Page 95 of Once A Crime Lord

“You need to come back, Blade. They’re coming. They should be here any minute. My dad’s phone was interfering with the signal. They’ve been tracking us the whole time.”

“Get out of the house.”

“I am. We’re heading toward the canyon.”

“I spoke to Gavin. He’s in New York. I’m on my way back.”

The ice in her veins spread to her heart. Gavin was miles away. By the time he got here, it would all be over. She was truly alone with Carmen and her daughter in the middle of nowhere with a team of trained killers about to arrive any minute.

“He said they gang raped my mom in front of him.”

The words burst out of her mouth before she realized she said anything. She ignored Carmen’s horrified gasp.

“He has her, Blade, and he wants me too. They told my dad to kill Nora and take me.”

“Lyla, run.”

“What about Mom?”

“You’re my first priority. You find a place to hide. I’ll find you.”

“But the phone—”

“Get rid of it. Hide. Stay alive until I get there.”

He hung up. She stared at the screen as another text appeared:Did you take care of the kid?

She gripped the phone so hard, she was surprised it didn’t shatter in her grasp. She turned off the phone, put it in her pocket, and stared at the edge of the ridge.

“Come on, Lyla,” Carmen said, her voice sharp and urgent.

“Go.”

Carmen stomped back to her with a mewling Nora. “What the hell are you doing? We’re sitting ducks out here.”

“We should split up. They’re going to find Pat’s body and realize we’re on foot. They won’t kill me, but they have orders to kill both of you. You have to go.”

“Don’t do this to me.”

“Promise me you’ll take care of her.”

“No.”

“Promise me!”

Carmen grabbed her arm and tried to pull her along. “We’re going to stay together!”

She twisted out of Carmen’s hold and pressed kisses over her daughter’s face. Nora wailed pitifully and gripped her clothing. The placid remoteness that allowed her to think began to fracture as she gently unfurled Nora’s tiny fingers and stepped back.

“Go, Carmen.”

“I’m not going without you!”

“They’re going to find us quick, especially with Nora crying,” she said above her daughter’s howls.

Carmen’s terror was easy to read even in the dim light.

“You run and don’t stop.”

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