service up there and nothing but woods.”
“If you want him, come and get him. But you better hurry your ass up. Tug’s pissed it’s taking so long.”
Kiki ended the call and Brooklyn exhaled.
“Do you know where that’s at?”
“Yeah, it’s paper mill property. Nothing but hundreds of acres of woods.”
I could work with that.
“I got it on the map,” Wilson announced. “Rhode, you’ll head in from the switchback Kiki mentioned. Davis, you’ll follow the road the rest of the way up the mountain and double back through the woods. Reese, you’re here with Brooklyn and Mrs. Welsh.”
“You did good, Brooklyn.” I kissed her temple and pulled back. “I’m gonna go get Remington now.”
Brooklyn twisted in my arms and looked up at me. I was taken aback by the trust I saw.
“Please bring him home.”
“I will.”
She was silent for a beat and immeasurable sadness hit her blue eyes.
“No matter what it takes, Rhode, just bring him home.”
Fucking hell.
I knew what she was saying.
I knew she’d given me permission to let Kiki swing.
“Swear it, Brooklyn.”
I leaned down and gave her a brief, hard kiss.
“Reese.”
My brother was across the room in a flash. I turned Brooklyn into Reese’s waiting arms.
No instructions given.
No words needed.
My brother would take my woman’s back.