Page 73 of Rami

August’s eyebrows crept up his face, but Rami didn’t give a fuck how rude he sounded. They were wasting valuable time. Toth had sworn these guys were good—they had to have more intel.

“I might have something more worthwhile. We tracked down Juan Fernando’s phone number. He’s the leader of the trafficking operation. If anyone knows where Ivy is, it’s him.”

Satisfaction tightened Rami’s muscles. “That’ll do.”

“’Kay, I texted it to Toth’s phone. Just be careful, they might try to trap you or some shit. You guys are a little short on manpower to be taking on a Mexican cartel.”

“Don’t have much choice.”

“Still. Watch yourself.”

“Noted.” A beat passed. “And Dare? Thanks for this.”

“I wish I could do more,” Dare said, his voice grave, as if he suspected the outcome wasn’t going to be good.

Rami hung up and stared at the Mexican number Dare had sent. “You got the money?” Rami asked August.

August gave one sharp nod. “Yup. The full hundred Gigi brought in.”

“Good. We’re gonna need it.” He tapped the numbers into the keypad on his phone and the line rang in his ear.

Please don’t let me be too late.

CHAPTER 20

The chills wouldn’t stop. Whether from shock or the cold, Ivy’s teeth chattered and her body trembled. Probably enough to shake the damn tree she was tied to and alert her captors she was trying to escape.

Bark rubbed against the back of her head with every movement, making her scalp itchy and sore. If it weren’t for the long sleeves of her sweater, her arms would be raw from jerking and stretching the ropes. Still, her biceps burned as she wiggled and strained against the material.

Huffing a breath, she cast another glance at the two bozos at the campfire. They talked softly, both sitting now—waiting for whoever was coming. The driver dabbed a rag over his eyes, likely mopping up blood from her nails.

Good. Asshole.

She sure as hell wasn’t sticking around to find out who was so eager to see her. No freaking way. She stifled a grunt as she leaned all her weight on the rope.

Crack

She gasped as the rope slackened. Not much, but definitely some.

Halle-friggin-lujah!

The trembling in her limbs abated as hope surged through her. Oh my god, I’m gonna get out of here.

Pinpricks touched the corners of her eyes, but she didn’t dare pause to get emotional. Swallowing, she glanced at the fire again. Gabriel was eating something from a Styrofoam dish and the driver sipped from a paper coffee cup, cloth in hand. Still distracted.

After heaving two breaths to gather more strength, Ivy leaned forward against the ropes and shimmied her shoulders back and forth.

The sounds of the rope fraying reached her ears. Come on, come on!

The muscles in her neck and shoulders strained as she jerked on the bindings.

“Hey!” Twigs snapped, and the beam of a flashlight hit her in the face.

She winced, the glow stinging her eyes. Pain rippled from her temples.

“The fuck you think you’re doing?” The light shifted to land on her body, and a snicker followed.

“She tryin’ to get away?” said Gabriel, the man she’d pummeled—clearly not well enough—with the shovel.

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