Page 68 of Sophia, Property of Tracker

“Prez, spit it out.”

“There’s two things—”

“Stop holding back. Just tell me.”

“You deserved time with your woman. Didn’t want to disturb you. It can wait till we talk tomorrow.”

“Prez, tell me now!” I growl.

“Okay, okay…” Tate was here last night, had a word to me, he offered his help again, and I agreed he could talk to the El Pasos.”

“That’s great news.”

“Tracker, they have your brother.”

They have your brother…

Air leaves my lungs, and my sight falters.

Leaning on the outdoor chair, I make my way around it and sit. Resting my head between my thighs.

“Tracker, are you there, brother?”

“Who has him?” I say, trying everything I can not to yell, not wanting to worry Sophia.

“Lawrence.”

Lawrence, that fuckin’ name. A name I will never forget after what they did to Lexi.

“When? How?”

“An hour ago. We got a phone call, it was Lawrence saying he has our boy, and if we want him to live, we need to return Lexi to him.”

Anger fills me to the point where my body is vibrating. I stand and pace the ground ready to kill someone.

“Tracker, the El Pasos agreed to meet with Tate, wanting to discuss business. Tate went along. Tork said he didn’t need any backup. I offered, brother, but he insisted he was right, that it was just a meeting about business. That’s all I know… up until an hour ago when I got the call tellin’ me if I wanted to see him alive, we had to do the exchange.”

Fuck!

“Where?”

“Don't worry about that. Rhyder and the others are on it.”

“Fuckin’ where, Prez, I deserve to know.”

“Tomorrow night at the marina. Ten o’clock sharp.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“Tracker, I don’t know if that’s a good idea—”

“Prez, I’m comin’. Don’t do anything without me. We’ll head back in the morning. I need to know what the plan is. I can’t lose Tate.”

“I know. None of us can. Just be safe.”

“Yeah. What’s the other thing?”

I hear his intake of breath.

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